With the rise of KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) in recent years, the number of self-published books has skyrocketed since its launch in 2007, and writers are now presented with more self-publishing opportunities than ever before.

What’s more, the traditional route – often considered thorny and full of hoops to jump through – is no longer the only option, which means that all of us get the chance to let our stories see the light of day and enter the book market.

But is self-publishing worth it?

The short answer is: it depends.

As for the long answer…

Let’s see.

The 6 Pros of Self-Publishing

There must be a reason why so many writers choose the self-publishing path, right?

Yes, absolutely. In fact, the reasons are numerous.

Self-publishing allows you to stay in charge of the whole publishing process, from writing to editing, pricing, and marketing, not to mention designing the book cover. This means that your project takes shape in the exact way you want and at a pace that suits you.

When you choose the self-publishing route, you’re giving yourself more creative freedom because you’re only collaborating with people you genuinely want to work with, not to mention you have the space to go beyond the rules and expectations involved in traditional publishing. 

For example, it is more viable for you to write an experimental book or to write in a very unconventional way if you don’t have to convince a whole bunch of people that you’re going to earn out your advance and essentially become a profitable investment.

Many writers flock to self-publishing due to higher royalties. Self-published authors can usually earn up to 70% of the book’s selling price while traditionally published authors are looking at 10-15%. You can also set the price yourself.

Many self-publishing platforms give you access to global distribution, especially if you’re releasing an e-book. When you’re publishing with KDP, for example, the process is pretty seamless – there are no complex contracts to read through and no deals to negotiate.

Another big pro is that you don’t need to wait for anyone to express an interest in your manuscript, close book deals with you, or send back an edited version of your book. If you decide to self-publish a book right here, right now, you can very well do so. If you don’t hire an editor or other professionals to give you feedback, there’s almost no waiting involved for you – self-publishing is the skip-the-line VIP ticket.

It used to be the case that self-publishing meant you had to invest your own money, but companies such as KDP have eliminated that issue. Nowadays, it’s possible to self-publish a book at no cost to you – the only thing you’re giving up is a certain percentage of your royalties, which go to the manufacturer every time someone orders your product.

RELATED READ: How To Write The Perfect Book Release

The 6 Cons of Self-Publishing

Alright, now that I’ve raised your expectations and hopes, it’s time to plant your feet back on the ground.

Self-publishing isn’t all rainbows and unicorns, and before you rush into it, it’s important to keep the following cons in mind.

If you want your book to be of high quality, you will probably need to spend some money. You might think that you’ve edited your book just fine, but the moment you send it over to a professional editor, you’ll realize you’ve been sorely mistaken. One pair of eyes can only see so much. Plus, you might also need to hire a designer for your book cover.

Marketing is one of the biggest challenges of self-publishing. While traditionally published authors sometimes market their books as well, it is even more important for self-published authors to put their work out there because they aren’t backed by any publishing house. If you plan to self-publish, I suggest you start working on your social media following or on building a newsletter. You could also market your book in your local community by hanging up posters or talking to people about it.

While a traditionally published book is based on team effort, a self-published book is largely your own. This means you’ve got to carry a lot on your shoulders. You’re essentially choosing to be an editor, manager, accountant, and marketer. You’re no longer just a writer. This can be a lot to deal with.

Traditionally published authors can rely on the expert knowledge of their literary agents, editors, proofreaders, and marketing teams. They might change their book titles or make certain story changes based on recommendations from professionals who have worked in the field for decades. As a self-published author, you’ve got to figure out a lot of things on your own.

It might be difficult to get your book displayed in major bookstores because they often have deals with publishers rather than authors themselves. Many self-published books exist primarily as e-books or are sold on online platforms.

There is still some stigma around self-published books because many of them aren’t of professional quality. As a result, it may be more difficult to market and sell your book. However, plenty of self-published authors have managed to earn a full-time living, so it’s definitely possible to achieve success.

RELATED READ: Indie Publishing: A Quick Guide

Conclusion

So, is self-publishing worth it?

It depends on what you’re looking for and what kind of book you’re writing.

If you have a large social media following or are determined to level up your marketing game, it may be easy to find your target audience and therefore self-publish. If you want your book displayed in major bookstores and work with a publishing house, you may want to choose the traditional route.

Self-publishing works for some and not for others, so I would say it is worth it – but only if you know it’s the right choice for you.

The post Is Self-Publishing Worth It? A Guide to Weighing the Pros and Cons appeared first on Firstediting.com.

So, what is an editorial review? And what does it include?

Let’s unpack everything there is to know!

What is an editorial review?
“Editorial review” sounds like something akin to editing, right?

Well, it’s not too far off from the truth – if we’re talking academic publishing, that is.

In academia, an editorial review happens after you submit a paper to a specific journal. An academic editor who has knowledge in the field will go through your manuscript, recommend changes, and offer expert feedback.

This helps you polish your paper to perfection before everything goes to print.

In the realm of commercial book publishing, things are a bit different. An editorial review comes after your book has been accepted for publication and often after its publication date.

In practice, it’s what it says on the label – a public review. However, it should come from an editor, a critic, or another expert in the field rather than a reader who bought the book.

Let’s say you’ve written a non-fiction book on manifestation or spirituality. A psychologist or neuroscientist might receive a copy of your book, agree with your arguments from a scientific point of view, and then praise your book publicly. It’s essentially a form of endorsement.

Why is an editorial review important?
An editorial review is always written by a third party, which means it looks at your work objectively and with minimal subconscious bias. As such, positive feedback has more value – it means an expert who doesn’t know you has read your work and loved it.

That’s not all, though. In book publishing, editorial reviews also serve for marketing purposes.

Ever looked at a book cover and seen “completely dazzling” or such by a highly established source like Publishers Weekly?

That’s also an editorial review, as is another author’s opinion. Right now, I have The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang open in front of me, and the citation on the cover says:

“Parallels with modern Chinese history resonate deeply and darkly in this blood-soaked epic of orphans and empresses, gods and shamans.” – Daily Mail

The back cover adds:

“The best fantasy debut of 2018.” – WIRED

When you see something like that in a bookstore, you think to yourself, “Oh, interesting! These people say it’s great, so I want to read the book now!”

