writing and publishing options for first-time authors
DESCRIPTION
Here are the slides from my recent writing and publishing seminar in Las Vegas.TRANSCRIPT
Phil Simon!President and Founder!Motion Publishing!!June 7, 2013!InNEVation Center!
• Author of five non-fiction books!• Founder and president of Motion
Publishing!• www.philsimon.com!• www.motionpub.com!• @philsimon!• [email protected]!
• 9:00 – 10:30: Introduction & Publishing Options!
• 10:45 – 12:00: The Writing Process!
• 12:00 – 1:00: Lunch!• 1:00 – 2:15: Cover, Design, and
Marketing!• 2:30 – 4:00: Myths, Potpourri, and
Q&A!Publishing Seminar, # 3!
• Who are you?!• Where are you from?!• What have you written
before?!• What do you hope to learn
and achieve today?!• Favorite movie?!
Publishing Seminar, # 4!
“The future ain’t what it used to be.” !
–Yogi Berra!
Publishing Seminar, # 5!
• Option 1: Traditional publisher.!
• Option 2: Using subsidy press (read: AuthorHouse, Lulu, etc.)!
• Option 3: Using a micropublisher.!
!Publishing Seminar, # 6!
• Traditional publisher – small advance!
• Subsidy press – Anywhere from $2k to $5k, depending on options!
• Micropublisher – $10 - $15k, depending on options!
Publishing Seminar, # 7!
Publishing Seminar, # 8!
• Option 4: Self-publish, build a tribe, and then move to traditional publishers. !
!
It depends on:!• The type of book you’re writing!• Your platform!• Your goals!• Your budget!• Your timeframe!• Your experience!
!Publishing Seminar, # 9!
Publishing Seminar, # 10!
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find us working." !- Pablo Picasso !
Publishing Seminar, # 12!
• 500 words/day!• 100 days!• 50,000 words!
Publishing Seminar, # 13!
• Get it down before you get it right.!
• Get it down before it gets away.!
• Myth: Your book has to be on an original topic.!
Publishing Seminar, # 14!
• Mistake: Concurrently working on multiple books.!
• Writing is a skill.!• When you finish your manuscript, it’s
time for editing.!
Publishing Seminar, # 15!
• Types of editing:!• Developmental!
• Proofreading!
Publishing Seminar, # 16!
• Copyediting
@aarongoldfarb www.aarongoldfarb.com
Selling books is hard.!!Really hard.!
Publishing Seminar, # 19!
Publishing Seminar, # 20!
• Cover mistakes:!• DIY!• Too many words!• Print too small!
Publishing Seminar, # 21!
Publishing Seminar, # 22!
• I can should design my own cover.!• I can edit and proofread my own work.!• I can design my own book and ebook.!• It’s easy to get my book in B&N.!
Publishing Seminar, # 25!
• You get what you pay for.!• With design, err on the side of
simplicity. Less is more.!• Write what you know.!
Publishing Seminar, # 26!
• I can/should start marketing after I finish my book.!
• I can do all of my marketing and promotion in my spare time. !
• PR firms can guarantee success.!• Ignoring book reviews.!
Publishing Seminar, # 27!
“All publishing is self-publishing.”!Seth Godin!
• The author’s platform is paramount. !
Publishing Seminar, # 28!
• Traditional publishers market their authors.!
• The quality of your writing and idea are paramount.!
• Books are a “special” business.!• Selling books is easy.!
Publishing Seminar, # 30!
• All self-publishing is created equal.!• Getting into Barnes and Nobles is easy.!• I don’t need an online presence to sell
books.!!
Publishing Seminar, # 31!
• LightningSource!• BookBaby!• Lulu, AuthorHouse,
iUniverse!• Square iPhone/iPad app!
Publishing Seminar, # 32!
• KindleDirect!• 99Designs, oDesk, FivErr, !• GoodReads!• Dan Poynter books on
self-publishing!• MotionPub.com!
Publishing Seminar, # 33!
• Writing gets easier over time.!
• Don’t be afraid to take a break.!
• Carry a recorder or pen and paper with you at all times.!
Publishing Seminar, # 34!
• Writing is inherently fun and rewarding.!• Writing well is hard work.!• Writing is one of my favorite headaches.!• Writing is in many ways just like every
other business (read: risk vs. reward).!
Publishing Seminar, # 35!
Publishing Seminar, # 36!
Publishing Seminar, # 37!
Thank you for coming!!