What do you struggle with most when self publishing?

SPLaunchpad · 03-21-2013, 09:22 AM

Hi! I'm new to the forum here but certainly not new to e-publishing and digital readers (I have a first generation Kindle, a Kindle Fire and a Fire HD so you could say I'm a little obsessed with my gadgets!)

I'm working on a website that's designed to help first-time publishers through the self publishing process - which one to choose, getting things setup correctly, converting your book to Kindle/iBooks/etc. and so forth.

My question is, what do you struggle with most when it comes to self publishing? I'm curious what your biggest obstacles are and what has kept you from doing it successfully so far. Or if you have self published already, if there's anything you'd like to know to make the process easier next time?

I hope this is the right place for my first post, if not, please feel free to point me in the right direction

Kind Regards,
Timo

VydorScope · 03-21-2013, 02:53 PM

Marketing.

SPLaunchpad · 03-22-2013, 08:16 AM

Hi Vydor,

What specifically about marketing do you struggle with? Online marketing? Offline marketing? Both?

Graham · 03-22-2013, 08:57 AM

Charles Stross's blog yesterday was illuminating on the subject:

http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog...f-publish.html

Quote:

Anyway: this is why I don't self-publish. Yes, I could do it. But it'd suck up a huge amount of time I would prefer to spend doing what I enjoy (writing) and force me to do stuff I do not enjoy (reading contracts, accounting, managing other people). The only sane way to do it would be to hire someone else to do all the boring crap on my behalf. And do you know what we call people who do that? We call them publishers.

Graham

VydorScope · 03-22-2013, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPLaunchpad

Hi Vydor,

What specifically about marketing do you struggle with? Online marketing? Offline marketing? Both?

The whole domain. I sell books, but I know I could sell a lot more if I had the skills of a marketer.

M.T. Miles · 03-24-2013, 03:48 AM

Like VydorScope, I would have to say marketing. I find that marketing takes up a lot of my valuable time and energy and it is something that does not naturally fit with my skill set.

HarryT · 03-24-2013, 04:22 AM

The thing that most independent authors fall down on is editing. Only a small percentage of self-published books are properly edited.

Lazer · 03-24-2013, 12:52 PM

"My question is, what do you struggle with most when it comes to self publishing?"

I think Vydor nailed it, marketing. I can't imagine a self-publishing author that thinks it's a breeze. Getting reviews is like pulling teeth with an old rusty pair of pliers. And I'm not talking five stars on Amazon.

The editing challenge is easy. Hire a professional editor.

HarryT · 03-24-2013, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazer

The editing challenge is easy. Hire a professional editor.

True enough, but sadly something that all too few authors actually do.

mncowboy · 03-26-2013, 06:52 AM

Harry is correct - that is the place to start.
Great marketing of a poorly edited (and formatted) book will result in some sales for awhile, but will stop eventually.
Poor marketing of a book that has been professionally edited and formatted will result in slow sales - but those sales will continue over time.
Get your book right, then market.

gmw · 03-26-2013, 07:59 AM

I'm not about to argue against the importance of editing - of producing quality work in general - BUT the OP was asking: "My question is, what do you struggle with most when it comes to self publishing?"

Editing isn't a struggle as such, after a certain point it's "just" money and finding the right editor. Marketing is definitely a struggle.

VydorScope · 03-26-2013, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmw

Editing isn't a struggle as such, after a certain point it's "just" money and finding the right editor. Marketing is definitely a struggle.

Lazer · 03-27-2013, 12:42 PM

Thinking about the question: "what do you struggle with most when it comes to self publishing?" The more I ponder this, the more I realize he's not asking about the editing or marketing, it's about formatting.

I've self published two works. Both in ebook formats and both in print. With ebooks I've struggled with getting an active TOC to function. With print books, the wrestling match has been about getting the page numbers to start at the right place. I'm also challenged to find away to get rid of the occasional blank page, or one sentence page, created by chapter breaks. Lurking in the forums, I think the first two problems are common with self published works.

I'll probably re-struggle with these issues in a couple of months when I jump into the process again. Perhaps this time I'll take some notes on what worked and what didn't!

L

gmw · 03-27-2013, 07:58 PM

I didn't find the epub creation too much trouble, fiddly, but just requiring patience. Formatting the print edition of my first book to avoid orphans etc. was a bit of a trial an error affair for me - adjusting the various styles (chapter headings and margins mostly) by fractions of a millimetre here and then scrolling through to check the result - but compared to everything else I didn't find it too bad.

cromag · 03-30-2013, 02:46 AM

Marketing and publicity.

... And maybe my editing would be better if I struggled more with it.

