What do you wish you'd known then?

anamardoll · 03-23-2012, 10:19 AM

I've had a feel Real Life friends ask me to write a short "how to" guide for online self-publishing since (a) I've done it once myself and (b) I write user manuals as part of my day job.

I agreed, and I've got a list of topics, but I thought I'd throw the question into the ring: What do you know now (or not know!) that you wish you knew when you were first looking into elf-publishing?

dadioflex · 03-23-2012, 10:23 AM

A little gremlin got into your post there.

Justin Nemo · 03-23-2012, 10:26 AM

Er... not to believe a word people tell you in writers forums. Is this a Christmas guide as its about Elf Publishing?

Penforhire · 03-23-2012, 02:10 PM

I wish I'd understood there was real money to made with on-line advertising if you write a popular blog.

anamardoll · 03-23-2012, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dadioflex

A little gremlin got into your post there.

ELF-PUBLISHING?

It's too perfect. I won't change it. Elf-publishing. I'm crying with joy.

Teach me to post before coffee.

GA Russell · 03-23-2012, 09:25 PM

If there's a program to use that's better than Scrivener, I'd like to know about it.

Lazer · 03-23-2012, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GA Russell

If there's a program to use that's better than Scrivener, I'd like to know about it.

Well... the funny thing is this: I was going to answer the first post question with Scrivener. I wish I'd had it for writing and converting my first book. I felt like the first one was as big of a challenge to format as it was to write. Scrivener (for Mac) sure makes it easy.

L

Steven Lyle Jordan · 03-23-2012, 10:49 PM

I wish I knew all the places on the web that welcomed self-promotion.

teh603 · 03-24-2012, 01:04 AM

I wish I'd known everything I do now, three years ago.

VydorScope · 03-24-2012, 07:49 AM

Hmmm....

1) The importance of editing
2) The SLOW speed which things move - don't expect your book to sell 10000000000 copies the first... years. Takes time and effort.
3) The importance of NON-FAMILY/FRIEND pre-readers
4) The importance of COVER ART
5) Submit for reviews as soon as you can and understand the lines to get in are very long. (see point 2 - this is a slow growth type career for the most part)

And you might want to explain how to go about making cookies in trees since it is for elves.

MCoorlim · 03-24-2012, 12:36 PM

1. Scrivener.
2. Content IS promotion.
3. Be prolific.

WPotocki · 03-25-2012, 05:31 PM

That it takes perseverance and time.

Just keep writing. Liken it to throwing spaghetti on the wall and hoping something sticks!

teh603 · 03-25-2012, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WPotocki

Liken it to throwing spaghetti on the wall and hoping something sticks!

People actually do that?

Justin Nemo · 03-26-2012, 01:29 PM

I wish I'd known how Smashwords Meatgrinder works. Then and now come to think of it.

03-23-2012, 10:19 AM	#1
anamardoll Chasing Butterflies Posts: 3,132 Karma: 5074169 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: American Southwest Device: Uses batteries.	What do you wish you'd known then? I've had a feel Real Life friends ask me to write a short "how to" guide for online self-publishing since (a) I've done it once myself and (b) I write user manuals as part of my day job. I agreed, and I've got a list of topics, but I thought I'd throw the question into the ring: What do you know now (or not know!) that you wish you knew when you were first looking into elf-publishing?

03-23-2012, 10:23 AM	#2
dadioflex Dyslexic Count Posts: 526 Karma: 5041991 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: Palm TX, Advent Vega, iPad, iPod Touch, Kindle	A little gremlin got into your post there.

03-23-2012, 10:26 AM	#3
Justin Nemo Stercus accidit Posts: 330 Karma: 513878 Join Date: Mar 2012 Device: Nookpadle 6	Er... not to believe a word people tell you in writers forums. Is this a Christmas guide as its about Elf Publishing?

03-23-2012, 02:10 PM	#4
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	I wish I'd understood there was real money to made with on-line advertising if you write a popular blog.

03-23-2012, 09:25 PM	#6
GA Russell Montreal wins Grey Cup! Posts: 7,583 Karma: 31484197 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Device: Paperwhite, Kindles 10 & 4 and jetBook Lite	If there's a program to use that's better than Scrivener, I'd like to know about it.

03-23-2012, 10:49 PM	#8
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	I wish I knew all the places on the web that welcomed self-promotion.

03-24-2012, 01:04 AM	#9
teh603 Autism Spectrum Disorder Posts: 1,212 Karma: 6244877 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Coastal Texas Device: Android Phone	I wish I'd known everything I do now, three years ago.

03-24-2012, 07:49 AM	#10
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	Hmmm.... 1) The importance of editing 2) The SLOW speed which things move - don't expect your book to sell 10000000000 copies the first... years. Takes time and effort. 3) The importance of NON-FAMILY/FRIEND pre-readers 4) The importance of COVER ART 5) Submit for reviews as soon as you can and understand the lines to get in are very long. (see point 2 - this is a slow growth type career for the most part) And you might want to explain how to go about making cookies in trees since it is for elves.

03-24-2012, 12:36 PM	#11
MCoorlim Member Posts: 15 Karma: 176952 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Chicago Device: all	1. Scrivener. 2. Content IS promotion. 3. Be prolific.

03-25-2012, 05:31 PM	#12
WPotocki Connoisseur Posts: 89 Karma: 399622 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NYC Device: none	That it takes perseverance and time. Just keep writing. Liken it to throwing spaghetti on the wall and hoping something sticks!

03-26-2012, 01:29 PM	#14
Justin Nemo Stercus accidit Posts: 330 Karma: 513878 Join Date: Mar 2012 Device: Nookpadle 6	I wish I'd known how Smashwords Meatgrinder works. Then and now come to think of it.

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