If you want to forgo the traditional route when it comes to becoming a published somebody, then you have to spend a little bit of money in order to do it.
Now before you get your panties in a bunch, I'm not talking about vanity publishing, in which you pay through the nose to get very little (more on that later), I'm talking about paying money to acquire a good product so that you can publish a good product.
If you want your manuscript to be the best it can be, with zero errors in the text, spend your money on a freelance editor. Chances are they'll help you get over that last hump by giving you a clear crisp 100% error free manuscript that still stays true to your vision.
You need a pair of excellent covers, both for print and e-book, so if you can't get it done yourself, looking into hiring a reputable graphic designer. That way, you can have a cover that stays true to your vision of what your story is.
For other assorted odds and ends, like business cards and the like, look into using a graphics company like VistaPrint. Chances are that you can do an excellent job of creating what you need within the budget that you use.
Sadly, money is what's bringing my self-publishing journey to a temporary standstill. While I have no problem in using VistaPrint (they have both payment options available: check & c/c), in order to use a graphic designer, I need a c/c and my c/c's are current under lock and key, so to speak.
So until I can get my financial house rebuilt, the most I'll be doing with my writing is to write, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
While spending money to pursue your dream can be a necessary evil, if you have to spend, make sure you spend it wisely.
(c) 2014 by G.B. Miller. All Rights Reserved.
Following from Blogging AtoZ.
ReplyDeleteI'm writing "Things My Husband Has Broken" A to Z at http://AMomsPointOfView.com
Come by and check it out.
Sorry it's on hold right now. Graphic designers aren't cheap, but you also don't want to put out a cheap looking product.
ReplyDeleteKimberly: Thanks for stopping by. I will definitely check your blog out.
ReplyDeleteAlex: I've learned a few things the hard way and in regards to self-publishing, if I'm going to do this, I need to do it right.
Great advice! If you need to take some time to clear your finances and/or find someone to proofread your novel again and again then so be it. It's important to have the peace of mind that you've done everything you can to make your novel as perfect as possible. You don't want to put something out there that you're not completely proud of.
ReplyDeleteVery good points. It all adds up, and then you can get screwed if you're not careful.
ReplyDeleteChris: Absolutely. I was fortunate enough to have two good editors to help me with my first novel, so I want to make sure I continue that trend of have a good editor (in addition to some good beta readers) checking out my books.
ReplyDeleteM: Most definitely, which was a lesson I've learned the hard way.