Be Your Own Editor

Contributed By Kathryn Lively

Whether you write science fiction or mystery, poetry or romance, ultimately you will have something in common with writers of different genres: the need to promote your work. While the Internet has opened new avenues of marketing to authors, from websites and blogs to social network hubs, there is still something to be said for meeting the reading public where they can be easily found. Some of the best places to meet readers, editors, and booksellers are book conferences and conventions.

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This question is from Sunitta:

I am interested in venturing out to be a publisher and start my own business. I write well and have contributed to various websites. I have also completed two books of poems. Writing is only a part of me but the whole process of publishing, writing, editing, proofreading, and finally, the completed book really interests me. Kindly help me on how I should go about it. I have a large investment but don’t have the right perspective and the approach. Kindly help me.

Oh, my. How to start a book business. I’ll do my best, Sunitta.

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It’s been right under my nose all this time: a fun and effective tool for promoting yourself, your published book, or your book idea. I just didn’t see it because I was too busy ordering that mug that said “MEH.” on it. CafePress.com sells mugs, T-shirts, mouse pads, and most any other article of clothing or other small item that can be printed upon, with most any words or images one could think up printed on them—so why not the title or cover image of your book? Oh, and they can even help you self-publish.

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I’m not sure if I think this short story by author Shelley Jackson is fun and thought-provoking or gimmicky and just plain stupid, but I know it’s too bizarre not to share. And it’s a genius marketing idea. The title is “Skin,” and its 2,095 words are being written very, very slowly.

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Ah, technology. It has opened so many doors for creative people, writers included. One of the biggest changes in the book industry in recent years has been the ability for writers who can’t place their books with a commercial publisher to print and sell them anyway, through either self-publishing or print-on-demand services. But what’s the difference, if there is one, and which model should you choose?

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You’ve probably seen websites galore that promote published authors, whether they’re self published or Random House published. Being unpublished yourself, you don’t need to worry about such things (yet). Right? Wrong. Selling your novel or nonfiction book requires more than talent. It requires what publishers like to call a “platform.” And in the twenty-first century, the best platforms exist online. Don’t be scared. I’ll show you how to get started.

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