To answer the question of why a self-publishing membership is needed, let’s go back to 2008, when I was navigating self-publishing my first full book to sell to the public. There was little information available to me to find out how to print cheaply, get a cover design done (DIY ugh!), and sell my well-researched book to people other than my own network.
I tried a public seminar—what a failure. I handed out flyers about it, and people looked startled. I would like to have known many different realities and knowledge about self-publishing, starting with the philosophical question: is this all worth it? Each of us have our own criteria, and therefore our own answer. But one thing is for sure, a Book Writing & Publishing club offers a handy resource for indie authors.
To me, being an author-publisher-entrepreneur is worthwhile, both financially and career-wise. I thought Business Author Academy was a good name, befitting its aim: to teach businesspeople to be profitable indie authors.
About the Book Creation Success Club
Taking just the best of what I have learnt and built up, the content of the Book Creation Success Club starts with six key elements covering the writing and self-publishing process. These are:
- Why? Writing for Business and Pros & Cons of Self-Publishing
- Legal Aspects
- Book Production (editing, design, admin)
- Book Funding
- Book Structuring, including the Publishing Schedule
- Print on Demand how-tos
Then: Marketing and Media (month 2/3)
These resources, including audios, videos, text and PDFs, naturally fitted into a monthly membership – particularly as we’re adding at least one more item per month. I aim to delve more into the areas of bookstore distribution too.
All this information is dovetailed to the aim of writing a book for career success, rather than just any old book for any old reason.
Take the Fast Track?
So many choices for the new author… There are courses, memberships like this one, and individual coaching – as opposed to signing up for an assisted publishing package (vanity publishing). So, how do you decide what to do?
I believe it depends on the kind of person you are. If you like to ask questions directly of someone and want a fast track to writing a book, then hire a writing coach who is also an editor. But, if you prefer to learn 24/7 on your home PC and download resources, then the book creation success membership no-risk offer is for you.
Further, if you’re over 65 and really don’t want to be learning a heap of things now, then go with the assisted self-publishing package. Remember, if you purchase a package, you buy the layout and editing services, the upload/conversion is done, but you don’t learn anything from it.
When Should I Use Mass Print… or Print on Demand?
There’s a document in the Book Creation Success club about Self-publishing versus Traditional Publishing – Pros and Cons, which answers many questions people have asked. But what about doing mass print runs versus printing on demand?
The answer depends on where you are going to sell the books. If you are selling 200-500 books a year in your seminars and tours, then yes, go get 3-4 tiered printing quotes and samples. (Tiered means quantities e.g. 100, 250, 500). Also, if you get yourself a book distributor who is open to indie authors who work hard doing promotions, then you could also do a mass print run of over 300 books. Still a risk and best to get independent advice.
But if you are not sure of pre-orders or forecasts, then Print on Demand offers both. It offers a virtual distribution, libraries can order the book, and it offers the chance for you to buy your book at true wholesale cost, in small quantities to sell direct. The wholesale price also has GST, freight, and $2.50 handling on top, so don’t forget those tricky costs.
Other Tips about Book Creation
There are many other tips given in the Book Creation Success club that will inform all your publishing or distribution decisions.
As I found out recently at a seminar with start-up indie book distributors Imaginarium 2.0, bookstores don’t buy in books (unless requested) through print on demand because of the ridiculous price that they have to pay for handling, shipping and wholesale. Then there is the heavy admin burden of stocking say, 100 independent publishers rather than 100 authors with just one publisher.
So don’t feel bad if your book hasn’t sold well through Print on Demand; it is not your book’s worth but the discovery and distribution path that is at fault. That’s why it is a must to learn how to brand and market yourself and your books.
So, are you happy with how you print your books? Do you like personal writer coaching or prefer to learn online, in your own time?