This is a guest post from LA Dale, author “Heart of Glass”.
Let’s face it, Self-Publishing has a bad rep and I can completely understand why. You only have to look at some of the SP books on offer to see why bookstores are loathe to touch them.
That being said, many people who choose the self-publishing route produce quality material that should be bought, read and loved just as a bookshop book is.  And as an author, that’s really all I want (oh and fame and fortune too).
So here are my tips for avoiding looking like you are a DIY first-timer.
1. Don’t take everything at face value. Some companies who claim to be *self-publishers* are not. They’ll take your money and do little for you in return. My first experience with a vanity press came in the form of a ‘we-would-love-t -publish-your-book’ letter. I was so naïve I didn’t even stop to think when they asked me for a substantial sum of money. After handing it over I discovered that I had no choice in how the book was produced. I was stuck with a cover I hated, a poor interior layout  and a quality of paper that could only be used in the toilet but would hurt your bottom.
2. Research. There are two things that should be researched in depth. The first is the information in your story. If it’s meant to be realistic then it damn well should be. You need to find out everything you should know about your topic.  I spent heaps of time researching drugs, drug use and side effects for my story, (though not in the practical sense) Some people, including my husband, were so convinced by the authenticity they asked me how I knew that stuff. Had I done it? If you want to be believed as an author your story has to be believable. So do your research. And by that, I don’t mean watch a series of CSI Miami.
The second type of research is on the actual publication of your book and this goes back to my first point. Look carefully into the publication process, decide what you need and don’t need before you commit to any company. Ask them about the type of paper the use, how thick will the cover be. Ask for a sample book so that you can see the printers work. Buy your own ISBN number, you don’t have to pay $125 when you can get your own for $30.
3. Network. If you’re not up with Facebook, Twitter – it’s time to join the twenty-first century. Unfortunately, books don’t sell themselves and a cyber-space presence can do wonders for getting your name out there. I’ve been active on such sites for a year or so now and have got some great advice from people in the know because of it. I can directly attribute sales of my eBooks to Twitter and have am already receiving requests for my new story from FB fans.
4. Put yourself out there. I had a number of doors slammed in my face trying to follow the traditional publishing route but now, thanks to the power of putting myself out there I have a book deal for my second book. I didn’t send a query or an m/s. I didn’t write one sentence synopses. I simply talked to a lot of people, joined sites and asked the question. A publisher came my way and that was that.
5. Get a good book cover. Don’t think you can do it on your laptop (unless you’re a graphic artist.) I tried this. I downloaded images, making them into covers. They looked pretty but, if I’m honest, they weren’t store quality. So, find someone to do it for you. Pay them if you have to.
6. Get your book professionally edited and not by Mrs Who-sit next door who teaches English.  If you want your book to stand out from the crowd, it has to look good for the right reasons. The Writer’s Centres in your state can point you in the right direction and a good editor can polish your story to a level that will make it bookshop worthy.
***
LA Dale is the author of Heart of Glass to be released June 28.
The year was 1979.
An uncool girl in the cool crowd, Bella Stone found herself the girlfriend to footballer, Ben James, the boy everybody wanted to date.
Ben and Bella were destined to be together and yet somehow, life always found a way of keeping them apart.
Now, it’s 1987.
Ben is back but Bella has grown up and moved on. Is it too late?
Heart of Glass is a tale of the fragility of the human heart, a longing that will not be tamed and a promise that no matter what, someone will always love you.
You can connect with LA on
http://www.twitter.com/LA_DALE
http://www.facebook.com/pages/L-A-Dale/112984772054357
http://www.ladale-writer.blogspot.com/
Top image: Flickr Creative Commons Athena
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Very informative post! We were fortunate to have Kiera Cass, author of the self-published book The Siren, on our site last week talking about the process. I think with all the negative we hear about self-publishing, it’s important to point of the positives with responsible caution. Thanks for this post!
Marissa
Amen on all counts–especially on getting a good cover and a quality edit. Those are the two things that make self-pubbed books stand out–in a BAD way. I’ve published several novels the old-fashioned way and self-pubbed a grammar book. Made SURE to hire a professional graphic designer, and I love the cover.
I’ve done a lot of professional editing for people intending to self-publish, and I really think that it’s worth every penny it costs.
Great advice & I would add two more
1. Take reviews as good feedback
2. Don’t give up – there are many more people than you who have not-written and not-published or written and not-published – to get a best seller you have to have both written AND published
Happy scribing …