DIGITAL PUBLISHING AND ME - REWARDS PART 3 OF 3

Welcome back to DIGITAL PUBLISHING AND ME, my 3-part series about how I jumped into digital publishing and ebooks in 2011—what I did wrong, what I learned, and what I've received as a result of writing and publishing ebooks.

Today, I offer Part 3 of 3, in which I regale you with more tales of my self-publishing adventure.

If you missed Part 1 of 3, Mistakes and Advice, click here to read it.

To read Part 2 of 3, Advice and Insights, just click here. 

Today, I complete the series with Part 3 of 3, REWARDS—For Me and Maybe For You.

WHAT DIGITAL PUBLISHING DID FOR ME

Becoming a self-publishing indie author offered tremendous benefits. Before self-publishing, I was a category author which meant I had no power at all. A cut above me were midlist authors. They too had no power. Self-publishing meant I could chart my own course, and here's what happened.

1. I rediscovered the fun of writing because I could write anything I wanted. I was no longe writing according to what publishing houses said they wanted. 

I was no longer waiting and waiting and waiting for an agent or editor/editorial committee to rule on a submission. I could plan, write, and publish a book, and I was limited only by my own effort.

Writing what I wanted to write without regard to genre, plot, theme, or anything was freeing because I no longer had to wait and wonder if what I submitted was still wanted. Publishers could change guidelines while an author was busy writing the requested manuscript.

2. I found an audience that loved my books. I believed in my writing and knew there had to be readers who would like what I wrote. I was right. Self-publishing allowed me to reach readers.

3. I had editors contacting me instead of the other way around. I had a very lucrative foreign rights sale because the editor read my first ebook and wanted it and others to publish abroad. Within minutes of making a call to a literary agency, I had a top agent to negotiate the contract.

4. I became a New York Times bestseller because I was part of a self-published anthology that hit their  bestseller list in 2 places. (That was before they stopped allowing ebooks on the list.) I also hit the USA Today bestseller list 3 different times. 

5. I sold video game rights to 3 of my ebooks.

6. I had audio book editions of some of my ebooks published.

WHAT DIGITAL PUBLISHING CAN DO FOR YOU

1. Give you another avenue other than traditional publishing to find an audience. With a traditional publisher, you must have the right product to attract an editor and an agent. You don't have to limit yourself to one of the other.

2. Shortcut the time required to get your books before readers by becoming a self-publisher. In fact, if you become a big success as a self-publisher, you may find it easier to get with a trad publisher if that's what you want and the deal is good.

3. Become financially stable by being a self-publisher. There are many self-publishers making a very comfortable living from their ebooks. Some self-publishers have their books being turned into Netflix series and movies.

4. Give you a platform where you make all the decisions. You get to choose the cover art, the blurb, the price, etc. As someon

5. Give you a real-world experience in writing and publishing—a superb training ground in what it takes to write, publish, and deal with every aspect with which authors must handle.

You'll learn all about the writing, the technical aspects of publishing, marketing, promoting, living with good and bad reviews, dealing with the reading public, and so many other things authors must do. It can prepare you for the long assault on traditional New York publishing if you decide to do that.

Everything I've said is from real world experience. I hope it helps and inspires you if you have the writing itch. 

Becoming a selling author may be difficult, but it's easier than when I started many years ago. If it's what you want, go for it. 

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I wish you the same joy and rewards digital publishing has given me. Like I always say, "Nothing ventured; nothing gained."

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DIGITAL PUBLISHING AND ME - ADVICE AND INSIGHTS PART 2 OF 3

Welcome back to DIGITAL PUBLISHING AND ME, my 3 part series about how I jumped into digital publishing and ebooks in 2011.

I reveal what I did wrong, what I learned, and what I've received as a result of writing and publishing ebooks.

Today, I offer Part 2 of 3: Advice and Insights gained from my self-publishing adventure.

If you missed Part 1: Mistakes and Advice, you can CLICK HERE to read it.

Part 3 of 3: Rewards for Me and Maybe for You will publish Sunday, September 13, 2026.

ADVICE ON SELF-PUBLISHING, Continued

Let's pick up my List of 10 Tips with Number 6.

6. Write everything you will need to upload your manuscript prior to doing it. Don't try to wing it. Give a great deal of thought to: Categories, Keywords, Product Description, Author Profile, Pricing, etc. 

