Trials and Tribulations of a Self-Published Author

David Burrows

Author of The Prophecy of the Kings

An epic fantasy trilogyhttp://davidburrows.org.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/authordavidburrows

David’s Books

The Presentation Describes How I Created my Books?

• How did I go from words on A4 to the final article?

• Or as Baldric (Black Adder) put it– How did the state of being at war come about

from the state of the war not being?

Author Skills - Ideal World

• Writing should be idyllic. On a beach, creating a masterpiece

However - Self Published Author Skills

• A self published author needs the following skills:– Writing– Imagination– Proof reader– Editor – Publisher– Artist– Literary agent– Web design– Marketing– Financial– People skills– Front man– Drive!

How to write a novel?http://davidburrows.org.uk/start_a_book_tips.html

• How to Start Writing a Book• My Top Tips for Writers• My Experiences Creating a Plot• Creating Character names• Advice on Choosing a Genre• Making your Plot Interesting• My Advice on Writer’s Block• Should you Pay for a Review?• How to get Published• A guide to Self-Publishing• Writing a Synopsis and a Blog

How to find the time?

• My Experience– Pregnant wife

– Three books • At least two pregnancies

• OR– Broken leg

• Couple of short stories

Difficult Experiences

• Names– Moira

– Ariome– A witch!

• On line Editors– Sharks on the Internet

English is personal taste

My Experience with Literary Agents

• Are you an established author

• No?!– Then it will be rubbish, dear.

• Friend and family– They would say that, dear

• US experience– Pat Gibson and the FBI

Baby Steps?

• Library offered to host manuscripts featuring local authors.

• My first publication– A4 in a folder!

• Result?– People are fussy and who can blame them.

Next Step Book Publishing

• Build a printing press

• Plenty of glue

• Not too much glue!!

• Industrial line

Book Publishing

• Build a printing press

• Plenty of glue

• Not too much glue!!

• Industrial line

• Use of a cloth spine

• A4 in two columnsPage 1 Page 2

Page 1 Page 2 A4

A4

Now What?

• Back to the library

• Success of sorts…

POD – Print on Demand

• LULU, Createspace

• Professional book publishing

• One off printing

• Book covers!!

POD – Print on Demand• LULU, Createspace

• Professional book publishing

• One off printing

• Book covers!!

Some published books ….

Marketing

• Website

• Links to book

• Reviews

• Book signing

• Talks

• Forum– By invitation only

More sharks

Marketing

• Website• Links to book• Reviews• Book signing• Talks• Forum

– By invitation only

• Costs money!

More sharks

Marketing

• Website

• Links to book

• Reviews

• Book signing

• Talks

• Forum– By invitation only

marketing writing

Marketing

• Website

• Links to book

• Reviews

• Book signing

• Talks

• Forum– By invitation only

marketing writing

Book signing

• Be prominent

• Fliers

• Business Cards

• Talk to folk

• Media coverage– Before and after

Where Too Now?Who Knows? Life is a Journey.

Questions?