Of course, editorial reviews are important for different reasons as far as academic journals are concerned – they’re mostly there to keep the journal’s quality and reputation as high as possible.

RELATED READ: Using Professional Editing Services is Cost-Effective

What does an editorial review include?
In academic publishing, an editor will read through the draft you’ve submitted and:

Look at how you’ve organized your paper, from the sequence of arguments to the paragraphs and sentences
Point out sections that aren’t entirely clear and need rephrasing
Read through the eyes of the journal’s audience (scanning the text for purpose and context)
Mark grammatical errors or typos
Think over the logic behind your arguments to see whether you’ve made a good case
In book publishing, you can send out copies of your book to other authors, editors, or experts on the subject, and ask whether they’d be happy to provide a review if they decide to read your work.

You can then use the quote for marketing purposes:

Place it on the front or back cover of your book
Use it in your social media posts or other promotional materials
Add it to the “editorial reviews” section on your Amazon page
If your book is getting traditionally published, your publisher may do some of the legwork for you. However, you can always take the time to think of people you’d like a review from and then ask your editor or literary agent if they think it’s a good idea to send your work to so-and-so.

The format of the editorial review varies depending on what each person says, of course – sometimes, it’s very short (“captivating”), and other times, it’s a bit longer. Usually, though, the review shouldn’t go on for too long because otherwise it will be very difficult to use it in your marketing materials.

RELATED READ: A Critique Helps – Find Out Why

Conclusion
Now that you know what an editorial review is, what it includes, and why it’s so important, go ahead and work hard on your novel or paper. After all, the best chance to get amazing feedback is to polish your manuscript until it glistens.

Good luck and happy writing!

ORDER YOUR EDITORIAL REVIEW TODAY!

The post Why Do You Need a Professional Editorial Review? appeared first on Firstediting.com.

Every day, eleven thousand books get published around the world.

Who’s to say your story can’t be among them?

If you’ve decided to get your book traditionally published, this article is for you. Together, we’ll discuss how to get a publisher, what you need to prepare for when looking for agents, and what happens during each step of the process.

There’s a lot to unpack, so let’s get started!

Step 1: Read widely in your genre

Before you even begin to brainstorm which publishing companies you’d love to work with, there is one thing you need to be absolutely clear on.

What’s the genre of your manuscript? Is it light quirky fantasy? A feel-good romance? A narrative memoir?

Try your best to categorize it and keep an eye out for books that resemble yours. If there are two novels that are a bit like yours when blended together, all the better – publishers often enjoy pitches of this kind.

For instance, Alex Aster pitched her bestselling fantasy book Lightlark as “A Court of Thorns and Roses meets The Hunger Games”. Readers that are familiar with the genre – as well as agents and publishers, of course – see the intriguing potential arising from the mix, which posits Lightlark better on the market.

Step 2: Make your manuscript the best it can be

One draft and one round of editing won’t do.

Editors and agents are extremely busy nowadays, which means that they want your manuscript to be in absolutely top shape when it arrives in their email boxes.

Before you start sending out query letters, get another pair of eyes on your work, be it friends (who are honest), beta readers, or hired editors.

Step 3: Start sending query letters to agents

It’s common practice to have an agent: a professional person who knows the industry, sends your manuscript to publishers, negotiates on your behalf, and gets a certain percentage of your profit (only if you do make a profit – agents aren’t paid in advance, which is why they’re so selective about the authors they choose to represent).

Some popular websites to research literary agents are Query Tracker and Agent Query. You can also have a look around LinkedIn or turn to the bookshelf you have at home – most authors thank their literary agents in Acknowledgments.

When looking for an agent, pay special attention to the genres they curate and the requirements stated on their profile/website. You’re going to pour a lot of effort into querying, and it’d be a shame if you didn’t get a reply because you made formatting mistakes or didn’t follow directions.

Next comes the query letter. Most agents ask to see one; it’s essentially the first point of contact between the two of you.

A great query letter ought to contain:

• A short synopsis (between 100-300 words is enough since it’s more of a blurb than a fully fleshed-out outline) that immediately hooks the agent
• All the basic information, such as the title, the genre, and the word count
• A short bio (mention any previously published works, rewards, or other relevant information)
• A concise and professional conclusion

If there are no specific directions on the agent’s website, it also wouldn’t hurt to send over the first chapter. Some agents require a full-length synopsis alongside the query letter, which is usually 1-2 pages long.

For an example of a great query letter, see here.

Once you’ve sent your letter to some agents, it’s time to take a step back and let things unveil in their own time.

Step 4: Research & pitch to publishers

Great, you have an agent! This means the brunt of the work is on them as far as pitching is concerned. However, you don’t have to quietly sit by – you can keep researching publishers and learning more about the world of books.

Looking up publishing companies and figuring out which one you’d like best not only improves your standing with your agent – it shows you’re knowledgeable about the industry – but it also helps you navigate the publishing universe a bit better.

But how do you know where to look?

Well, first things first – you might have already heard about the Big 5:

• HarperCollins
• Penguin Random House
• Hachette Livre
• Macmillan
• Simon & Schuster

These are the five biggest publishers you could possibly pitch to, and getting published with them might come with a sense of prestige, as well as a higher marketing budget.

But before you set your sights on the Big 5, there’s one tiny thing you need to consider – a large publisher doesn’t automatically guarantee massive levels of success.

In fact, there are two potential disadvantages.

One, these publishers are so huge that they don’t have enough time to give each novel enough time and consideration. If you’re not chosen as one of the big hits, you might get lost in the vast multitude of books that come out each year.

Two, while a big publisher is more likely to offer you a higher advance (this is the money you receive before you make any sales) for your book, it might also be harder to “earn out” and therefore secure your next book with the same publisher.

And what do I mean by “earning out”? Once your book hits the shelves, the profit the publishing house makes ought to surpass the advance they’ve paid you. This way, they get to actually profit. You usually only get earnings from royalties once you’ve earned out your advance.

