How to Self-Publish (and stay solvent and sane)

1. How to Self-Publish (and stay solvent and sane) @MaryAliceEvans www.maryevanswriter.com

2. The Good News… It has never been easier (or cheaper) to be a published author. You can bring a book to market… ABSOLUTELY FREE!!

3. The Slightly Less Good News… Any Muppet can do it.

4. Things To Think About • What is the best format(s) for my book? • How much work do I want to do? • How much do I want to spend? (aka: How much can I afford to lose?)

5. A Very Useful Read How to Self Publish: A Guardian Masterclass - £1.99 (Kindle)

6. The Choice is Yours – P&E Physical E-book Cheap to produce Potentially higher margins Easier to edit/update Pricing flexibility The way of the future • Tangible • Available to all • Can be stocked in shops • Better for direct sales • Traditional

7. Let’s Get Physical… Print on Demand (POD) Do it Yourself (DIY) Retain ownership of process Satisfaction/Learning curve Lower unit costs Pricing control Much riskier • Only print what has been ordered - no set up costs (Lulu) • Potential to outsource work (Authorhouse, Createspace, Lulu) • Far less risk • Higher unit costs

8. Help! I Need Somebody! The Upsides The Downsides Big outlay – what guarantee? They published your novel (“vanity press” stigma) High unit cost • Quality control • Support (technical/marketing/design/distribution/storage) • Time-saving

10. Lulu.com

11. Createspace.com

12. It’s All About Me… The Upsides The Downsides Do you want a life? Infrastructure Financial risk • Complete creative control • Choose where to spend • Knowledge of industry • Price control

13. DIY Costs • Printing (500 A5 books = £1.96pu - £3.45; 1000 = £1.73) • Distribution (Paid distributor 50% cover price; Fulfilment by Amazon) • Storage • Specialist services (Cover design/Typesetting/Editorial) • Website/Promotion

14. Selling on Amazon(services.amazon.co.uk)

15. Selling a Little…

16. Selling a Lot…

17. Fulfillment by Amazon

18. Running Total…

19. DIY Checklist • Can I store it? • Can I distribute it? • Do I have time for it? • Do I have places to sell it? • Can I afford it? • Do I know what I’m doing?

20. E-Books Good News Bad News Not everyone has an e-reader – limits audience Price ceiling Huge competition Very crowded market • Very low set-up costs (DIY or pay for expertise) • Complete control over pricing • Potentially high margins • Easy to update/edit • Very little infrastructure required

21. Something Very Important No one format works on all platforms. Mobi (Kindle) Epub (Everyone else)

22. DIY • Lulu (ePub only) • Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) (Mobi) • Software (Pages, InDesign, Open Office, Calibre, Sigil, Scrivener, Jutoh)

23. Bookbaby.com

24. Smashwords.com

25. Booktango

26. E-Royalties

27. To Free or Not to Free? To Free Not to Free Why the hell should I? Quality connotation Lowers market Can’t do it on Amazon • Loss leader – gathers interest and author profile • Everyone loves a freebie – easier to rack up downloads • Gets your work out there no matter what

28. Worth a Few Quid? Editing Services Price: £100 per book Benefit: Identifies narrative/proofing errors. Impartial guidance Contact: www.bang2write.com

29. Worth a Few Quid? ISBN/Barcode (International Standard Book Number) Price: £126 (x10) £294 (x100) NB each format requires own ISBN Benefit: Track sales/Requirement for some sellers/Ownership of publishing Contact: www.isbn.nielsenbook.co.uk

30. Worth a Few Quid? Typesetting Price: £2 - £10 per page Benefit: Book looks professional Contact: www.train4publishing.co.uk

31. Worth a Few Quid? Cover Design Price: £350 - £750 Benefit: Book looks professional Contact: Google

32. And Finally… Good Luck and Happy Writing!! Any Questions?