Save all your upload data in a file separate from your manuscript file so you can copy/paste where needed if you plan to publish on platforms other than Kindle. 

The same basic information may need some modifications as required by the other platforms, but you've already created the bulk of it.

7. Always use the Preview function to check what you uploaded. Take your time. Only click "publish"  when everything has been checked.

8. As soon as your upload has gone "live," buy a copy and go through it. On an ereader, you'll immediately see if something is wrong. If you find errors, take action immediately to correct the problem.

9. Make sure you have your marketing and promotion plan in place before you publish a book. Write it out and plug it into your calendar so you know what to do and when to do it.

10. Accept that sometimes things just don't go as planned and some books don't succeed. If you made mistakes, do what you can to correct them. 

If your book doesn't find an audience, do what you can to improve the situation, but don't spend all your time trying to keep it on life support. Write the next book.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

That's enough for today. Come back Friday, September 11, 2026, to read Part 3 of 3, Rewards for Me and Maybe for You, the unbelievable part of my journey—what happened for me and what digital publishing may do for you.

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DIGITAL PUBLISHING AND ME - MISTAKES & ADVICE Part 1 of 3

This year marked the 15th anniversary of my jumping into digital publishing.

I wanted to commemorate this milestone by telling you how I made that bold move, the mistakes I made, the things I learned, and what digital publishing has done for me.

The first title I slapped on this blog post once I'd writte it was Digital Publishing and Me—What I've learned in 15 Years of Writing and Publishing Ebooks.

Like the post itself, the title was way too long so I shrunk the title and broke the post into 3 parts. 

Today, you're reading  Part 1 of 3: Mistakes and Advice. I have a lot of both I guess.

Part 2 of 3: More Advice and Insights publishes Wednesday, September 9, 2026.

Part 3 of 3: Rewards For Me and Maybe For You publishes Sunday, September 13, 2026.

BACKSTORY

Recently, I came across a post I wrote for another author's website back in June 2011. I had published one of my backlist books on Amazon KDP in late March which is why she asked me to be a guest on her blog.

My post for her explained why I did something that was considered extremely radical—repubishing a  backlist book as an ebook.

Champs-Élysées Books, shows 1 of my books

Today, I decided to reprint part of my 2011 post here because it may change the opinion of readers who still think ebooks are not real books.

It may  also convince authors who believe digital publishing isn't worth the effort that they're missing a great opportunity to advance their careers—not that we who digitally publish need any more competition! 

Here's the excerpt from 2011 with my "today" comments in brackets.

EXCERPT, EBOOKS: SMART, NOT DUMB (2011)

When I announced to a group of authors that I intended to publish my backlist and even some original fiction as ebooks, many wondered why I would do that. It was easy to see they questioned the wisdom of my intention.

There's a polarity when it comes to writers and indie publishing, and there are two primary schools of thought: the best thing since sliced bread or that sucks. 

These opposite opinions are pervasive in the world. [The low opinion of ebooks is still held by many well-known authors as do some readers.]

BOLDLY GO WHERE SOME WRITERS ARE GOING

I'm a firm believer in "nothing ventured; nothing gained." When markets are drying up, left and right, it's nice to see something opening up that can directly benefit writers, and that's digital self-publishing. 

By benefit, I don't just mean making some bucks. I also mean finding an audience for your work.

I've stated before that: "I've given up on New York publishing, BUT they gave up on me first." And, I'm not the only published author who couldn't fit the square peg of their writing into New York's round hole. (No pun intended but feel free to laugh.) 

I'm a writer. I want to be read. Many authors are finding readers by becoming indie authors and publishing our own work. If you want to try the indie author route, learn all you can about the process. That's why I'm here today.

I want to give you some advice, based on my personal experience as well as that of some friends, in the hope that you may avoid some of our dumb mistakes. 

When I published Just One Look, a previously published book that became my first ebook on Kindle and sold thousands of copies every day for a solid month, I made every mistake possible so I'm particularly qualified to talk about how NOT to be dumb.

 [Why did that happen? Because there wasn't much "how-to" information out there in 2011.]

I've got 10 Tips for you that I first wrote in that 2011 blog post. You'll find the first 5 Tips in this post. The others will be in Part 2. 

