Self publishing opportunities made available by Amazon continue to flourish. A key part of these developments are the model and the tools Amazon provides us. Yet, beware, not all self publishing efforts equally benefit from these opportunities. Some tips on how to make the most of your efforts at self publishing on Amazon follow.
There's no arguing with the numbers. U.S. ISBN figures show self-publishing in 2012 jumping to over 391,000 titles. This is up 59% over 2011 - 422% over 2007.
This phenomenal expansion has been the result of the e-book revolution. By 2012 e-books were 40% of those self published ISBNs. That's an increase from 11% in 2007 - nearly a 400% rise.
For the aspiring, self publishing, author these numbers point to two obvious facts. One, the opportunities have never been greater. And, two, neither has been the competition.
To benefit from these opportunities, more than ever, the aspiring self publisher must learn to distinguish him or herself. Self publishing on Amazon puts some great tools at your disposal. If you fail to make the most of them, it is only you who will suffer. Considering the three things discussed below will not guarantee your book's success. Neglecting them though is guaranteed to put you behind the eight ball right from the start.
Begin with your author's page. There is provided a place to post a photo. Surprisingly (or maybe not) most beginners post their book's cover art. I strongly recommend against this, unless of course your book cover has a picture of your smiling face.
Authors assume no one wants to see how they look. It's all about the work, right? However, the research reveals that assumption is exactly wrong. A feeling of personalized connection to the author can be a key consideration among prospective readers. It can make the difference in whether they lay down the dollars to buy your book. Your pride in your cover art is lovely, but it is some sense of a connection to you that will likely be the deal breaker or maker.
Standard head shots are usually the right choice. As in all walks of life, you're a bit ahead if you're good looking. Don't be hesitant to post your most flattering picture, though. Whatever you look like, trust me: a personal pic is better than not having one. And, at the risk of stating the obvious, smile at the camera! And, absolutely no sunglasses! A picture concealing your eyes may be the one thing worse than not having a personal pic at all.
Secondly, the author's page also offers occasion to write a blurb about who you are. Way too many aspiring authors treat this opportunity in far too cavalier a manner. As with the matter of the photo, a belief that your book speaks for itself is indeed cavalier.
Alas, however great your book is, it can't speak for itself if no one reads it! Your mission, dear author, should you choose to accept it, is to actually prompt a potential reader to read it. A conviction that the author who wrote it is interesting enough to have something to say that is worth reading goes some way in that direction.
You're a writer, right? So write. All due and proper modesty notwithstanding, I'm quite certain it's not too much of a stretch to make yourself sound interesting. Emphasize the aspects of your life and experience that reveal you as a good candidate to have written a compelling and engaging book on your chosen topic.
If it's a cook book, what is your culinary resume? If it's a detective novel set in 1890s New York, how do you come to have such as expertise on the time period? If it's a how-to book, let them know how your background should will give them confidence that you really do know how? You're following the gist of the mission, I presume.
Last, but, I assure you, very far from least, consider your book's description. Some self publishing authors initially balk at this when I say it, but it's the truth: writing your book's description is more challenging than the writing of your book - at least sentence by sentence. Think about it. After they've already invested their hard earned cash into buying your book, most readers will give you at least 20 pages or so to convince them to continue. In your book description, where they have nothing invested, you have about 20-30 seconds to win them over. The occasional instance of flawed prose may slip by in the book; it won't here. It'll cost you readers and money.
Again, your book, however wonderful, is unable to speak for itself until prospective readers buy it. Until they do, you've got to do all the speaking. The short version of a great book description is simply stated: in just a few sentences you have 1) tell them, 2) entice them and 3) show them.
Explaining all this is another whole article on its own. If you want a detailed explanation of what's involved, have a gander at my piece dedicated to the topic of doing your book description well.
Attention to these three matters is essential to avoid taking yourself right out of the game from the start. Self publishing on Amazon is an opportunity and a challenge. You have to meet the latter to benefit from the former.