If you choose a smaller indie publisher, the advance might be smaller, but there’s much more time for the editor to devote all their energy to your novel and do it justice. And since it’s easier to earn out, it’s also less difficult to secure another book deal.

A good way to find small publishers is to google “small/indie publishers” and [your location] OR [your genre]. For instance, I live in Scotland, so I could consider working with Fledgling Press or Birlinn.

What’s more, don’t think that it’s either the Big 5 or a small indie publisher. There are a lot of publishers in the middle tier – take Hot Key Books, the publisher of The Cruel Prince and Clap When You Land, or Titan Books, the publisher of V. E. Schwab’s novels.

In other words, there are plenty of options out there.

Step 5: Go on submission

You and your agent have now polished your manuscript to near perfection. I say “near” because once your book gets sold to a publisher, you will go through another round of edits with an editor.

But before that happens, you’ve got one last step left to go – the mysterious submission process. This is where your agent pitches your book to editors, who then go on to pitch it to the rest of the publishing team. They might also request some changes.

This stage can take months. It might be one month and it might also be six. What can I say? The publishing world moves slowly. It takes a lot of patience to become an author.

But there’s light at the end of the tunnel! If the submission process goes well, you’ll get a book deal by the end of it.

And then it’s time to work with an editor, which means you have to rip your book apart and put it carefully back together once again. But that’s a topic for another day.

How to Get a Publisher: A Quick Recap & Tips

Since an agent takes care of a huge chunk of the pitching and selling process, your main responsibilities are to:

• Complete your manuscript and give it all you have
• Categorize your manuscript and read widely within its genre
• Research literary agents
• Craft an amazing query letter
• Get used to the idea that agents and editors will want to “kill your darlings” – from now on, the book is a collaborative process

Of course, you don’t always have to get an agent (although it’s highly recommended). Some publishing houses accept so-called “unsolicited manuscripts”, which means you can just directly submit what you’ve written.

To name just a few publishers who do this:

• Owl House Books
• Persea Books
• Shadow Mountain Publishing

…and many more. If a publishing house accepts your unsolicited manuscript, you typically don’t have to go on submission because you just get a book deal directly.

However, getting an agent is almost always an advantage because it means you have someone knowledgeable on your side. They’ll negotiate your terms, read through your contracts, and help you every step of the way.

Conclusion

Before we part for today, I have one last tip to give you – don’t feel like you have to follow the trends within your genre. Publishing takes such a long time that by the time your book is out, the trend might already be over.

At the time of writing this article, fairies and witches are in vogue. By the time you read this, they might already be out of style.

So write what you want to write. Write what sets your soul ablaze. Write and give it all you have. If you don’t give up, the day might come when you enter a bookstore and see your own story on the shelves.

The post How to Get a Publisher in 2023 appeared first on Firstediting.com.

Gone are the days when traditional publishing was the only viable way to get noticed. Sure, self-publishing has always been an option, but the costs often made it impossible for new authors to send their books into the world without also spending a large sum of money.

Enter…Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)!

With over 1.4 million self-published books released every year, Amazon KDP is considered the largest e-book hub and an amazing way to publish your work independently.

Today, we’ll have a look at all the pros of publishing with KDP, as well as a detailed breakdown of the process and multiple tips to propel you toward success.

Amazon KDP: What You Need to Know

Launched in 2007, Kindle Direct Publishing has been around for some time now – and the number of authors who choose this publishing route only keeps growing.

KDP is a friction-free way to publish your book for free and in a matter of a few hours. And since Amazon is the biggest bookstore online – especially when it comes to e-books – you’re automatically given a large platform on which to market your book.

In fact, some very successful authors started their careers via KDP, including Andy Weir (The Martian), Joanna Penn (How to Write a Novel), and Mark Dawson (the John Milton series).

Thanks to KDP, you don’t need to jump through multiple hoops to get the attention of a publishing house. Then again, traditional publishing comes with its own pros.

Which brings us to…

RELATED READ: Best Book Marketing Tips

Publishing with KDP: Pros and Cons

The pros are plentiful:

• While traditional publishing royalties range from 5-15% (after you’ve “earned out” your advance), KDP publishing royalties are up to 60% on paperbacks and 70% on e-books
• There is no upfront cost when it comes to stock and printing. Amazon prints on demand and takes the price off each sale, so the financial sum required of you to get started is precisely zero
• You get automatic access to a widespread online store (Amazon) that operates in dozens of countries worldwide
• The final product is exactly as you want it, the cover and graphic design included (because you’re in charge!)
• You keep the rights to your work through Amazon’s non-exclusive agreement (i.e., you can sell your book to other stores)
• The publishing time depends entirely on you – you can publish whenever and from wherever you want

However, make sure you take the cons into consideration as well:

• If you want a high-quality and polished product, you’ll most likely need an editor, a proofreader, and some beta readers to give you complex feedback. This comes with its own costs (while traditional publishing does this for free)
• The responsibility is fully on your shoulders. There is no way to sit back and relax while someone else does the editing, graphic design, and marketing for you
• Marketing can be tough. In an ocean of books, it’s not easy to get noticed (especially when you’re not backed up by a major publishing house), so marketing may take up a big chunk of your time
• You’ll need to learn how KDP works and how to format your book correctly
• You may also need to hire a cover artist (if you’re not one yourself)

When you’re self-publishing with KDP, you’re trading the traditional route for freedom and flexibility – but these go hand in hand with responsibility.

It’s all on you. And while that’s challenging, there’s a certain beauty to it, too.

How to Publish with KDP: A Step-by-Step Guide

At first, the process sounds easy enough:

1. Create an account
2. Upload your manuscript and cover
3. Market your book
4. Reap the rewards

In reality, it’s all a little bit more complicated. Uploading your manuscript, for instance, comes after hours spent on formatting, graphic design, and making sure your headings are in the middle of the page (because you have to take margins into consideration, as well as the trim size and a printing term called “bleed”… see? It’s already getting a little tricky).