2011 ADVICE THAT'S STILL VALID - 10 TIPS

1. Learn how to properly format your file for an ebook that looks professional. [Now there are options for the type of file you can upload besides DOCX, MS Word like Atticus, available at a relatively low-cost for a one-time fee, that can create a beautifully formated ebook or print book. 

[When I started, I had to learn how to transform a Word file into an HTML file and how to insert a black and white cover image into that file. It was a time-consuming process. 

There was no Kindle Unlimited then so an author was smart to publish her ebook in as many places as possible. That meant learning how to format for Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Apple, Smashwords, and a half dozen other publishers who have since closed their doors.]

2. A great cover was important then and now. For authors who can't afford a graphic artist, there's a new tool, BookBrush, that can produce great looking covers, and the learning curve is easy.

3. Make sure you have the legal right for anything you publish. If you plan to publish a book that was previously published elsewhere, you should have a legal reversion of rights letter.

If you're using images from the internet, you must have a license to use each image so always read the User License on image websites so you know what you can and cannot do with the image you purchase or get for free.

4. Make sure your manuascript is bullet-proof before you upload it. That means getting a good proofreader and/or editor. That also means not doing anything that might get you sued, for instance, using the names of real people who may take exception to your actions.

Some think that as long as you don't say anything negative, it's okay to use the name of a real person. That's not true. I personallly know an author who was sued by the person she mentioned in her book. What she wrote was simply Mrs. So and So, the owner of Name of Business. That got her sued.

5. Be patient and take your time so you don't make dumb mistakes like uploading the wrong manuscript file. Yes, that's obvious, but I did that the very first time and didn't realize it until I started getting bad reviews. I didn't understand what they complained about in my book until I looked at it on my Kindle. 

Wow. I still can't believe I did that. I can only chalk it up to being exhausted and bleary-eyed by the time I got around to uploading the file and clicked on the wrong file. 

Always make sure you have your wits about you. Don't try to set up a book if you're tired, frazzled, or rushed. Haste really can make waste.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I hope you're finding this information educational or at least entertaining. 

Join me on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, for Part 2 of 3: More Advice and Insights learned from my adventures in self-publishing.

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7 Truths About Being an Author

I visited with a local book club recently and enjoyed it very much. They had read my book, Heat Lightning, and we talked about it.

As usual, they asked what inspired me to write that book, and what inspired me just to write books.

I told them that writing was one of the best jobs in the world—and it is. 

What I didn't tell them is something I'll tell you today—what a professional writer learns when she or he is lucky enough to establish a writing career.

7 TRUTHS ABOUT BEING A PROFESSIONAL WRITER.

1. Perfecctly good books get written but never get published.

I once believed that you could write a book about anything that struck your fancy, and if it was a good book it would get published. 

The traditional publishing business doesn't work that way. There  are budgets and quotas that prevent publishing just any book no mattter how beautifully written it may be. Editors can only acquire so many books.

When your Agent submits your book—yes, you really do need an agent—you don't know if the editor recently acquired a book with the same premise. 

You don't know if the Editor has already acquired books for the entire year or longer, or any number of other issues that prevent the Editor from acquiring your book.

The indie self-publishing business allows you to go ahead and publish the book, but publishing a book and getting readers to buy it are 2 different things. More on that later.

2. Writing successfully requires a commitment. 

You cannot sit around and wait each day to be inspired. The "Muse" is a myth. Real writers put butt in chair in front of the computer and write hundreds of words on a consistent basis until the book is finished.

3. No one knows how long it takes to write and publish a book.

The number of pages and the time it takes to write a book depends on the story and on the writer.

A story takes as many pages as it takes. It may be 140 pages or 980 pages. 

How long it takes to write those pages depends on the writer and his/her consistency of effort.

4. Writing is hard work physically so one must take care of the physical body from the beginning.

Prevent problems like back spasms, sciatic pain, carpel tunnel, etcetera, rather than try to "cure" them once they begin. Trust me, once established, muscle, tendon, and nerve pain are nearly impossible to cure. You'll be dealing with them the rest of your life.

5. Writing is hard work emotionally so nurture your spirit and your inspiration.

Take time to play. Take time for your relationships. Sometimes, you just need to go with the flow and make up the writing you may have missed on a day when you played. 

Pages can be written another day, but time with loved ones can't be reclaimed. Life is short. Children grow up while you aren't looking, and love relationships can grow stale.

