Self-Publishing Support Thread

[APodPerson]

Hi all,

Following a number of other threads suggesting this, I thought I’d set up a support thread for us self-publishers (although traditionally published are welcome too of course).

The purpose would be for us all to support each other, share our books, tips and tricks that have worked, and anything else self-publishing related.

MNHQ have given us the go ahead, although of course we need to make sure we behave ourselves, and if it ends up being nothing but spam it'll get pulled.

So, Rule 1: No spam!

I suggest one post introducing yourself with a link to your books, and goodreads profile, twitter, fb page, website etc, but then no further links or any kind of self promo unless it is directly related to a question from another poster.

I've popped the blurb and the opening chapter on my GoodReads page if anyone wants to take a look (and / or has more comments on the blurb) and shout line.

www.goodreads.com/story/show/370408-changed-souls

Haha, brilliant!! Will try look at the Goodreads link but if it asks for my password then I'm humped.

Very good, gives enough away but leaves you wanting more. Well done.

So how's everyone going at the moment?

I'm currently wading through proof-reading and trying to get a response from the person I'm hoping will design my front cover.

Not great ATM, Granita. I have writer's block and seem
To have lost my funny, with chick-lit book 3!!
One of the things my reviewers say is that they laugh out loud at some of the lines. I'm going to sit down today and try and inject some humour.

Have you thought about designing your own cover? It's great fun if you're arty. I did two of mine and really enjoyed it.

Hello!
Great to hear you're all getting on with stuff. I've been moving house, had weeks without internet and to make matters worse my computer got broken in the move. I've got it back now (thank goodness) but still utterly snowed under with kids and house stuff. Very frustrating when I'm desperate to get on with getting the book out there/writing the next one.
GM, good to hear of your self-publishing plans.

Oh no, so sorry to hear that the computer was broken! I guessed the radio silence was just the whole house move stuff.

I have to admit that I'm still faffing with the racism angle of the book. For YA, how racist can I get the heroine to be? How racist can the close 3rd person narrator get? How much does she need to consciously realise she was wrong? I'm pretty sure that I'm fairly historically correct about attitudes towards ethnic minorities in early 20th century USA, but wouldn't want to upset contemporary readers (well, I guess I do want them to be upset but in a learning way and to see that Lucille is wrong).

Meanwhile, a couple of minor characters turned out to be gay, which was unexpected. (Probably everyone else thought they were gay all along.)

Hey guys, how is everyone getting on? I've shelved my latest MS and started a new one today. Only written 1k words but think I may have found my funny again. Have decided I need to stick to Celtic style humour, it seems to work for me.

I'm back at my desk in my writing room in the new house! Scrivener is open, the kids are at school.... things may start to happen again

How's the new one going, Fackinell?

Granita, any progress with the self-pubbing?

It's going good thanks, Tunip. Around 2k words in, only 78k to go haha. Well done you for getting back on it. The new season coming up feels inspiring.

Hi all. I'm looking for some advice! So I sent my novel to quite a few agents, have been rejected by all but 4, and still waiting for those last few to come in. I'm assuming they're all going to be rejections, I have rejigged the novel a bit since submitting and I'm itching to just get the damn thing on Amazon. I feel even if a few people read it and I make a tiny amount of money and if one of two people like it (I'll use a pen name in case it gets slated), the whole thing will have been worth it, and then I can happily continue with my second novel, which I have started. Should I wait though? (I sent out my novel to agents mid-July, so it's been two months. I know it's early days but I'm really impatient, and I truly expect the final responses to all be 'no's; I know how fiercely competitive it all is and I fear my book may be utter utter shit.

My other question concerns beta readers. No-one has read my novel but me. The only person who knows I've even written it is my husband and he only reads football biographies so he's no help. I haven't told anyone else in RL as I am scared of looking a fool if my writing is crap and this whole endeavour ends in nothing. And I've looked at/tinkered with the bloody thing so many times now I just don't know anything anymore! Have any of you used beta readers before self-publishing and where did you find them? Will I break any mumsnet rules if I just ask on 'chat' or 'fiction' if anyone wants to read it??
I'm a complete novice at this, as you can tell! Any advice would be gratefully received.

Ps. Sorry, should have said I hope everyone else is getting on ok before launching in. (...Oh it's just all 'me, me, me'...Sorry!)

My advice would be don't put book out there you fear may be utter utter shit. I've got a few of those manuscripts, and I wouldn't inflict them on the world!
Getting feedback is a great idea, though. I asked friends, then friends of friends, then paid for some feedback and started MA for some more. I also started a local writing group by advertising on twitter. Good luck!

Thank you both for your advice. I've found a beta reader through a forum and will wait for their conclusions before deciding whether to publish or bin! Thanks again.

I agree Guilianna - feedback is everything. Make it as good as possible before sending it to agents or self-publishing.

I'm finally approaching publication date - would anyone like a copy of my novel in exchange for a review on GoodReads and Amazon? (Honest reviews wanted, of course, not puff-pieces.)

Meanwhile, I have to share my website-in-progress for the book with you all: www.soundandfurypress.co.uk/

You'll see the book blurb as drafted on this very thread!

Wow, massive GO YOU!!!!

I love the Sound and Fury website.

Thank you Tunip!

Hello everyone.
I haven't got very far lately but I see GrendelsMinim is going great guns.

Anyone else got any recommendations for good cover designers?

Hello! I came here because of a thread I posted in AIBU , which everyone told me was spam, about my mum's new book (Christmas at Great Madden www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00PFTJ2W8/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1415744008&sr=8-3&pi=SY200_QL40£.

I really want to read other MNers books so am delighted to find this thread! imperial -your link from June goes to three books...are the first two yours?

I've commissioned my cover designer!

He's too busy to start right away but it'll be ready in about a month.

Has anyone on here set up their own imprint and bought ISBNs?

I'm about to do this so I can have something other than 'Createspace' on my spine and so if I ever want to move the printing to somewhere else I'd be able to keep the same ISBN. Is it really as easy as it looks?

My author Facebook page is up-and-running - here
It's very gratifying to see how many of my friends have liked it. But even more gratifying that I already have quite a few likes from people I don't know. Am trying not to be too surprised at the fact that there are people out there interested enough in my writing to want updates on their feed