Don’t worry, though! We’ll go through it all together, step by step.

First things first…

Create an account

Go to Kindle Direct Publishing and sign up. Fill in some basic information, and voila! You’re free to start uploading books.

The uploading process itself is quite simple. Once you choose between a Kindle e-book or a paperback underneath “Create a New Title”, there are only three pages that separate you from the final product.

Page 1: Write down your book title and an optional subtitle, as well as some details about whether this is a new edition or a part of a series. You’ll also write a description and put down keywords (this is an important part of marketing – we’ll get to it later on).

Page 2: Upload your manuscript and your cover. You can also jot down your ISBN, but if you don’t have any, KDP will create one for you free of charge.

Page 3: Choose how you’ll price your book (this impacts your royalties – the site calculates it for you), which territories it’ll be distributed to, and whether you’d like to enroll in KDP Select (a program that increases your chances of success in exchange for exclusive rights to Amazon).

Format your manuscript and cover

Book formatting is no easy business. Well, unless you’re publishing an e-book – in that case, you can use Kindle Create, an app designed specifically for Amazon KDP that offers templates, headlines, and format types that bring your book alive.

The only disadvantage is that Kindle Create exports e-books in a .kpf file, which means you won’t be able to sell this e-book anywhere else – it only works on Amazon. However, you can try to convert the file format or use a different app entirely, such as Vellum or Atticus.

Unfortunately, paperbacks aren’t so simple. When formatting your book, keep these three factors in mind:

• Trim size – this is your book’s width and length. The most common size for paperbacks is 6″ x 9″
• Margins – these are four lines of blank space (three outside margins – top, bottom, side – and one inner margin – gutter) that ensure your text isn’t cut off during printing. KDP has its own guidelines for how to set your margins
• Bleed – this printing term refers to when illustrations, colour, or other graphics extend past the trimmed section. For example, an illustration that covers both pages would need to have this option set up

As for the cover, you need to upload an image that shows the front, the spine, and the back simultaneously. You should also allow for bleed by adding an extra 0.125″ (3.2 mm) on the top, bottom, and outside edges. KDP provides a detailed guide with an image here.

Covers play a major role in sales, so make sure you find a freelance cover artist who breathes life into your book’s cover and does the story justice.

RELATED READ: Elements of a Best-selling Book Jacket Cover

Market, market, market

Alright, your book is written, edited, and formatted! Before you hit the publish button, there is one last thing to do – research your keywords.

Keywords are words or sentences that potential buyers type into the search bar. The higher you turn up on the results page, the higher your chances of selling. However, while some keywords are very relevant – if you’ve written a thriller, the words “thriller book” fit it perfectly – there may also be very high competition, making it difficult to climb up the ladder.

For this purpose, it’s best to find keywords that are in the lower range (e.g., a few thousand people search for this term per month).

Whilst “thriller book” yields over 100,000 results on Amazon at the time of writing this post, “gripping thriller book” is at 20,000, and “gripping thriller book for women” shows 10,000. This means there are still many people searching for this term, but the competition isn’t as high.

When setting up your book, Amazon KDP allows you about 7 keywords, so use them wisely. The same goes for your book description.

Okay, your book’s published now! It’s time to dust off your hands, sit back, and relax… no, hold on! Not just yet. As Penny Sansevieri says, “Now is the time when the work really starts.” Marketing takes a lot of time and effort.

You can use Amazon’s paid advertising service, offer free promotions, show your potential readers sample chapters, or do free giveaways on Instagram, to name just a few options.

If you connect with your readers on social media, you can also kindly ask them for a review. Paid reviews are forbidden, though, so keep that in mind – your readers can offer a review, but they should never feel forced to do so.

3 Tips to Propel Your Book Toward Success

1. Create a well-established social media presence. Reaching your target audience is easiest when – yep, you guessed right – you already have an audience. To grow your social media effectively, start as soon as possible, even if you’re still writing. It takes some time.
2. Invest in a high-quality editor and cover artist. If there are typos, your readers will definitely notice and won’t take your work as seriously. The same goes for your cover art – if it doesn’t look intriguing, it’s going to be much harder to sell it.
3. Offer a lot of incentives and go the extra mile for your readers. Run frequent sales, offer bonus chapters, create merchandise, and connect with your audience online. You can also sign up for Kindle Unlimited, which pays per each page read and distributes your book to a new pool of readers.

Conclusion

Publishing with KDP is a great way to get your work noticed, and there are plenty of authors who make a full-time income through the program.

However, to ensure your book is a success, marketing should take as much effort as writing. As a self-published author, you’re not only an artist – you’re a businessperson. You’re selling a product.

So give it all you have. Your book deserves it. You deserve it.

The post Publishing with KDP: A Complete Guide appeared first on Firstediting.com.

They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but most of us definitely do judge a book by its cover.
Sight is incredibly important to marketing, and the more appealing a book looks, the higher chances someone will pick it up and dive into the story you’ve so carefully crafted.

In short, a killer book cover design is a must.

Here are three ways to ensure your book’s appearance meets the standard of its contents.

#1 Know Your Market

Duh. A colourful illustrated book is for children, while a serious photo on the cover indicates we’re dealing with a classic example of literary fiction.

Right?

Wrong. While photos used to play a large role in book cover design, illustrated covers have taken the publishing world by storm in the recent decade, and literary fiction is often as colourful as they come:

What’s more, specific genres or subgenres can sometimes be spotted by a book cover alone. Take the latest boom in Greek mythology retellings or the minimalist vibes that many fantasy novels give off:

By designing your book according to the trends of the current market, you’re automatically targeting your desired audience. People find comfort in familiarity, so make your book feel like home.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t add a fun twist, though! The more interesting, the better.

RELATED READ: How to Write a Successful Book Proposal with Lisa Tener

#2 Create the Perfect Blend of Visual Elements

A great book cover design mixes three major visual elements in an eye-catching layout:

• Images or illustrations
• Colour
• Typography

While all three can play a moderate part in the design, giving off a classic feel, the most fascinating covers prioritize certain elements.

