Wednesday, February 23, 2011

The Unlucky Second Guy

Can you imagine being the band to come after Pink Floyd at a concert?  It's an awesome opportunity, but come on!  This is Pink Floyd we're talking about here.  How do you follow that?!

Well, that's kind of how I feel about today's post.  How can I possibly follow the EPIC POST OF EPIC EPICNESS?

I'll tell you how.

With clowns!!!!


Hehehe.  It's good I can laugh at my own jokes. :)

But seriously, I didn't want to just have the EPIC POST OF EPIC EPICNESS and then go back to business as usual.  I wanted to take the time to really share with you guys how I came to my decision and just how utterly excited about it I am!

And so to do that, I'm going to answer some questions no one really asked, but I'm sure you were thinking anyway! :)

Why publish independently?  Why not go the traditional route?

I thought for years I did want to go the traditional route.  It was all I really ever knew.  And the little I did know about self-publishing was bad--scam publishing companies, bad product, etc.

Well, over the last year or so, I'd been doing some research, figuring out what authors do when their books come out.  You know, what works and what doesn't.  I've listened to agents, writers, readers, editors, subconsciously gathering information about breaking out with your debut novel.  

And a few weeks ago, I had an epiphany of sorts.  I realized I really could do this on my own.  And then I realized I WANTED to.  Not just, "ho hum, well, if this doesn't work out, I'll upload my novel into Amazon and then I'll be published."  (which is such a bad idea, I can't even go into it now because it needs its own post--which I will do)

No.

I am THRILLED about the business aspect of this!  I love getting to decide all the little details.  Never before has the world of publishing been so available to writers!  In practically every other industry, you make a product and you sell it.  And if you want to be successful, you better make it the best darn product you can.  And now, we as writers can do that!  

We can do what we want!  And no, I'm not speaking ill of traditional publishing in any way shape or form.  I love it, in fact!  Publishing companies have done wondrous things for thousands upon thousands of writers and without them, I doubt we'd have some of the gems that grace our bookshelves today.  I love that both options are viable now and that they can both learn from each other and help each other to grow into the next generation of publishing.

How are you going to handle it all?

Oh my goodness, there is a LOT to do.  A. Lot.  In fact, I am doing everything I can to make sure ELEMENTAL will be as polished and professional as any book that comes out this year.  

But I have a team of people who are helping me get ready for the big day, so I'm not doing it alone.

What kind of fun stuff are you going to do to make us super excited?

Cover reveal!  Contests!  ARC giveaways!  Blog tour!  You name it, and I'm doing it!  In fact, if you have any really unique ideas you'd like to see me try, tell me about it and I'll probably do it! :)

Now, I'm opening it up to you, dear readers.  Do you have any questions I didn't already answer?  Ask them!  Please!  

13 comments:

  1. I am so excited!

    What do you have in mind for the cover?

    :-)

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  2. Why would you throw a clown at me so early in the morning?!! Bout had a heart attack. Clowns freak me out...stupid Poltergeist movie.

    Apart from that, I am super excited for you. I am also glad you have a plan and are not just dumping on an e-reader and done. I've been thinking of going this route more and more as I see what is going on with the industry. We live in a scary exciting time to be writing.

    I am interested to see what kind of marketing tools you will use and how you drum up a fever in readers to buy your book. That sentence made me think of cowbell...
    Funny Stuff I Write And Draw

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  3. Good post of explanation, Emily. :) A blog tour would be great! And I'm so anxious to see your cover when it's done.

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  4. Charlie--I got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell. :)

    That Poltergeist clown was freaky!

    Misha--I have fabulous things in mind for the cover! And I would share them with you now, but I want it all to be a surprise! :) And yay! I'm glad you're excited!

    Carol--Yeah, I'm really looking forward to doing the blog tour!

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  5. You need to start a really big marketing campaign as soon as you get the book cover!

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  6. first off- cLOWNS!?!?!?
    why oh why em!!! nightmares tonight for sure!
    secondly, whoo hoo for you!
    and third (leading question here): do you have any kind of specific education that might be beneficial as you try to noodle out the business aspect of independent publishing?

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  7. Vic--HAHAHAHA! I knew I'd scare a few people with that!

    And as far as your leading question goes, why yes I do! I happen to have a degree in Business. Yeah, I know. Nerd. But I've always loved that kind of stuff and have ALWAYS dreamed of owning my own business.

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  8. I can't wait to see your cover!!! I bet it will be gorgeous!!!

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  9. Somehow I missed your other post, but yay, congratulations, Emily! That's a great decision once you've considered all the angles, and let me know if there's anything I can do to help! :)

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  10. That clown is creepy, but I'm sort of scared of clowns.

    Best of luck to you as you go through the book publishing process!

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  11. "But I have a team of people who are helping me get ready for the big day, so I'm not doing it alone."

    I think going it alone is the biggest mistake a writer can make. Yes, its a lonely business to write the novel But once the author thinks its as perfect as could be, you can bet there is still some things they are just too close to the story to see properly.

    I know this is true of my own projects. I see things so clearly in my mind I can't believe the story isn't actually written that way.

    good for you making such a momentuous decision, and for asking for help with the process.

    Good luck Emily. Your dedication will pay off, I'm sure.

    .......dhole

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  12. I know exactly what you mean. I went through the same process when I decided to publish Follow the Cowherd Boy on my own.

    You have to love it and want it and need to share it. With passion. I know that you'll do well in the independent publishing route because you have that feeling.

    Jai

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  13. Yay! Welcome to Indie Publishing! Ain't it cool to be in total control? You're even doing more than I ever will!
    I'll have my first novel out in April, hopefully, and have already a novella on Smashwords.
    BTW, upload on Smashwords is easy - just a specially formatted word.doc - and they'll do all the conversions. I googled my pen-name and saw my novella on the Sony store, distributed by Smashwords...
    I will study the upload on Kindle this coming month, though. In the meantime, I'm cheering for you!
    And if you publish it this summer, I might even be able to buy it (my ToBuy list is too long at the moment, but hopefully by then I'll have most of it and can squeeze yours in)! :-D
    Go, Emily!
    Barb

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