OLD POST ALERT! This is an older post and although you might find some useful tips, any technical or publishing information is likely to be out of date. Please click on Start Here on the menu bar above to find links to my most useful articles, videos and podcast. Thanks and happy writing! – Joanna Penn
One of the best blogs for self-publishers is TheBookDesigner.com and Joel Friedlander has just published his latest book, A Self-Publisher's Companion. I was lucky enough to get an advance copy and the chance to interview Joel in the video and audio below. To whet your appetite, here is my review blurb.
This book is evergreen. It will outlive the latest tools and techniques in the online world. It resonates with Joel's many years of experience within the publishing world, his love of content creation and beauty as well as his amazing skills as a popular blogger. Highly recommended for anyone considering the self-publishing route or if you want to know more about aspects of publishing in a digital age. I have self-published four books now and still found myself jotting down notes from the useful information.”
You can also download the audio => JoelFriedlanderAudio.mp3
In the video, we discuss:
- The exciting times of publishing right now with Barry Eisler and others moving into indie publishing, and Amanda Hocking getting a traditional book deal based on her Kindle success. Joel talks about the great leverage that self-publishing has now, and how different it is from the 1980s when he first started. It used to be that you hid your self-published status, now it's becoming a mark of pride.
- Joel wrote The Self-Publisher's Companion as a way of introducing self-publishing/ indie publishing and to give newcomers an idea of what's involved in the process. It's more like a mentor, explaining the overview with a focus on the changes in publishing right now.
- On the dichotomy between loving books, print and typography and embracing digital publishing. Joel is still a print book junkie but explains the benefits of ebooks. Currently ebooks are primitive compared to print, but the tools will improve and ebook design will improve. Ebooks are basic text packaging right now, but they will be beautiful in the future. It is complicated at the moment – formats are confusing and ugly. We are in the Betamax vs VHS era but the industry will move on. A standard format will enable us to then be able to experiment with making them look better.
- The no. 1 thing self-publishers get wrong. Most people are enthusiasts, but are not treating it as a business and get emotionally connected to the book itself. Publishing is a business like any other. The marketing problems need to be considered before the published product is available. Considering all aspects, including sales and marketing is important. Many people end up asking how to market the book once it's out, which is almost too late.
- Joel talks about effective forms of marketing for any business. He is a ‘demon blogger' and blogs daily, building up a platform and a community. Blogging and networking have been most effective for him. The book launch has been supported by people in the community and he wouldn't have this if he hadn't been working hard on it for the last 18 months. Connecting with people on twitter has also been great. Joel talks about blogging every day and how the focus of the blog changed over time from purely print publishing to writing, marketing and other aspects. You don't have to blog every day – it's your schedule.
- The book is a lot about the psychology of being a self-publisher, switching from being a creative writer and then into a business mode. It's important to look at what your definition of success is e.g. seeing your book on a physical bookstore near you is much harder to achieve than having your book available on the biggest online bookstores like Amazon and BN.com.
- Joel explains print-on-demand and how it's changed the publishing industry. It's basically when a book is printed when it is sold, instead of paying upfront to print thousands of copies in advance. You load your book to a POD provider and people can buy them from the online bookstores. No inventory, no storage costs, no upfront printing. (Both Joel and I use POD for our print books). Self publishing doesn't just mean ebook publishing. You can still have a print book available.
- What should people DIY and what should they outsource? You need to decide what you want to achieve and make marketing decisions early in the process. For example, are you marketing to your own audience in which case you could just do it all yourself. But if you want to market to corporates or it's competing in a market, then you need professionals to make your book stand out for good reasons. It's also efficient to hire people so you have time to spend doing the things you're good at. You can also space these costs out e.g. do the book cover well before the book is finished so they can start marketing it early.
- Another exciting thing about self-publishing with ebooks and print-on-demand is you can upload a new file when you have a new book ready in order to promote the next one. For example, add a chapter to the end or an advert for the next book.
You can find Joel at TheBookDesigner.com
You can find The Self-Publisher's Companion on Amazon and more details here.
View Comments (17)
With the Aussie dollar so strong right now this looks like a tempting purchase. Still, should my priority right now be "Get Your First Book Written" to the exclusion of anything else? Will this book benefit me when I'm so early in the process that I don't have anything?
Hi Rob,
I would say that this is a great time to buy this book. It will help you understand how the process works and what you need to think about while you're writing your book.
The no. 1 mistake I made was finishing my first book before I understood all about publishing and marketing. Writing is just one part of it all. I would definitely recommend this as a companion to the process and it will excite you as to the possibilities! (no, I don't get commission!)
Thanks, Joanna. I think I'll splurge after my next payday. Better to order through Amazon or my local Angus & Robertson?
Best to go through Amazon I think - it will be quicker :)
Okay. Caved in and bought it, plus the Halo 3: ODST soundtrack. :D
I think any book that can help to direct and motivate aspiring authors is going to be well recieved. I'm on that lonely treadmill myself at present.