For instance, Elizabeth Lim’s Six Crimson Cranes – a fantasy book that has enjoyed wide success partly due to its gorgeous cover – prioritizes illustration and plays around with pastel colours to support the main theme of the story. The title and author’s name come second, complementing the already-established vibe.

On the other hand, Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney brings forward typography, adds an extra element via illustration, and leaves colour last – with a simple blue background, we’re better able to appreciate the title.

Some editions of this book have also come out in green or yellow, underscoring that colour plays more of a minor role here.

Lastly, The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett is a burst of colour that immediately catches your eye. Meanwhile, typography is used to support the book’s title – the words seem to be vanishing among all the intense colours – and abstract illustration is used as a canvas for the colour element.

When considering which element you should prioritize, remember to research your target market; Beautiful World, Where Are You and The Vanishing Half are classic examples of how literary fiction is portrayed nowadays, while Six Crimson Cranes makes for a magnetic fantasy cover.

RELATED READ: A Guide to Book Pricing for New Authors

#3 Don’t Forget Spine Design and Fore-edge Painting

After readers finish a book, they want to find it a cozy and fitting place on their shelf. This is where its spine plays a major role – does it fit the vibe of the front cover? Does it stand out among the other books? Does it fit the genre?

When designing a spine, include all the important information: the title, the author’s name, and the publisher or logo (you can add a fun little element if you’re self-publishing).

Next, ensure the spine elevates the overall cover. Some of the best book designs comprise a continuing illustration that crosses the spine seamlessly and continues to the back cover. If you’re writing a series, it’s vital that your book spines fit and are satisfying to look at.

Fore-edge painting – putting colour or an illustration on the edges of book pages – is more of a bonus than a necessity, but that’s exactly the reason your book will stand out. The anniversary edition of V. E. Schwab’s The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, for example, contains flowers that perfectly complement the hardback design hidden behind the book jacket cover, bringing the overall feel of the story to a new level.

So, What Makes a Compelling Book Cover?

Now that you know the three secrets of a killer book cover design, what makes it the most compelling it can be? What gives it the je-ne-sais-quoi?

It’s the way in which the cover corresponds to the story inside. While it ought to attract attention and be aesthetically pleasing to look at, the cover should perfectly fit the atmosphere hidden between the pages.

It’s not just the theme or genre that should be defined; it’s the soul of the story. Breathe life into your design, and watch it flourish.

Conclusion

Of course, it is always the words that matter most when it comes to books. However, a fantastic book cover is how you attract readers in the first place.

A book cover shouts from the rooftops, “Come and read me! Come and discover what’s inside!”

The story, on the other hand, whispers: “See? I told you. I’m amazing, aren’t I?”

Combine the two, and you’ve got yourself a potential bestseller.

The post Three Secrets for a Killer Book Cover Design appeared first on Firstediting.com.

Add the total cost of self-publishing a book into the mix, and you’ve got a real conundrum.

While authors who have been self-publishing for a while have a pretty good grasp of what works and what doesn’t – practice makes perfect, after all – new authors are entering unexplored territory.

Yes, it feels terrifying.

And yes, you don’t have to walk it all alone. In this guide, we’ll have a look at how you should price your book and what expenses to take into account.

Ready? Let’s go!

Why Book Pricing Is Important

You’ve poured your heart and soul into this story. It deserves the chance to connect emotionally with your audience. And the transaction process is your gateway.

If you price your book well, you may reach a vast pool of readers who will recommend your work to others and trigger an avalanche of positive reviews.

At its core, book pricing relies on psychology. Remember to:

• Apply the .99 technique developed by Tomáš Baťa – instead of setting the price at $8, go for $7.99
• Research the prices other successful self-published authors have used for books in your specific genre
• Analyze demand versus competition and costs versus potential revenue to arrive at a good mid-range price

RELATED READ: Is There A Difference Between Self Publishing And Independent Publishing

Different Costs of Writing, Editing, and Publishing Your Book

Speaking of costs and revenue, expenses play a large role in book pricing. If you’ve spent thousands on your book – not to mention the hours of work – you obviously want it to perform well and ideally turn into a source of passive income.

Of course, you can always do all the editing and formatting yourself, but this can easily lead to a book that hasn’t reached its full potential. The truth is, you are too emotionally involved and too submerged in the text to view it objectively. This is why professional authors hire editors and cover artists.

Here’s a summary of all the costs you may need to factor in.

Writing

This is undoubtedly the cheapest expense because, well…you’re the writer! Do consider the price of buying a writing software, though:

• Microsoft Word: $159.99
• Microsoft 365: $6.99/month
• Scrivener 3: $59.99
• Google Docs: free
• LibreOffice: free

Editing

A fresh pair of eyes puts everything into perspective.

When hiring a professional editor, the costs may vary based on your book’s genre and word count. For instance, romance books are usually cheaper to edit than literary fiction or non-fiction.

On average, expect to pay approximately:

• $0,028 per word for developmental editing (overall story structure, characterization, plot, etc.)
• $0,021 per word for copy editing (grammar, consistency, fact-checking, writing tone, etc.)]
• $0,015 per word for proofreading (spelling and punctuation, formatting issues, typos, etc.)

Some editors offer a full editorial package, while others may focus on specific parts of the process. For a 70,000-word manuscript, you can pay around $1960 for developmental editing, $1470 for copy editing, and $1050 for proofreading.

A great way to ensure high-quality editing is to hire full editing services from a company.

Formatting & Design

While formatting targets the interior design of your book – chapter headings, page numbers, images, etc. – professional designers craft the perfect cover for your book.

Prices differ based on the professional’s experience, but you shouldn’t pay more than $750. In fact, you can sometimes get a deal as low as $50! It all depends on how much effort you put into finding the right fit and which freelancer/company you ultimately choose.

RELATED READ: Additional Editing Services

Publishing

In the 21st century, transforming your text into material form can cost… nothing. Yes, that’s right.

