Step by step

I am continuing to answer the questions that were asked during our recent survey. This week the question is:
What is the best sequence of events that have to happen to produce a widely successful book?

There can be no guarantee of success, but I will offer you a list of the things that could help you to produce a professional book that will give you a better chance of success.

Finish the book.

I know it’s obvious, but if you continue to rewrite and never publish, you will never have success.

Send the book to an editor.

As I have written on this blog before, if you have any money to spend on your book, give it to an editor; it will be worth it.

Assign ISBN numbers to your books.

Send the details to Nielsen, including the publishing date.

Get a cover

A good cover will project a positive image of a book; you don’t want something that looks bland, uninteresting or amateurish.

Write your blurb/description

Grab a potential reader’s attention with a well-written, concise blurb.

Format for e-readers.

When the book returns from your editor ensure that it is properly formatted for eBook distribution.

Typeset for print

If you are launching simultaneously a paperback as well as an eBook, now is the time to prepare the file.

Design a print cover

You will need a spine and back cover to add to the original artwork for the front cover. Include a barcode to help bookshop owners with cataloging.

Submit the book to your printer

When your manuscript and cover are ready, send it to your printer.

Submit it for eBook distribution

On your publishing date, send the book to the eBook distributors.

Have a launch party

Celebrate your achievement, have a party with family and friends, tell your local paper and you might get some publicity.

Market it, market it, market it

Marketing can be done at any time. Let the everyone know your book is coming and then keep telling them after it’s released. Try to use original methods to capture people’s attention..

That’s a very short summary of what you need to do to produce a professional, self-published book. The important thing to remember that producing your own work is a step-by-step process. If you break it down into simple pieces it becomes less daunting.

Our self-publishing training courses cover every aspect of the publishing process in more detail.

Have a great weekend and I’ll be back next week.