I've published a bloody book!

[ChequeredPasta]

Can't believe I''m writing this.....
So I've written a book. Didn't show it to anyone I knew, felt too embarrassed (Feels like showing people my insides, you know?)
Anyway, I sort of knew I didn't want to send it to any agents, as I couldn't be bothered with the whole 'Wait for 6 months to receive a crushing rejection' dance. And also, I wanted to retain control over my work, and have a little project to play with.
So, I paid to have it edited privately, paid for a cover....and I've published it on amazon. And it's sold some copies!
I was to cash in the tenner I've made and have it framed
Just thought I'd share. Anyone out there struggling along, or maybe struggling with your confidence, hear this. This time next year, a year will have passed regardless of what you do. You can either write a book and get it out there, or not. The year will pass anyway. What have you got to lose? Life is not a practice run.

Keep up the good work everyone! I'm off for a massive

I'm really enjoying the book Chequered. Your plotting and pace are really strong. I'm totally not setting myself up as an expert, but if you'd like more reader feedback then do drop me a pm.

Good for you! I'm going to buy that.

I gave up writing, but it's left a bit of a vacuum....I think I'd have to self publish anyway because of the control thing....maybe I'll start again.

Thank you Lonny! I've sent you a pm

Lorelei - oooh you should do it! I'd really recommend self publishing, it's fun. I learned loads lurking over at the Kboards writers cafe here: www.kboards.com/index.php/board,60.40.html

Well done op good work it's something id like to think about in the next few years

That's great Chequered and your cover and blurb are looking good.

I'm still trying to find an agent but have toyed with self publishing. The whole marketing thing puts me off a bit as I see so many authors on Twitter trying to promote their books and they just feel like they're shouting into an abyss - it's hard to get seen. Looks like yours is starting to take off which is fab! Keep us updated how you get on with it. How have you been marketing it out of interest?

Contemplating buying it - but have so many to read already - just wanted to say well done and good luck with it!

Congratulations!

Congrats, Chequered.

I've just bought it, sounds like my kind of read.

I bought and read OohhThatsMe's book after seeing it recommended on here. I think quite a lot of Mumsnetters did!

Madhairday - I've not done too much marketing yet, but got a few things lined up. Doing a goodreads giveaway tomorrow, going to do a countdown deal on boxing day, that sort of thing. It's quite fun having a play at it, seeing what works and what doesn't. Oh, and I'm determined to start a blog reviewing books, it's just finding the damn time! I know what you mean about authors on twitter, it's really hard to get noticed. Someone posted on Kboards the other day with a piece of advice though: the fact that 99.9% of people have never heard of you is good, because they are potential buyers! Unfortunatley, I think that even publishers require their authors to do their own marketing unless they are a 'big name', so more and more of the hard work falls to authors. If you end up in the self publishing route and want any help, let me know, I'll try my best to answer any questions with my admittedly tiny knowledge! That goes for anyone actually, just PM me
Emelia - Thank you!!
London - Thank you! . I'm off to look for Oohhthat'sme's book, I'm in the mood for a good read.

Well done. Ace timing because I have just finished reading one and am poking around for another.

I know this thread is old but I was just wondering what you used to write your book? Was it a laptop and Microsoft word etc? How many did you sell in the end ?

I've always dreamed of writing a book. I currently have a year off for maternity leave and feel this would be the perfect time I just need to motivate myself. I also need to be able to write whilst feeding a baby 🤨

Congratulations Chequered!

Your post makes me feel very excited because I have a book waiting in the wings to be published (planning to self publish around September time). I almost don't want to publish it because the anticipation is so exciting (and nerve wracking).

I paid to have a cover and proper copy edit done. I have raked over it and over it and now at last I think it is ready to go. I am about to read the (hopefully) last authors copy I requested from Amazon. It has taken quite a few years to get it to this point.

Like you, I feel I have a story to tell. I did send it off to about 5 agents and it took many months for the rejections to roll in (apart from one - where it was rejected straight away). I did find this discouraging. I had written my book and felt passionately about what I'd written and then I had comments saying things like "I did not feel passionately about it." It did make me feel like I'd wished I had never bothered submitting it and I can see how it could just put some people off all together. If it had been published it would never of had the cover it does now etc. so in that way I'm glad I have kept control of it. I never really wrote my book for commercial reasons - and I can see that it isn't really commercial - and might only appeal to a certain demographic.

Book 2 in the pipeline but although a story outline is in place, there is a huge amount of work to fill plot holes etc. I will take a look at your book later. Wishing you all the best with it.

Ah, I can see this is an old thread. Sorry, I didn't check the date of original post. But whilst we are on this thread...anyone else about to self publish?

viixie - it might be worth starting a new thread.

@OohhThatsMe

OP, I've read the first few chapters and think you have a good story there. I wondered why you wouldn't send it off to an agent? I was a bit puzzled by your saying they'd respond with a rejection - if they did, they often tell you why, so you can work on it some more.

There are a few of us here who self-published and found it very difficult to market our own work. Even the pricing is difficult - as a debut author that's self-publishing, I think you're pricing it too high at £2.79. It's easy to juggle the pricing around, but usually 99p or £1.49 or at the very most £1.99 is charged. At £1.99 I'd expect to see a lot of reviews (more than 50) with most of them in the 4 or 5 star category.

One thing I wish I'd done is to self-publish under a different name, because when I got an agent and publishers, they wanted me to take down my self-published books - if I'd used another name I could've kept them going.

She's increased it to £4.99 for the ebook now! I must admit I was going to buy it, but thought that was too much.