With KDP Publishing, for example, you give Amazon the right to sell your book and take a cut of the profits. The best part? Your royalties may reach as high as 60% on paperbacks and 70% on e-books!

Compared to the average 10-12% in traditional publishing, this is quite the difference.

Other self-publishing companies, such as Ingram Spark, require a $49 setup fee, but this is still a small expense given the fact your book is being printed and distributed by them.

How to Define the Right Price for Your Book

Now that you know the average costs of self-publishing a book – authors can pay anywhere between $0 and $10,000 (frequently around $2,000) depending on who they hire, how many services they require, and which type of book they’ve written – it’s time to price it accordingly.

First, calculate a price that will increase your chances of breaking even. If you’ve spent $2,000 on self-publishing a book and set a low price of $2.99, you’ll need to sell around 1115 copies if the royalty rate is 60% just to cover your expenses.

With a price of $5.99, however, you’ll almost halve the number of copies to 556. Overall, it’s easier to sell fewer copies at a higher, yet affordable, price.

Next, consider:

• If your book is fiction or non-fiction (non-fiction tends to have higher prices)
• What genre you’re writing in
• How high your royalties are
• What platform you’re using to self-publish and what the average book pricing on this platform is
• The format (e-books are cheaper than paperbacks & hardbacks)

While the majority of self-published e-books are under $6.99, printed books can be anywhere between $6.99 to $19.99 depending on genre, format, and length.

Helpful Tips on Book Pricing

We all want our books to be bestsellers, right? Here are a few tips to help you get there:

• Introduce a pre-order discount to get a high volume of first-week sales (this is important when it comes to your position on bestseller lists)
• Offer a fun deal, such as an exclusive chapter, for an extra price
• Marketing is crucial – the more your readers connect with you (both before and after the publication date), the higher price they’ll be likely to pay. Social media is an excellent marketing tool for this reason
• After you’ve researched the market, it’s a good idea to set your price slightly lower than your competitors in order to attract customers – but don’t undervalue yourself!

Conclusion

Book pricing is always challenging, especially for new authors. If you keep the above-mentioned tips in mind, however, you’ll have a much easier time.

And if you’re feeling stressed, remember why you’re doing this in the first place: because you love writing. In the end, that’s what matters most.

The post A Guide to Book Pricing for New Authors appeared first on Firstediting.com.

The work is done. You’ve written your book, proofread the text approximately hundred and fifty times, had the perfect cover created, and now it’s time for it to see the light of day.

But hold on – there’s one element missing.

In a world oversaturated with information, reaching your target audience and creating a buzz around your book is no easy task. However, it is precisely this that can make or break the deal when it comes to sales.

Enter… a book press release! An official announcement delivered to the media, a book press release is designed to generate excitement around the book launch, expand your reach, and catch the attention of journalists, public figures, and other news outlets.

So, how do you go about writing the perfect book press release? And why do you need it in the first place?

Let’s dive in!

Why Do Authors Need a Book Press Release?

Social media rules the world nowadays, so a book press release may seem like an outdated concept. The opposite is the case. Press releases still play a major role in attracting sales, getting specific products noticed, and creating a narrative around brands and people.

This marketing tool has some great benefits:

• Free press
• Reaching a wider audience and highlighting the release date, which can impact first-week sales
• Attracting the attention of publishing houses and official media, potentially resulting in interviews

While growing your social media and establishing an author website are very effective ways of arousing interest in your work, a book press release is a great additional avenue that can expand your influence.

What Should a Book Press Release Include?

Before we unpack the process of writing the perfect book press release, it’s crucial to keep in mind what exactly will set your work apart. Journalists usually have very little time to go over the press releases sent their way, and so the best way to stand out is to abide by these rules:

Stick to the official structure detailed below. Your creativity can blossom when you describe the plot of the book, but don’t go rogue with the format. Include the basic information about the book, the release date, and some information about the author.

Create an exciting hook that will pique the person’s interest. Research shows that a strong emotional response drives customer behavior, so the journalist is more likely to see the selling potential.

Find an angle that makes the press release worthy of being published in the target media outlet. For example, a local newspaper will be interested in a book that uncovers the history of the region, while a rare topic with a twist may catch the attention of a national literary magazine.

The Necessary Elements of a Book Press Release: A Step-By-Step Guide

Every book press release follows a basic structure. Keep things nice and crispy. You should be able to craft a high-quality copy in about 500 words.

The necessary elements before you write the majority of the copy include:

1. Contact information: Name, email, phone number, website, address
2. Place and date: Include the city, state, and date
3. Publication date: Depending on when you’re sending the book press release, write either “For release on (date)” or “For immediate release”
4. Headline: Make it catchy and to the point
5. Sub-headline: Describe the work in more detail

Now for the body and soul of the text:

6. Introduction: This is the first short paragraph – sometimes referred to as the “lead” – which introduces your book in a fascinating way and answers the basic questions of who, what, when, where and why
7. Body: The second paragraph describes the compelling plot of the book (it’s essentially a synopsis). The third paragraph may include a quote from the work or a short review by a notable person, and the fourth paragraph (optional) focuses on the details of the launch event and where the public can purchase the book
8. Boilerplate/Closing: A short section about the author
9. Cover Photo: You can add a photo of the author or the book cover. Visual representation is considered to be one of the most important factors in marketing, so this move is strongly recommended

RELATED READ: How to Write a Press Release

What Makes a Great Book Press Release?

Apart from finding a compelling angle and catching the reader’s attention from the get-go, there are specific aspects you should focus on in order to create a top-quality copy.

Journalists have reported that your text ought to contain a punchy headline (don’t overdo it with the word count and avoid using cliches), needs to be written in the third person, and should make efficient use of quotes (do include them, but don’t waste their potential).

Moreover, avoid these mistakes:

• Language that’s too promotional – while a press release is a marketing tool, it’s also a statement of facts rather than an advertisement, so keep that in mind
• Too many CAPITAL LETTERS
• Incorrect punctuation
• Overusing exclamation marks

One of the best ways to craft a great copy is to research the media outlet you’re sending your book press release to and mimic their writing style. If they’ve published a book press release before, all the better – you now have a specific template to stick to!

