the publishing options of today
Post on 06-May-2015
378 Views
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
The Publishing Options of The Publishing Options of TodayToday
How to publish your fiction
How to ‘make it’ as an How to ‘make it’ as an author in three not-so-easy author in three not-so-easy steps:steps:
1. Write a good story
2. Publish it3. Repeat
Write a Good StoryWrite a Good Story
How do I know my story is ready to
be published?
◦Free of spelling and grammatical errors
◦Strangers have given you positive
feedback
Friends and family don’t count because they
are biased.
Write a Good StoryWrite a Good Story
Where do I find strangers to
critique my story?
◦Find a creative writing group that
works for you
◦Online:
www.critters.org
Publish ItPublish It
Your publishing options
1. Traditional Publishing
2. Indie Publishing
Traditional PublishingTraditional PublishingThe way authors have been
published for at least the past 50-100yrs
Publishers control the distribution system to bookstores
To reach readers, authors must go through publishers
Traditional PublishingTraditional PublishingHow to publish your short story
traditionally◦Submit your story to magazines
along with a cover letter (also known as a ‘query letter’)
◦You will receive rejections letters◦Persevere
Traditional PublishingTraditional Publishing
Where to find magazines
◦Novel and Short Story Writer’s
Market
◦Online:
http://duotrope.com
Traditional PublishingTraditional PublishingHow to submit to magazines
◦Read the magazine(s)◦Learn the style of fiction that they
publish◦Make sure that your story is a good
fit for their magazine◦Follow the magazine’s submission
guidelines◦Submit your story with a query letter
Traditional PublishingTraditional PublishingHow to write a query letter
◦Make it concise (two paragraphs of no more than 3-4 sentences each)
◦Tell them why you’ve chosen to submit to their magazine and why your story might be a good fit
◦Give them some background information about yourself (esp. previous publications)
Traditional PublishingTraditional PublishingBe patient and persistent
◦Magazines can receive 100s of submissions but only publish a few stories
◦It may be weeks or months before they can reply to you
◦Do not hassle them for a quick response
◦If your story is rejected, do not give up◦Find another suitable magazine to
submit to
Indie PublishingIndie PublishingA viable option since 2010Bookstores are closing and
content is migrating onlineAuthors can bypass publishers
and upload their stories directly to online e-tailers
Authors no longer need bookstores to reach readers
Indie PublishingIndie PublishingHow to self-publish your short
story◦Design a book cover and format
your story so that it is compatible with online e-tailers and digital reading devices
◦Upload your story online
Indie PublishingIndie PublishingOnline distributors
◦Amazon KDP Kindle Direct Publishing allows an author
to publish their story straight into Amazon’s store
◦Smashwords An online distributor that will send your
story into the virtual stores of major e-tailers like Apple, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo
Traditional vs. IndieTraditional vs. IndieTime
◦Traditional publishing involves a lot of waiting. It can take months or even years before your work is published.
◦Indie/self-publishing is almost instantaneous. It can take a few minutes to a few weeks before your work is available to readers.
Traditional vs. IndieTraditional vs. IndieMoney
◦Valid traditional publishers will pay you money upfront. All services (editing, art, formatting, etc.) are free.
◦Indie publishing may include upfront costs if you choose to hire cover artists, professional editors, or formatters. However, the actual online upload process is free.
Traditional vs. IndieTraditional vs. IndieMoney
◦Traditional publishers usually pay around 15% royalties for novels
◦For indie publishing, you will not be paid upfront, but distributors normally pay around 70% royalties for all stories based on a list price that you choose
Traditional vs. IndieTraditional vs. IndieControl
◦Traditional publishers can make editorial, marketing, formatting, cover art decisions without your approval
◦With indie publishing, you will control all aspects of how your final story appears
Traditional vs. IndieTraditional vs. IndieReaching readers
◦Traditional publishing: if you’re published in a magazine with a wide readership, you could potentially reach 100s if not 1000s of readers.
◦Indie publishing: if you’re an unknown author, your story may be lost in a crowded marketplace.
Traditional vs. IndieTraditional vs. IndieReaching readers
◦Traditional publishing: a well-established magazine will already have its own readership and marketing plans.
◦Indie publishing: without a built-in readership, you must devise your own marketing strategies, such as free giveaways, to increase your visibility.
Traditional vs. IndieTraditional vs. IndieIn summary:
◦There are no guarantees with either route. Research carefully and choose the option that is best for you.
◦Most of all, remember to keep writing and never give up.
◦Good luck!
For more information:For more information:
Digital Book World:◦http://www.digitalbookworld.com/
Publisher’s Weekly:◦http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Nathan Bransford’s blog:◦http://nathanbransford.com/
top related