My former writing colleague Pam recently attended the Baltimore Book Festival, which brought together indie authors, local book sellers, live readings, and panel discussions. Pam passed along her notes about one panel in particular, Secrets of Self Publishing, which was hosted by three local, self-published romance writers: Cate C. Wells, Kristie Wolf, and M.K. Hale. They shared their findings from years of experience in the trenches of self-publishing.
Here are 5 key takeaways:
1. Let everybody know you’re an author. Talk about your book(s).
Accountability keeps you motivated—plus you never know who could become a superfan and tell all their friends about your next book.
2. Join author groups. Find your people.
Groups are full of like-minded folks who can offer advice, exchange critiques, share resources, and provide emotional support.
3. Polish before you publish. Get as much feedback as possible.
“You need good editors,” said panelist Cate C. Wells. Alpha and beta readers, developmental editor, line editor, copy editor, proofreader. Once you hit “publish,” you can’t undo it.
4. Be prepared to wear many hats, including marketing & business.
Learn about CPC (cost per click) advertising. Keep personal and business finances separate. Read (and reread) the Amazon terms of service.
5. Create an author website. Send out email newsletters.
Even if you’re not published yet, you need a central location for info, and having email subscribers means you have a following outside fickle social media platforms.
Groups and resources recommended by the panelists:
- Facebook group: Alessandra Torre Inkers
- Discord group: Indie Authors Ascending
- Book: Seven-Figure Fiction by Theodore Taylor
- Where to find reviewers: Booksprout and StoryOrigin
- PR services for authors: InkSlinger PR
Wrapping Up
The self-publishing world isn’t for the faint of heart, but can be highly rewarding, especially if you occupy a niche that traditional publishers don’t want to bet on.
What other advice would you add to this list?