RELATED READ: Fiction Editing Services

What Is the Best Time to Send Out a Book Press Release?

Since a book press release typically gets published on the launch date, make sure to send it at least five days in advance to give the journalists enough time.

What’s more, statistics show that the best time to send out your copy is between 10 AM and 2 PM. This is when email open rates are above 45%. The percentage drops down significantly after lunch.

Thursdays are the best days to send out a book press release, followed by Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Contrary to popular belief, Mondays aren’t necessarily the best option – while the email open rate is at its highest, the click-to-open rate is not. This is potentially due to the overwhelming atmosphere that comes with the start of the week.

So, what does this all boil down to?

Send out your book press release around 11 AM on Thursday.

RELATED READ: How to Send a Press Release

Where Should I Send a Book Press Release?

Consider your target audience and decide accordingly. While fiction authors may reach out to literary magazines or the local library newspaper, non-fiction authors can connect with organizations and media outlets whose mission resonates with the book’s message.

It also won’t hurt to send your copy to some mass media outlets or publishing houses. The more options you give yourself, the better.

Conclusion

Publishing a book press release is an excellent way to draw more eyeballs to your work. When you’re writing your copy, stick to the structure outlined above and try to come up with a captivating way to capture the reader’s attention.

This book has taken you ages to write. The time has come for the world to take notice. With the perfect book press release, you’ll ensure that it does.

The post How to Write the Perfect Book Press Release appeared first on Firstediting.com.

The post 6 Book Editing Secrets to Successful Publishing appeared first on Firstediting.com.

About us

First Editing is a family of editing and editing consultants that have been writing, editing and proofreading since 1994. This fantastic team is headed by the dynamic founder and author, JoEllen Nordstrom, a published author herself, who recognized there was a group of writers struggling to become published authors. Enter First Editing to step into the breach, help edit manuscripts and direct writers about the steps they should take. JoEllen is joined by a team of qualified editors versant in multiple genres, subject areas and even time zones. Since inception, we’ve helped 50,000 authors around the world with projects that include children’s stories, resume services, PhD theses, non-fiction essays, science fiction or romantic fiction, and just about everything else you can think of.

One of the great things about First Editing is the connection between the editing and support staff. Even though we are in locations as disparate as Australia, the Philipines, the USA and UK, there are regular team workshops, training, and online meetings and discussion to keep everyone abreast of new skills, changes, and challenges. We have also recently teamed up with Fictionary to certify our StoryCoach editors. This helps keep us current, connected, skilled and keen to share our knowledge so we can ultimately help our writers better.

Here are five other things you may not have realised about us.

1: Our services

We offer editing services in five key areas: books, academic papers, journals and scientific publications, marketing and business documents, and editorial support services such as consultations and critiques/reviews. Basically, we like to think we cover most written fields. And if you have any doubt about your work fitting in, feel free to contact us. The answer is probably yes to whatever you have written.

2: Quantity of pages edited

If you want to try our services out first before committing to a paid product, we encourage you to try our sample services. Simply submit a sample of 10,000 words to receive a same-day sample of what we can do for you, complete with tracked changes and a summary of the work performed and what level of editing we recommend you need. Once you have decided to hire us to help you, there is no limit to the quantity of pages you need to submit to us.

3: Variety/qualifications of editors

Our editors are people with real world experience that have hundreds or thousands of manuscripts to their credit that cover everything from dissertations and theses to works of fiction.

Our editors are wordsmiths and grammar Nazis by day, but also teach ballroom dancing, train guide dogs, coach school athletics, rehabilitate wildlife, keep bees and an array of pets. Some have come out of publishing houses, media editing and journalism, corporate fields or even TEFL (teaching english as a foreign language). Whatever their background and experience, they all love words and language. Read more about them here.

4: Subject-matter experts

Most of our editors have an ability to work across a variety of genres and subjects, however, we also have specialists that are experts in their field. This includes Christian writing, science fields, research papers, style guide formatting, history, geography, humanities, social sciences and more. Feel free to request a subject matter expert in your field.

5: We care about your success

We like to celebrate our authors, and give them a page on our website to laud their success. We’d love to see your work featured here too. And we also love to hear what you’ve been up to. Drop us a line and let us know how your writing is going.

While our editors are professionally trained, we like to keep up open dialogue and access between our writers and editors. Many of our editors are published writers themselves and know the hard yards required to get a book or project written and properly edited. They also know how important it is to understand the process, the mechanics of editing or writing, and what steps to take at each point of your journey. You’re in good hands with us.

Editors will answer all your questions as soon as possible, and we also have an online chat area that you can reach out at almost anytime of day with questions or concerns.

The post 5 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Our Editing Services appeared first on Firstediting.com.

Book marketing, in its simplest form, is essentially the same as any marketing—getting your product into the hands (or ears, in the case of audiobooks) of consumers. However, as Merriam-Webster notes, marketing can also be “an aggregate…of functions involved in moving goods from producer to consumer.” The word aggregate is the tip-off; book marketing is going to be a lot more involved than just printing and putting up for sale. Luckily, time can be saved by overlapping some of the steps to book marketing we’ve outlined below.

Tips for marketing your book – the writing stage

Hire a professional editor. Once your book is written and you’ve done a self-edit, maybe shared it with some beta readers to get their feedback on the content, it needs to be professionally edited. Editing may seem like an afterthought, something your cousin’s neighbor’s dog-sitter is happy to do for you because he got an A on an essay in school once. Writer beware! Just ask any author who has had to take their manuscript down from Kindle or Kobo because of all the bad reviews—not on the story line, but on the grammar and punctuation—how important it is to hire a professional editor.

Hiring a professional editor is not for the faint of wallet. However, it is an essential part of the aggregate marketing strategy for your book. There’s no sense trying to sell something people are not going to be happy with. Worse, it could ruin your reputation as an author. If you don’t have all the funds for editing on hand, you can ask your professional editor to edit a few chapters per pay period, to help spread the cost out more evenly over your budget. The worst they can say is no, and then, do you really want to work with that type of editor?

