Publishing your own book – experiences and opinions?

[Lara]

I'm not a writer but wanted to share this inspirational human interest story
from NBC to help you with an idea of how to sell all your books overnight...and then some.

Of course it helps if your book is good and you have a human interest event happen to you.
I wish you all the best. Have fun with it!

This one is just a later followup interview. He's such a tenderhearted man.

 

[palides2021]

Good quote, that sums it up very well.

Aren't we then exactly at this quote? If I want to write a story from my soul, then I usually only have one. If I then want to write several stories, then they must be basically invented stories. Unless the life of a person is now so interesting
Professional authors invent their stories, they have to do it, because you can't write a new book from every life situation. The more books you write, the less likely a personal story is.

Professional authors often write short stories that can describe a part of their lives, like Anne Dillard's "Sight into Insight" and Maya Angelou's "Champion of the World." These short stories are usually found in magazines. Often, a professional author will make a collection of short stories (like David Sedaris) and publish them as one book. So they do write about themselves, and like you said, there are those that invent stories.

 

[Moony]

Here's a relatively nonconventional and probably not popular perspective: We read, write, and illustrate books primarily for us. Publishing a book is so others will reinforce our work and worth and maybe make some money from it.

Back in the mid 90's to early 'aughts, when I was doing my freelance thing, I was published in several local rags and national zines. It felt good, I got some notoriety, and made a little money. However, after several years, I felt that I had lost the reason why I pursued my craft, which was self-satisfaction, and my art became a job. I already made good money as a nurse, so I hung up my freelance art guns, and have since joyously pursued art for my own satisfaction.

I have, in my library, about 200 journals, comic books, etc. which I have authored and illustrated which I share with others in printed copies and the internet. I do this for my own satisfaction and entertainment and it's been a worthy endeavor.

You are totally right, Davey! We don't have to do things for others- if we don't feel in our heart! But especially if you are young, it is not easy to understand this. If you are young, you want to show the world what you can do and what skills you can offer! Guess this thought is easier to understand when getting older....
Thanks for sharing your story with us! So you are still writing these days?

For free and low-cost, she can find people online who will proof-read her manuscript, give their opinion about it, and point out misspellings, grammar errors, inconsistencies and plot holes. Google "beta-readers" to find them.

Thanks your this advice! This is really good! I could also need some beta-readers for some texts

And there's one more thing to this discussion. Not everybody who publishes one book wants to do this for a lifetime. Maybe it is just one book you want to publish to share your story and that's enough.

@Lara Thanks for sharing! I will watch this tonight!

 

[Davey Do]

You are totally right, Davey! We don't have to do things for others- if we don't feel in our heart! But especially if you are young, it is not easy to understand this. If you are young, you want to show the world what you can do and what skills you can offer! Guess this thought is easier to understand when getting older....
Thanks for sharing your story with us! So you are still writing these days?

Thanks for your interest, Moony!

Yeah, it's almost as if we are not externally gratified, we are like the proverbial tree in the forest.

Although I do not fancy myself as a writer, I write every day, lettering my narratives in stylized Old English, which I've termed "Art With Words". Currently, I have produced over 70 pages of narratives with illustrations for my niece who is into our family's history. I create six pages and post them by snail mail, as we are in the process of reviving the Lost Art of Letter Writing.

My niece just told me today that my letters are like reading a book and knowing the author- a flattering compliment. I responded with "You hit the nail of my intent on the head and remember that you are a main character in this book, for without you, there is no story".

 

[Tomkin]

Professional authors often write short stories that can describe a part of their lives, like Anne Dillard's "Sight into Insight" and Maya Angelou's "Champion of the World." These short stories are usually found in magazines. Often, a professional author will make a collection of short stories (like David Sedaris) and publish them as one book. So they do write about themselves, and like you said, there are those that invent stories.

If you are known, it is certainly easier. You already have the attention and your stories sell, or at least interest people more. At that point, it's certainly easier and you have more choice about what you want to do.
As an unknown author, you don't get published in magazines, at least not ones with a wide reach. You're fighting for attention. Nowadays it's perhaps a little easier with social media. But then there are more people trying to do exactly the same thing
Of course, you can turn every supermarket purchase into a personal story. Fortunately, there aren't that many really dramatic experiences, so these stories are probably a little rarer. At least when they are based on true events.

 

[Moony]

Thanks for your interest, Moony!

Yeah, it's almost as if we are not externally gratified, we are like the proverbial tree in the forest....

That sounds fantastic and inspiring! I've never heard of snail mail what's that? Seems like we both are in an intense relationship to our younger familymembers!

If you are known, it is certainly easier. You already have the attention and your stories sell, or at least interest people more. At that point, it's certainly easier and you have more choice about what you want to do.
As an unknown author, you don't get published in magazines, at least not ones with a wide reach. You're fighting for attention. Nowadays it's perhaps a little easier with social media. But then there are more people trying to do exactly the same thing
Of course, you can turn every supermarket purchase into a personal story. Fortunately, there aren't that many really dramatic experiences, so these stories are probably a little rarer. At least when they are based on true events.

Yeah- probably you are right. But I think it's a pity- I often read book of infamous authors and like them a lot always!

 

[Davey Do]

That sounds fantastic and inspiring! I've never heard of snail mail what's that?

Your question reminds me of a note I received in the early '90' s when a coworker said, " shoot me an email".

"What the heck is an email?" I responded.

Snail mail is the good old US Postal service.

 

[Tomkin]

I often read book of infamous authors and like them a lot always!

There are very good books that you won't find on any list of best books or recommendations. I wouldn't just read books that everyone reads or knows. There is a lot of marketing behind these best lists and it doesn't say much about the quality of the book.
I like stories from real life, you don't have to invent stories for me. There are so many situations in life where it is very interesting when someone deals with these topics and situations.
People who report on these topics should be encouraged - even at the "risk" that not many other people will read their story. First and foremost, you can write for yourself and don't have to do it for others.

 

[Supernatural]

Whatever you do, make sure you proofread it thoroughly. I knew a guy in England about twenty years ago who spent a fair amount having a fictional work published, and the finished product was rife with errors, even Greek characters in some of the text. Good luck with your own project

Had a beta-reader circa 2010, to which I pointed out two special medieval spellings. I even put these two words in the email for her to notice.

She never read her email and condemned the whole book on these two words and oh what a surprise, the lack of swears and no American English.

That wasn't nice experience, especially the fact that I'd explained all of this. Oof . Shortly afterwards that BRCopy ended up on illegal free ebook sites.

No worries, it's down now and I just deleted the whole thing, but that's how it was back then online for self-publishing...

 

[Murrmurr]

Had a beta-reader circa 2010, to which I pointed out two special medieval spellings. I even put these two words in the email for her to notice.

She never read her email and condemned the whole book on these two words and oh what a surprise, the lack of swears and no American English.

That wasn't nice experience, especially the fact that I'd explained all of this. Oof . Shortly afterwards that BRCopy ended up on illegal free ebook sites.

No worries, it's down now and I just deleted the whole thing, but that's how it was back then online for self-publishing...

It's gotten 100% better.

Today, beta readers list their specific genres, including the medieval period. And there are still some who don't charge. They're usually members of online reader-writer groups who help each other, so you'd be expected to offer some type of service in exchange; i.e., line editing, fact checking, help w/dialog, etc.