6. Accept that not every good book will sell well.

As I said in #1 above, publishing a book and getting readers to buy it are 2 different things. Yes, as an indie self-publisher, you can publish anhthig you choose, but it may not sell more than a few copies—even if it has captivating characters, a stunning plot, and is beautifully written.

That's the downside of not having a traditional publisher who buys a manuscript based in part on how many thousands of books will sell based on the Editor's calculations. 

As an indie publisher, you hope and pray that enough books will sell to allow you to break even on any expenses you incurred in writing and publishing the book.

You have no guarantees though. If you have had previous success, you have a pretty good idea of how another book will sell.

In today's self-publishing world, i.e. Kindle Digital Publishing, the competition is fierce. The vast majority of these books rarely make more than a few hundred dollars.

You, the Author, are also the VP of Marketing which means you're going to spend a lot of time hawking your book on social media or with Amazon Ads and/or Facebook ads.

The best case scenario is to find a marketing channel that works for you as soon as possible because you need to be writing the next book.

7. There is no such thing as an instant million copy seller in today's book publishing universe.

The first book may sell, and that's great, but today's readers consume books like movie-goers consume popcorn. Your name will fade away if it's not out in the world on a consistent, regular basis.

The second and third and fourth books—or the 10th—build your reputation as a dependable author who doesn't disappoint.

Don't mope and/or drown your sorrows in hot fudge sundaes. 

Get on with the next book whether that's book #2 or book #10. Sometims, that's what it takes for a writer to build an audience.

TAKEWAY TRUTH

Writers write. If you love writing, keep doing it. If you find it depressing and tedious to pour your heart and soul in a book that earns less than $500.00, then you're probably not cut out to be a professional writer. That's okay. You're probably meant to do something else so try different things until you find your bliss.

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Happy 20th Birthday, SlingWords!

Twenty years ago today, I wrote and published the first post to this SlingWords blog. Yes, I've been blogging for you since 2005.

That post was an inspirational quote, a Japanese proverb that I believe wholeheartedly is a secret to success.

Since then I've blogged 4,388 times. That's probably not a record, but I'm proud of it because each post has been personal and meaningfull in some way.

At least that's what I intend with every post whether it's a bit of inspiration, a guide to authors, a recipe, a movie review, a guest author feature, or heartfelt thoughts about some subject. 

My blog has mostly had the same design for many years. I go in periodically and update the images on the sidebars, but the look of it—blue skies and bluebonnets—remain the same because I simply like those images. They visually represent optimism.

Every blog I've written can be found in THE ARCHIVES, and all of those posts are categorized in SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT.

When I mention a product, it's because I believe in the product. 

I use it myself, or I'm purchasing it for my own use. 

I don't receive free products of any kind, but if I ever do, I will disclose that.

NEW FEATURE

I have some standard posts, but I haven't posted many of those during the last year. I'll get back to that this year. Also, I'm starting a new feature, ASK JOAN, as a way to help beginning authors or maybe to explain to readers why authors do some of the things they do. 

If anyone reading this wants to know something about the art, craft, or business of writing or the bookss, or the writing life, feel free to ask just about anything.

I've been in the business a long time, and this is a way I can help those just starting out. I'll answer anything to the best of my ability.

STATISTICS

To this day, years-old posts are still being read. Here are a few stats about the readership of SlingWords.

Since 2005, this blog has been read 2,492,372 times. Here are the view stats which I culled on April 4. Views are unique, meaning not the same internet visitor reading the same post.

Yesterday: 2,548 views.  This month, April: 7,679.  Last month, March: 31,099

SURPRISING READERSHIP

Even more surprising than these big numbers are the locations of these blog readers. It's gratifying to know so many people worldwide, through the years, have read SlingWords.

United States - 1.34M

Singapore - 326K

Hong Kong - 109K

Russia - 67.4K

Germany - 54.3K

France - 52.2K

Israel - 44K

Italy - 33K

Sweden - 28.9K

United Kingdom - 25.6K

Ukraine - 23.6K

Türkiye - 23.6K

Canada - 21.7K

India - 20.5K

Netherlands - 18.3K

Brazil - 12.8K

Saudi Arabia - 9.89K

China - 8.34K

Australia - 6.96K

Other - 270K

Thank you, readers, I apprecciate each and every one of you.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

That's a wrap for looking back at 20 years of SlingWords. Keep reading, and tell your friends about this blog with original content written by a Human, not AI generated.