03-21-2013, 09:22 AM	#1
SPLaunchpad Digital Publisher Posts: 2 Karma: 600352 Join Date: Mar 2013 Device: Kindle Fire HD	What do you struggle with most when self publishing? Hi! I'm new to the forum here but certainly not new to e-publishing and digital readers (I have a first generation Kindle, a Kindle Fire and a Fire HD so you could say I'm a little obsessed with my gadgets!) I'm working on a website that's designed to help first-time publishers through the self publishing process - which one to choose, getting things setup correctly, converting your book to Kindle/iBooks/etc. and so forth. My question is, what do you struggle with most when it comes to self publishing? I'm curious what your biggest obstacles are and what has kept you from doing it successfully so far. Or if you have self published already, if there's anything you'd like to know to make the process easier next time? I hope this is the right place for my first post, if not, please feel free to point me in the right direction Kind Regards, Timo

03-24-2013, 03:48 AM	#6
M.T. Miles Enthusiast Posts: 25 Karma: 471046 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Brisbane Device: none	Like VydorScope, I would have to say marketing. I find that marketing takes up a lot of my valuable time and energy and it is something that does not naturally fit with my skill set. Last edited by M.T. Miles; 03-25-2013 at 04:04 AM.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Off line publishing & Online publishing	caviedogz	Writers' Corner	5	10-19-2012 11:11 PM
Huffington Post - The New Vanity Publishing : Traditional Publishing	fjtorres	General Discussions	2	08-26-2012 08:48 AM
Apple's struggle to defeat Amazon set to be exposed by European ebook inquiry	DonaldL.	News	27	12-21-2011 08:03 PM
Through Struggle, the Stars: new science fiction space combat novel	nyrath	Reading Recommendations	17	08-16-2011 08:35 PM
Technology Struggle ~ Trying to get Essays into Cybook format	andavane	Introduce Yourself	8	02-15-2009 04:02 PM

03-21-2013, 02:53 PM	#2
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	Marketing.

03-22-2013, 08:16 AM	#3
SPLaunchpad Digital Publisher Posts: 2 Karma: 600352 Join Date: Mar 2013 Device: Kindle Fire HD	Hi Vydor, What specifically about marketing do you struggle with? Online marketing? Offline marketing? Both?

03-24-2013, 04:22 AM	#7
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The thing that most independent authors fall down on is editing. Only a small percentage of self-published books are properly edited.

03-24-2013, 12:52 PM	#8
Lazer Groupie Posts: 174 Karma: 1498858 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle 3	"My question is, what do you struggle with most when it comes to self publishing?" I think Vydor nailed it, marketing. I can't imagine a self-publishing author that thinks it's a breeze. Getting reviews is like pulling teeth with an old rusty pair of pliers. And I'm not talking five stars on Amazon. The editing challenge is easy. Hire a professional editor.

03-26-2013, 06:52 AM	#10
mncowboy Wanderer Posts: 106 Karma: 472218 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Kindle 3, PaperWhite 2	Harry is correct - that is the place to start. Great marketing of a poorly edited (and formatted) book will result in some sales for awhile, but will stop eventually. Poor marketing of a book that has been professionally edited and formatted will result in slow sales - but those sales will continue over time. Get your book right, then market.

03-26-2013, 07:59 AM	#11
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,818 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	I'm not about to argue against the importance of editing - of producing quality work in general - BUT the OP was asking: "My question is, what do you struggle with most when it comes to self publishing?" Editing isn't a struggle as such, after a certain point it's "just" money and finding the right editor. Marketing is definitely a struggle.

03-27-2013, 12:42 PM	#13
Lazer Groupie Posts: 174 Karma: 1498858 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle 3	Thinking about the question: "what do you struggle with most when it comes to self publishing?" The more I ponder this, the more I realize he's not asking about the editing or marketing, it's about formatting. I've self published two works. Both in ebook formats and both in print. With ebooks I've struggled with getting an active TOC to function. With print books, the wrestling match has been about getting the page numbers to start at the right place. I'm also challenged to find away to get rid of the occasional blank page, or one sentence page, created by chapter breaks. Lurking in the forums, I think the first two problems are common with self published works. I'll probably re-struggle with these issues in a couple of months when I jump into the process again. Perhaps this time I'll take some notes on what worked and what didn't! L

03-27-2013, 07:58 PM	#14
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,818 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	I didn't find the epub creation too much trouble, fiddly, but just requiring patience. Formatting the print edition of my first book to avoid orphans etc. was a bit of a trial an error affair for me - adjusting the various styles (chapter headings and margins mostly) by fractions of a millimetre here and then scrolling through to check the result - but compared to everything else I didn't find it too bad.

03-30-2013, 02:46 AM	#15
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 26,037 Karma: 459735575 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	Marketing and publicity. ... And maybe my editing would be better if I struggled more with it.

Advert

Advert