One question that I would love to have answered is this: Should a new writer aim at writing shorter novellas, perhaps around 25,000 words or so while he/she is getting established or should they just write a full novel?
Just curious Joanna as to what your opinion on this is.
Hi Edward,
I think it's a matter of preference, not about whether you're new at it. I've always wanted to write novels so I went straight for a novel. Pentecost is James Patterson length :) but definitely a book!
I have never written a novella or short story but I think they involve just as much study of how best to write and also a lot of reading in that niche i.e. the story still needs to be self-contained.
So, I would recommend that you read some novellas and then decide whether that's what you want to do.
I'm starting the next novel now - once you get going, the words do start flowing - so I don't think word count is the issue - it's how many words your story needs to be told, and also your personal preference.
Thanks, Joanna
Great post - thanks. Best of luck with your book, Joel.
Best regards
Adam
Books are the best friends of human being. It realizes us the power of knowledge, helps our understanding of different subjects and makes us a better person. It also improves our communication skills and our overall personality. There is nothing more exciting than reading a book and losing yourself in the characters present in the book and being a part of twists and turns of a great story.
Joanna and Joel,
Great interview! I enjoyed watching it and getting to know both of you better :) I've been following both of your blogs as well as following you on Twitter, but there is something refreshing about watching a video interview.
Thanks again!
Shelley
Intrigued by the whole process - it still feels like putting the cart before the horse, but I appreciate the comment towards Rob above and can't stop myself following this subject anyway!
And the love of print and the convenience of the digital medium are indeed a dichotomy. Devices are another conundrum! I'm a techy on the computer, but still wavering on the virtues of the Kindle vs touch screen devices, where light emitting screens tire (my) eyes though they offer more advanced functionality (laptop/iPad.) The facility when reading on my dinky little iPhone even, where I can tap a word to look it up in the dictionary on the fly is invaluable. The kindle seems so relatively archaic with it's liquid crystal display and seemingly linear functionality - yet perhaps the only thing that won't make my eyes feel like they've been staring at a light bulb after an hour or two?
Think I may be ready to take the plunge on a kindle in spite of the betamax/VHS scenario - any words of advise from avid users of either device type (e-reader/LED touch-screen)?
Hi Nik, I seriously don't think you would regret a Kindle, the latest ones are lovely. Basically the device should 'disappear' and you should get lost in a book which is what the Kindle is for me. The other multi-functional devices are distracting but the Kindle's focus is reading alone. The screen is very relaxing and I read with it in the hammock or in bed mostly. My husband loves his so much he has gone back to buying books and reading instead of playing games. It is so easy to use and lovely to experience. I sound like an evangelist but I do indeed love my Kindle!
thanks Joanna - that's exactly what I needed to hear and you have convinced me to stop flapping about on the hedge...
One question for you both, Joanna & Nik: Do you have / are you getting the regular Kindle or the DX? A 9" screen seems overkill for just a dedicated e-reader, especially when it's $240 more and doesn't come with Wi-Fi (although it's still 3G capable).
Hi, Nik,
On reading Joanna's comment, some reflection and more reading, I think that if you're committed to doing a book, it's good to be reading about and mulling over early on. That way, when you finally do get your book into ready-to-query / self-publish shape, you're not then coming at marketing utterly cold.
It's a tricky thing, though: Right at the moment, I'm getting into the habit of a weekly post on my personal web log, and given that I'm reading and thinking so much about writing it's easier than I thought it would be. If I give my posts some editing time, I may even get myself a decent buffer going.
But lurking at the back of my mind is the idea that sthe sort of stuff I might be discussing on my personal blog could well go on the branded blog I'll have to set up. So do I rush into setting something up on Wordpress? Is my branded identity any good? What about layout design?
I think I'm going to keep mulling it over and putting posts related to it on my personal blog while I get my first draft done - that'll be a couple of months anyway.
Good point about backlit displays - I've been contemplating e-readers (though I can't yet afford one) and had forgotten the eyestrain drawback to backlit displays. I already have a netbook, so maybe a Kindle would be a better choice for me.
Still, that sweet, sweet iPad is so tempting...
thanks for the encouragement Rob (and I checked out your blog too)
For me it's all about avoiding distraction! Kindle makes sense - I'm going for it and then unplugging!
I've already got too many websites (occupational hazard) - whether to blog / set up branded site / or just get on with writing is another story (pun intended) altogether!
I'm looking forward to reading this book more than ever. Getting the psychology of being a self-pubbed author is so important. Interesting to compare e/print books to beta/vhs. I think e-books in the future are going to be beautiful to behold and just think how many more books I can store for ever and ever without tripping over udsty boxes of books I'm too attached to to throw away! :) A lovely interview!
Judy (South Africa)