There's no arguing with the numbers. U.S. ISBN figures show self-publishing in 2012 jumping to over 391,000 titles. This is up 59% over 2011 - 422% over 2007.
This phenomenal expansion has been the result of the e-book revolution. By 2012 e-books were 40% of those self published ISBNs. That's an increase from 11% in 2007 - nearly a 400% rise.
For the aspiring, self publishing, author these numbers point to two obvious facts. One, the opportunities have never been greater. And, two, neither has been the competition.
To benefit from these opportunities, more than ever, the aspiring self publisher must learn to distinguish him or herself. Self publishing on Amazon puts some great tools at your disposal. If you fail to make the most of them, it is only you who will suffer. Considering the three things discussed below will not guarantee your book's success. Neglecting them though is guaranteed to put you behind the eight ball right from the start.
Begin with your author's page. There is provided a place to post a photo. Surprisingly (or maybe not) most beginners post their book's cover art. I strongly recommend against this, unless of course your book cover has a picture of your smiling face.
Authors assume no one wants to see how they look. It's all about the work, right? However, the research reveals that assumption is exactly wrong. A feeling of personalized connection to the author can be a key consideration among prospective readers. It can make the difference in whether they lay down the dollars to buy your book. Your pride in your cover art is lovely, but it is some sense of a connection to you that will likely be the deal breaker or maker.
Standard head shots are usually the right choice. As in all walks of life, you're a bit ahead if you're good looking. Don't be hesitant to post your most flattering picture, though. Whatever you look like, trust me: a personal pic is better than not having one. And, at the risk of stating the obvious, smile at the camera! And, absolutely no sunglasses! A picture concealing your eyes may be the one thing worse than not having a personal pic at all.
Secondly, the author's page also offers occasion to write a blurb about who you are. Way too many aspiring authors treat this opportunity in far too cavalier a manner. As with the matter of the photo, a belief that your book speaks for itself is indeed cavalier.
Alas, however great your book is, it can't speak for itself if no one reads it! Your mission, dear author, should you choose to accept it, is to actually prompt a potential reader to read it. A conviction that the author who wrote it is interesting enough to have something to say that is worth reading goes some way in that direction.
You're a writer, right? So write. All due and proper modesty notwithstanding, I'm quite certain it's not too much of a stretch to make yourself sound interesting. Emphasize the aspects of your life and experience that reveal you as a good candidate to have written a compelling and engaging book on your chosen topic.
If it's a cook book, what is your culinary resume? If it's a detective novel set in 1890s New York, how do you come to have such as expertise on the time period? If it's a how-to book, let them know how your background should will give them confidence that you really do know how? You're following the gist of the mission, I presume.
Last, but, I assure you, very far from least, consider your book's description. Some self publishing authors initially balk at this when I say it, but it's the truth: writing your book's description is more challenging than the writing of your book - at least sentence by sentence. Think about it. After they've already invested their hard earned cash into buying your book, most readers will give you at least 20 pages or so to convince them to continue. In your book description, where they have nothing invested, you have about 20-30 seconds to win them over. The occasional instance of flawed prose may slip by in the book; it won't here. It'll cost you readers and money.
Again, your book, however wonderful, is unable to speak for itself until prospective readers buy it. Until they do, you've got to do all the speaking. The short version of a great book description is simply stated: in just a few sentences you have 1) tell them, 2) entice them and 3) show them.
Explaining all this is another whole article on its own. If you want a detailed explanation of what's involved, have a gander at my piece dedicated to the topic of doing your book description well.
Attention to these three matters is essential to avoid taking yourself right out of the game from the start. Self publishing on Amazon is an opportunity and a challenge. You have to meet the latter to benefit from the former.
About the Author:
All you aspiring self publisher types, you need to keep up on the killer tips and trends at Self Publishing on Amazon . Lance Fallbrook regularly scribbles about writing and writers at a number of writing related blogs. Check out his controversial list of top 20 most famous American authors .
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