An exciting guest post from author Angela Page about the road from trade-published to self-published author!
Join us as we travel down the road from trade-published to self-published with author Angela Page!
If you’re a new author still considering where to self-publish your book, read The Best Self-Publishing Platforms for Canadian Authors! We cover everything there is to know about the most popular self-publishing platforms, including Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), IngramSpark Publishing, Apple Books, and many more.
Trade-Published to Self-Published, My Story
My first book, Matched in Heaven, was published by a small press. I was prepared to do my own marketing, but I didn’t expect that the publisher would do NO publicity. And shockingly, when my first book won two awards within a few months after release, the publisher did nothing! I knew right then that it was time to think about becoming self-published. After all, if I was doing all the work, why didn’t I deserve 100% of the royalties?
Even though I was trade-published, I educated myself on marketing campaigns for indie authors. I built a book website and subscribed to sites for reviews. In addition, I produced an animated book trailer with more hits today than the book’s Facebook Page. However, I was not really organized for effective marketing.
I chose to self-publish my new book, Suddenly Single Sylvia, a novella with a potential target audience of singles and baby boomers.
But I would caution that going ‘indie’ should not mean you should be ‘independent’ throughout the process. It’s highly recommended that you get feedback during the development and writing of your work. I belong to a writer’s group of all-trade published authors and journalists. They gave me feedback and suggestions, from an outline synopsis to actual chapters. I would not have been able to finish the book without their input and encouragement.
Once you are finished and satisfied with your book, I recommend a line edit and more pro feedback from an editor who knows your genre. Be open to rewriting if suggested. Once you have your masterpiece in shape, shop around for help on the cover and “in-book” design. You’ve seen and heard it a million times; a catchy cover is essential! The site Upwork has many qualified freelancers to assist.
Once you’re ready to publish, prepare all those pitch materials you would prepare for a potential literary agent and publisher. You will need these materials for a publicity campaign. I place all my book-related materials on their thumb drive so they are readily available when I need specific files.
It was Time to Start the Marketing Journey
Instead of winging it, I created an Excel spreadsheet with timelines for online and offline marketing activities this time. There are tabs for online/print media, radio/podcasts, reviewers, blogs, events, and contests.
It’s a good idea to create a budget and track your marketing spending. Start with free sites such as Twitter, email, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Goodreads. Facebook has numerous indie authors and book groups. Don’t forget Meetups, which has book clubs in your area. There are other free sites, bloggers, reviewers, and podcasts that would be happy to mention and review your book.
I threw myself into guerrilla but organized marketing for “Suddenly Single Sylvia” and feel more comfortable with reaching out to media, reviewers, bloggers, and influencers. Within the first three weeks of release, I have over twenty reviews, book excerpts on major sites, guest blogs with dating-related content, three radio/podcast interviews, and an event at a local bookstore.
As a control freak, self-publishing has been a good experience so far. But I wouldn’t rule out going trade again under the right circumstances, especially if they gave me an offer I couldn’t refuse.
Ben Jackson ~ Having never published a book through trade publishing, I was very interested to read this article by Angela. I myself have enjoyed writing and publishing as an Indie publisher and author, but I have no way to compare it otherwise. As Angela said, if a publisher made me an attractive offer, I would find it very hard to refuse!
The Road from Trade Published to Self-Published | Conclusion
Thank you to author Angela Page for her guest post on the journey from traditionally published to self-published.
If you are writing a book and need any assistance with paperback or ebook formatting, cover design, professional editing, or uploading to self-publishing sites such as Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and IngramSpark Publishing, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We also offer children’s book illustrations and formatting services.
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For authors still considering which self-publishing platform suits them as a Canadian author, read The Complete Guide to Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing for Canadian Authors, where we cover everything you’ll need to know about getting started on Amazon KDP for the first time.
If you have any questions or comments, drop a comment below, and we’ll do our best to answer them or point you in the right direction.
