The Indie Writer's Practical Guide to Publishing

By Lisa Norman

Where should you market your books? How do you make the choices that are right for you? And once you've decided, how do you make it happen? This book walks you step-by-step through the process helping you through the entire process. Updated for 2017 best practices.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Heart Ally Books, LLC
• Release date: Dec 23, 2016
• ISBN: 9781631070167

Lisa Norman

Lisa is the owner of Heart Ally Books, an independent publishing company. Before that, she owned a website design company specializing in creating websites for authors. For over 25 years, she has worked with both indie and traditionally published writers on everything from writing through publication and marketing. She has taught students from 10 to 80, both in person, locally, and online. Her customers range all over the US, Canada, and as far away as Australia. Mostly she coaches people one-on-one, and she loves public speaking. She's most proud of her children, adores her husband, and seems to be constantly surrounded by cats.

Book preview

Publishing Gold Cover

Publishing Gold

Step-by-Step Guides

for Success

In Your Writing Career

The Indie Writer's Practical Guide to Publishing

Lisa Norman

Heart Ally Books

Camano Island, Washington

heartlogo-small-color

Publishing Gold: Step-by-Step Guides for Success In Your Writing Career: The Indie Writer's Practical Guide to Publishing

Copyright © 2016, 2017, 2018 by Lisa Norman of Heart Ally Books

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

This industry changes rapidly. It is probable that data in this guide will be out of date the day it is published. Use this information at your own risk. Author is not liable for any errors contained within or mistakes you make. However, feel free to say Thank you when you strike gold!

Note: The original California Gold Rush: True Tales of the Forty-niners can be seen in context here:

http://nevada-outback-gems.com/gold_rush_tales/California_gold_rush1.htm I have modernized the language and updated the context for readability. There are many more gems hidden in those pages. The original text is in the public domain.

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords License Statement

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Published by:

Heart Ally Books

26910 92nd Ave NW C5-406, Stanwood, WA 98292

Published on Camano Island, WA, USA

www.heartallybooks.com

ISBN-13: 978-1-63107-016-7 (ePub) 

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Table of Contents

The Indie Writer's Practical Guide to Publishing

Introduction

Filing the Claim

Making Choices

Distribution Choices

To Print or Not to Print

Lightning Source and Ingram Spark

CreateSpace / KDP Print

Lulu

Blurb

BookBaby

Others

Ebooks!

Amazon—Kindle—Mobi format

Apple—IPad—ePub format

Barnes & Noble—Nook—ePub format

Generic ereaders—Sony, etc.—generally read ePub format

Getting ISBN and LCCN/PCN, Copyright

ISBN—International Standard Book Number

LCCN/PCN—Library of Congress Catalog Control Number / Pre-assigned Control Number—US residents only

Copyright

Questions to Answer

Distribution Choices Worksheet

Lightning Source Worksheet

Library of Congress–PCN Worksheet

US Copyright Worksheet

Getting Dirty

Editing

Typesetting

Formatting

Formatting for Generic ePub Worksheet

Formatting for Amazon (Kindle) Worksheet

Formatting for Barnes & Noble (Nook) Worksheet

Formatting for Smashwords Worksheet

Formatting for Print (LSI) Worksheet

Formatting for CreateSpace/KDP Print Worksheet

Formatting for Lulu Worksheet

Refining

Cover Art

Files you need OTHER than your book!

Print on Demand vs. offset print runs

Pricing

EpubCheck

Creating a Print Cover Worksheet

Creating an ePub Cover Worksheet

EpubCheck Worksheet

How to Hire a Contractor

Finding Some Money

Last Word

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1423_louis_wain

There is nothing new under the sun. Technology is changing at an amazing rate, but technology has changed before.

When studying how to function in a suddenly changing environment, I find it helpful to look to historical examples.

In 1849, the California Gold Rush changed the landscape of the Western United States, uprooting families, changing the world as they knew it. Many of those stories can offer valuable insight for the modern indie author. Since the language in the original stories, California Gold Rush: True Tales of the Forty-niners, can be hard to understand, I'm taking the liberty of paraphrasing and modernizing these pieces to make them easier to read. They are based on historical documents that are in the public domain.

You'll find these quotes scattered throughout the book. When you read them, think of these experiences as a metaphor for the modern publishing industry.

My Darling Jane,

I can't wait for you to join me here. Please tell your father not to worry about this move.

I know that everyone says that the gold mines will soon be worked out and that we'll all have to move back East. But our prospects have changed!

We've found old river channels in the hills, and this has changed how we mine. We've found more and more rich sites in the surrounding counties. There's enough gold here to keep me busy for the rest of my life!

We can make a life here, my dear. Already families are moving into the area. Steamers are making regular trips, bringing letters from home twice a month. Other ships are continually arriving, filled with all the necessities of life, and luxuries as well.

Just last week, I saw ladies walking down the street in one of the smaller towns wearing hats and crinoline attachments that are surely similar to what you have in New York. And since we have an abundance of gold here, even common laborers are paid rich wages.

Groceries and whatever you could want are available in the stores at a reasonable price.

This is a good, prosperous land, and it will stay this way for many years.

Your letter mentioned malaria and mosquitoes. They do exist, as do fleas. But these are only in certain areas where the water is stagnant, and they are not everywhere. In fact, they are only in a small area where we need never go.

Here's what has changed our outlook. We can now divert water from streams using a contraption of flumes and ditches. This lets the water do the work of unearthing the gold. Since these arrangements are less portable, there are lovely cabins sprouting up on the hillsides. You could plant a garden, my dear. A few of the local women have begun planting flowers amongst their vegetables, and the hillsides are lovely. I laugh, and know that you would as well, to see lofty sunflowers amongst the cabbages, radishes, turnips, and horseradish. There are lovely beds of daisies and violets as well as roses and dahlias.

 You see, my dear, there are beautiful cottages surrounded by stunning gardens. These people have come to stay. I have come to stay. I want you to join me here in paradise.

Do you remember that I told you my friend Frank had moved back East? He'd been so afraid of winding up penniless, living with the Indians. I wrote to him about the changes and he has now moved back with his entire family. They live on an adjacent claim to mine. His wife says that it is so wonderful here, safe from freezing blizzards and hurricanes.

My love, even the climate here is perfection. It does get warm during the days, but at night, the temperature drops back down to make sleep sweet and refreshing. It is not at all like it is in the East where it can stay muggy and hot all night. 

There's more, but my letter grows too long. Dearest, people are moving here from all over the world.

I haven't even mentioned the groves of fruit trees and the grape vines. It turns out that red soil wasn't barren at all. By diverting the water, we now have orchards and wineries!

My darling, this is the promised land. Come soon. Pack light because I will buy you all your heart desires. If your father is worried, tell him to come as well. But be forewarned, he may also want to stay here once he has seen it.

In fact, bring your entire family!

Yours eternally,

Franklin

Years later, California would become the center of the technological revolution. That rush to silicon would revolutionize our world once again, leading to massive changes in the modern publishing industry.

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