I'm seriously considering self-publishing my children's book. A publisher has just rejected it after reading the full but says he really liked it (didn't suit their list), and I've had some fairly constructive comments from agents. I just don't want to keep sending it out any more.

I have a friend painting a cover, so that's one problem solved and I don't think it needs any more editing after all the input from WW friends.

I like the idea of e-books and that seems to be the way it's going, but I still want to end up with a REAL book that I can hold as well. I would like there to be a link to Amazon, or google, or something, but don't know where to start.

Is anyone able to advise me on which firms might suit, or indeed, any to absolutely avoid? Last night I browsed a few, eg lulu.com, but don't even know how to work out what size of book I'd need. And how can you tell what the quality of the paper, binding etc will be like?

I don't mind paying but don't want to spend lots as I don't suppose I'd sell many copies to get it back.

I'd be really grateful for any advice from those of you who have been down that road.

Thanks, Pat

For ebooks I would go with Smashwords or Amazon's Createspace, as both are becoming well known with the readers. The only problem with e-publishing childrens fiction is so few children in oyur target readership will have Kindles or similar. YA e-books are far more popular because by then teens can read them off their mobile phones.
Also price to sell = 99p

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Similarly, PoD publishing, eg via Lulu, may not be suitable for childrens fiction as it relies on adults buying it online.

If you are prepared to visit local bookshops, schools, libraries, craft fairs, markets, etc, it can be worth getting a limited print run done at your local printers and selling them direct to the readers. You won't need an ISBN number, although if oyu don't have one then readers can't order it via the library or bookshops - but you could have a tie in with an ebook whoch could be bought online.

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Alternatively, you could have your own website, convert the mss to a .pdf file, and offer it as a free download.

I don't think it needs any more editing after all the input from WW friends.

Despite that, I would seriously consider using a professional proofreader. If you're self publishing (and I've looked into this in great detail in the recent past) you don't get the cushion of a publisher's inhouse editor/proofreader, and there will inevitably be glitches that - with all the best will in the world - no one has spotted, or has spotted but didn't mention because they assumed they would be combed out in the final edit.

Trust me... self published books have to be word perfect!

Good luck,

Dee

If you decide to proof read it yourself, then get a copy printed off Lulu, or similar, as it's far easier to see mistakes in a book than on screen or off an A4 printout.

Thanks, Dan, Naomi and Dee. It's actually more complicated than I thought, so I'm going to look into this a while longer. Maybe send to a few more agents /publishers first to give it one last try before going down the self-publishing route. Meanwhile I'm grateful for the advice.

Pat

Pat, I know the writer Joanna Penn is very knowledgable about this:

Check out her blog/podcast and best of luck!

http://www.thecreativepenn.com/

Thanks Caroline. I've had a quick look at that, but will study it more later. At the moment I feel a bit 'bogged down' with it all! Self-publishing is definitely not the easy option!

Pat

Best, most up to date and on the button info is in the blogs of Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch. I'd also listen to the Dragon Page podcasts - the two writers who do it are also leading experts in the field.

Terry

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Oh, and it's probably worth checking out the blog of Amanda Hocking who's currently selling around 100,000 books a month, self-published via Kindle.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qWOy4p4MvM

I've just watched this, thanks a lot, Terry. I'm going to try and do this, but at the moment I feel a bit overwhelmed by it all.
I somehow thought you would send it in in the same way as to an agent, and someone would work out the size, measurements, the 'bleed'(??) etc etc. It seems you have to actually know quite a lot of technical stuff first (which I don't!) So I'm not sure where to start.
I do know that I definitely want to be able to have hard copies as well as kindle etc.
Just trying to get my head around it all!

Pat

Pat, it is daunting but I don't think you have to be technically minded. You mostly have to decide which path you want to follow: traditional publishing or self-publishing (or both!). With the former, everything gets done for you . . . or at least, it used to. In reality, you're really now hoping that traditional publishing puts serious money into your book, because if it doesn't, it could be argued there isn't a lot of point. Sure, you get your book 'out there' but only for a limited time and then it's dead. And the fact is, publishers are putting less and less time and money into anything other than their big-hitters. With self-publishing, yes you'll have to learn stuff and/or pay someone to help you. But at least it's getting your work out there, instead of sitting around waiting for publishers to reject it endlessly, year on year.

I think you just have to dive in! I'd start with Kris Rusch's most recent blog posts on the business and freelancing side of writing. Read the comments posted by others, too; some real heavy-weights contribute to her posts.

Terry

Thanks again, Terry. I'm waiting for my artist friend to complete the cover picture, then as you say, I think the answer is just to dive in and do it!

Pat

Amanda Hocking is a phenomenon of e-publishing, in the same way as JK Rowling was a phenomenon in childrens fiction, ie, right story/'voice' (teen vampires for teen readers brought up on Twilight), right time (the cusp of ebook downloads), and pile 'em high, sell 'em cheap marketting (as cheap as a phone app) - half a doz in the series so far and now she's getting volume sales, and marketting via facebook & word of mouth amongst teen readers.


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A lot of people are saying if she can do it, anyone can, but that's like saying if JK Rowling can be a bilionaire, anyone can.

This might interest you, from an indie publisher.

http://www.snowbooks.com/weblog/2011/03/selfpublished_millionaire_says.html

Thanks Jenn. Am I being really stupid here, (most likely!) but I've read this link (at least a lot of it) and I can't decide if they, (Snowbooks), are ordinary publishers or if indeed are doing self-publishing.
They say to submit the whole ms, but they might reject it. It's probably just me, my brain is overworked on the subject, but nothing seems straightforward at all!
I think what I need is someone who has self published a children's book, in a way that gives you the option for both actual books and e-books aswell, to tell me where I can send the ms and someone there will help me work out the finer points, eg ISBN, measurements, quality of paper etc. without it costing a fortune.
At the moment I feel confused and weary just reading and thinking about it. Oh dear!!

Pat

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I think what I mean is what exactly is an indie publisher?

Snowbooks is not a self publishing outfit - although they are interested in it, I think. They are a small traditional publisher - which means they pay you to publish your book and they do the covers, editing, proofreading, marketing and distribution etc. I just forwarded the link to the blog post because I thought you might find it interesting.

Indie means independent of the really big publishing companies like Hachette Livre, for example. It means they are smaller - but not tiny or unknown. Faber and Bloomsbury are independent too.

Maybe Completely Novel might be what you are looking for. They help with self publishing - POD and online, and although I haven't worked with them myself they are decent and transparent about what they do.

With any form of self publishing, it is going to be more intensive than just sending an ms to someone and paying for the books to be printed - you have to do yourself all the jobs that the publisher usually does. Finding someone who had done it before and can advise you might help.

There's PenPress too - never worked with them but heard someone mention it the other day.

Does Anne Brooke, who used to post here, use digital self publishing companies to get her work out there? I could be misremembering. She might be a person who could signpost you to some reputable companies.

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Here's the link to Completely Novel. Am I allowed to post that here? I don't work for them or anything, just thought it might be worth a look. They also say they will recommend you a freelance editor / proof reader if that is what you want.

http://www.completelynovel.com/