Once your manuscript is professionally edited, it’s on to the next step: formatting.

Format your book. “If you want to give a professional impression when you attempt to market your manuscript, it has to be formatted properly and presented in the best way possible,” says JoEllen Nordstrom, founder of FirstEditing.com, in her blog post “Marketing Your Manuscript.” Formatting a manuscript correctly depends on where it’s going next: uploading directly to a self-publishing platform, or sending it to a publishing house or marketing agency in search of representation.
The Chicago Manual of Style recommends a neutral formatting for submitting your manuscript to US-based publishing houses/marketers. Start with using letter-sized paper, which is 8.5” x 11”. Then choose one-inch margins all the way around. Chapter titles, headings, and subheadings throughout the manuscript get consistent treatment regarding font size, capitalization, and whether the text is set in italics or roman (see CMOS for details). Font should be something with “feet,” such as Garamond or Times New Roman. Line spacing is double-spaced. Paragraphs will be indented a half-inch, with no space between paragraphs. Text is left-adjusted, rather than center justified, meaning the right edge will appear “ragged.”

For international publication, check with the publishing house/marketer; they may prefer A4 paper and .33-inch paragraph indentations. The rest is essentially the same.

Formatting for an ePublisher upload can be different. Font with feet is still easier to read than, say, Calibri, and it should still be size 12. Line spacing can be closer, maybe 1.5 or 1.15, and most authors prefer their books to be center justified rather than left-adjusted. Nowadays, some authors are forgoing the paragraph indentation and instead using a space between paragraphs (but not a blank line; use the Paragraph spacing option in MS Word for consistent spacing).

Once your text is formatted, give it a once-over to make sure you haven’t left anything underlined (an indication to a publisher that something should be set in italics), bolded (except headings and subheadings, if desired), or all caps. Rather than gaining a publisher or reader’s attention, those formatting faux pas are likely to annoy them instead.

Developing a marketing strategy

Before or during the editing and formatting stages, take the time to develop a marketing strategy. Without a strategy, you’ll be working tirelessly with no structure and probably very few results, wasting time and money.

As JoEllen Nordstrom, founder of FirstEditing.com writes in her blog “Book Marketing Before Publication,” there are essentially five steps you can take to market your book before it’s even published.

1. Website development: Have a landing page for your readers to learn about you, your book, any contests/giveaways, etc. Include here your author bio, synopsis of the book, any news events related to the book, schedule for the book launch, invitation to in-person or Zoom book launch parties, and of course all your social media links. And remember to add the link to purchase the book!
2.  Social media presence: Add your social media links everywhere, and also the link to purchase your book once it’s published. Cross-reference all your social media links; add your Twitter link to your LinkedIn profile, add your YouTube channel link to your Instagram page, etc.
3. Alert your personal network: Let your friends, family, colleagues, and followers know in advance that the book is coming out, and simply ask them to help you promote it. You can make it fun, with in-person (once it’s safe to do so post-pandemic) or online Zoom parties (where people come into the call and say nice things about you and share happy memories about how you know each other).
4. Prepare to get book reviews: Magazines, trade publications, podcasters, radio, and media reviewers have different deadlines for when they need an advance copy of your book in order to read it and review it. You’ll want to time that so their review comes out near your publication date.
5. Create an editorial calendar: Put your matchmaking hat on; match your book’s theme/protagonist with real-world events, such as a book about moms being promoted for Mother’s Day, a romance novel coming out for Valentine’s Day, or if your protagonist is a pirate, put your book for sale on September 19, International Talk Like a Pirate Day! You get the idea.

The Elite Authors blog “How to develop a marketing strategy for your nonfiction book” contains a plethora of information that can be boiled down to a few major points.

• Identify your audience so you can target the right readers. Targeted marketing might be self-evident in this day and age, but it bears repeating. Don’t waste time, money, or energy marketing to people who will definitely not buy your book.
• Write a succinct book description to compel your target audience to purchase your book. Think about the back-cover blurb. If you watch people go into a book store (in the Before Times), they usually pick up a book, look at the cover, then immediately turn it over and read the back. That’s where you want to draw them in and make a sale. If the cover art says pick me up, the book description says buy me.
• Market online to reach the whole world; market in person to reach a local audience. When it’s safe to do local book store launches again, work with the proprietor and learn from their experience what will make a successful in-person book launch. Don’t be afraid to go outside your own comfort zone (some writers prefer pen and paper to people). Rely on their expertise.

Writing a marketing plan for nonfiction

In an interview with KindlePreneur Dave Chesson, JoEllen Nordstrom discusses the three main phases of marketing your eBook. Watch the video to learn more.

• Phase 1: Before writing your book, research your market, competition, effective writing tools, and finally, plan, outline, and write your book.
• In Phase 2: Putting your book together helps you select a title, subtitle, book cover, description, editor, keywords, categories, author page details, bio description, and how to sell on Amazon, Kobo, and beyond.
• The final Phase 3: Launching your book explains how to track books sales, email followers, use book promo sites, create ads, get reviews, create a press release, and network with other authors.

The ReedsyBlog goes even further, with five steps to marketing your nonfiction book and even has a checklist you can download.

• Step 1: Develop the core message of your nonfiction book
• Step 2. Nail your book description
• Step 3: Build Your Platform
• Step 4: Advertise and promote your book
• Step 5: Take care of your subscribers (and monetize them)

Conclusion

While writing, editing, and formatting your book is essential, without marketing, you’re not likely to get your book into the hands (or ears) of many readers/listeners. You can start to develop a marketing strategy before your book is even written, while your book is with the editor/formatter, or even while taking breaks from writing/revision. Get a head start by drafting your author bio, synopsis, and query letter. Create a website and social media presence for the book. Know your target audience and where you’re most likely to reach them. Get a list together of your biggest fans (personal and professional) and enlist them in helping you market your book. Make that launch date something people want to be part of. Remember to make it fun!

The post Best Book Marketing Tips appeared first on Firstediting.com.