Self Publishing: Don’t Get Conned
No one likes being taken advantage of, but it happens all the time. When I think about professional cons, I’m mentally infiltrated with ideas of ponzi schemes, investment scams, time share rip-offs and the like. But when I started to hear horror stories of self published authors being conned, my ears perked up.
People can be talked into anything, and writers are no different. These days there are various self publishing “services” that provide more financial gain to the middle man than the writers themselves. But don’t expect them to tell you that. Authors generally don’t take the self-pubbing route for a chance at a huge paycheck. Surely they wouldn’t object to being the next Amanda Hocking, but for all intents and purposes, money isn’t the only incentive. Having said that, the proceeds of a self published book should go to the author, not someone else’s pocket. This is where doing your research is important. Writer Beware has been the whistle blower for various scams and cons that have impacted new authors. Before you write that check and sign on the dotted line for a service, put on your Sherlock Holmes hat and investigate.
Completing your masterpiece has always been the hard part. Once you’ve got that out of the way, pat yourself on the back. Next step – editing and creating a book cover. To some this may sound overwhelming, but honestly – it’s a relatively simple process and can typically be done with minimal cost. Marketing is where it gets tricky. As many of you know, BookRix offers an online community filled with thousands of readers with a thirst for new material. Rather than pay money hand over fist to have companies market for you, use our community to post portions of your work, interact with readers and start building a fan base. Essentially, marketing is the act of getting your name (and your book) out in the open.
Is Social Media not your forte? Grab a cup of coffee (or tea if you prefer!) and kiss your keyboard cause in a few days you’ll be Twitter/Facebook/YouTube/Google+/Tumblr savvy. Not convinced? Challenge yourself! Take 30 minutes and create an account for each site (you’ll probably be done in 20). When you’ve finished that, log into Youtube and get your turorial on. The beauty about YouTube is that they have thousands of user created ‘how-to’ videos for pretty much every topic you can think of, including Social Media. So type in your inquiries, i.e. “How do I create a FB fan page?”, “How do I use Twitter to market my business?”, etc., and LOADS of results will surface. Sure it might sound time consuming, but trust us. It’s worth it. If you decide down the line to delegate this task to a marketing team, then at the very least you’ll understand how it works and will be an educated shopper. Just remember, no one is going to work harder for you, than yourself!
Everyone knows that self-publishing is the exciting wave of the future. But there’s also someone at every corner looking to make a money off those who let them. Don’t let ‘em get you down. Beat them at their own game! Know your options, educate yourself, and have fun. You’re about to be a published author! What can be better than that?
Close Encounters of the Literary Kind: Part 9
My landlord recently installed a front gate to my apartment building for, as he put it, “added security”. Quite frankly it’s been more of a curse than a blessing, as I’ve locked myself out numerous times. Apparently, I’m not the only one experiencing this pitfall.
Yesterday, I came home from the grocery store to find a guy sitting on the stairs outside the aforementioned gate, smoking, looking completely disgruntled. Through a semi-awkward introduction (awkward on my part, because I didn’t want to let a stranger in the building), I learned that Kyle had moved in January 1st and his disgusted expression was the result of him being locked out for hour and 4 cigarettes. In his hand was a copy of Lolita by Nabokov. Finally! A cool neighbor I can swap books with.
The Same 5 Questions I Always Ask:
1. What book has been the biggest influence in your life?
Though the question is a difficult one, I have no other choice than to pick Ham on Rye by Charles Bukowski. I picked up the novel when I was young and impressionable, so it resonates a certain sense of nostalgia within me. The beauty of the story is that Bukowski sets up a timeline narrative of this Born-to-Lose Anti-hero, to the point where you understand why the character is so jaded and misanthropic in a humorous and sympathetic way. The cherry on top for Bukowski, is his brutally honest, misery ridden comfort found in the dark underbelly bars and alleyways of booze, boobs, and brawls. “You boys can keep your virgins, give me hot old women in high heels, with asses that forgot to get old.”
2. What author and/or character do you identify with most?
Hemingway. His lust for life is appealing. I love the time periods he spanned – America seemed so romantically ideal. He was a world traveler and spent time in France getting out of his head, going on benders with F. Scott Fitzgerald, which I’m sure were wonderful. His approach to the world and the way he lived… it seems so relatable and un-wasted.
3. What do you think happens to you when you die?
Its romantic to think and believe there is and would be something grand for the deserving or some pit for the pitiful and corrupt but it sounds too good to be true doesn’t it? But I don’t really know, nor does anyone else currently breathing…
4. Have you ever penned anything yourself? And if so what’s the recurring theme?
Yes, unfortunately. I suppose if I were to list some reoccurring themes, floating around would be: Sex, Loneliness, Disgust, Uncertainty, and Beauty.
5. If you had to re-live your life as a character in a book, what book/character would it be?
I would love to relive something dark and post-apocalyptic like The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Just to see and test the limits of humanity and self. But in a sense, it’s almost like a sadistic video-game reality. If I had to choose an authors life, I’d gladly take Henry Miller. That man seemed to have it all figured out. “I have no money, no resources, no hopes. I am the happiest man alive”.