Thanks for reading. I appreciate your time and your Comments.

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Gave Myself a Gift - Video Camera for YouTube

Ever since I made my first video using my cell phone, I've thought about buying a dedicated video camera. The thing that deterred me was the price point.

I'd read various articles online about what you need to make good videos for YouTube, etc. but the equipment listed always seemed to be expensive and top of the line—not something for a rank amateur like me.

Since I'd been shopping the Amazon Spring Sale every day, I was excited when I saw a video camera—the Yigllo 4k Digital Camera—under $100.00 listed.  

It's actually $59.99 reduced from $89.99. Even though it had 933 ratings averaging 4.3 stars with 76% of the reviews being 5 stars, I was skeptical. Would it be good enough to create a good video?

I searched online for reviews of the specific camera offered for sale. I found it listed on Buyers Guide.org which does receive compensation from advertisers, but the Amazon Users' Reviews are persuasive that this is a good camera.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner.

BUYERS GUIDE REVIEW

"In conclusion, the YIGLLO 4K Digital Camera offers impressive resolution, user-friendly design, and essential features that cater to both casual and professional photographers. 

"By considering factors such as resolution, user-friendliness, and battery life, you can determine if this camera is the right fit for your photography needs. 

"With its reliable performance and advanced capabilities, the YIGLLO 4K Digital Camera is a worthy contender in the digital camera market."

Honestly, I don't think a pro would be buying this camer, but after perusing the web page, I decided it was exactly what I was looking for. Maybe if I really get into making videos, I might upgrade in a few years, but that's still to be determined. 

I also purchased a tripod for desk top use or extendable to 4+ feet. After using both these items, I'll post a review of both. I might be able to get that done before the Spring Sale expires, but no promises. I have a trip to make this weekend.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

This was an easy purchase—an investment to see if making YouTube videos is something I will enjoy doing—and would actually do on a regular basis.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

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11 Blogging Tips to Stay Relevant

In yesterday's post, The Truth About Blogs in 2024, I promised to give you some blogging tips to help keep your blog relevant in today's world.

11 BLOG TIPS TO STAY RELEVANT

1. Put a lot of thought into the audience you want to attract. Target specifically, not broadly.

2. If you haven't updated the look of your blog in years, now is probably a good time to do that. Could your template design use a bit of pizazz?

3. Does your blog template display well on a mobile device? If not, change to a template that does because  more than half of the world uses a cell phone to connect to the internet.

4. Does your text content use a font that is easily readable on a mobile device? See #3 above. Did you know a sans serif font is easier to read online? That's true for everyone, but it's especially true for someone who may be challenged by dyslexia.

5. Adapt to shifting trends like video on a blog.

6. Always create unique, engaging content that has an "evergreen" value. 

That means what you post needs to be of value in the future, not just on the day you post it.

7. Learn to use keywords effectively and organically. That will keep bringing readers to your content.

8. Learn the way to organically use SEO on your blog and other channels.

9. Learn how to use your blog content for cross chanel marketing, a strategy that involves using multiple channels to engage with your audience and with prospective blog readers. Your content should be able to be repurposed using Email, Social Media, Video, Podcasts, etc. 

10. Your blog should always deliver a consistent message, i.e., your brand.

11. If you have a CTA, Call to Action, in a post or somewhere on your blog, make sure the link for the CTA is clear and represents what the action to be taken results in. 

Below this post, there is a link to subscribe to my free NL—that's a CTA.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

That's it. I hope these tips help you. If you want to know more about blogging, check out my book BLOG OPS, available in Kindle Unlimited, or puchase for only 99¢.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

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The Truth About Blogs in 2024

Are blogs still relevant today? The short answer is a resounding yes.

Despite what many claim, blogs are still relevant and effective in 2024. They can help you build an audience and even create a revenue stream.

I've been writing and publishing SlingWords since 2005. I've seen a lot of trends come and go and heard a lot of pundits say blogs are a waste of time—social media is where it's at.

THE TRUTH

Yes, social media is huge and growing all the time, but, guess what? Blogs are still read regularly by 77% of internet users.

The last estimate of internet users was in 2021, and the number was 219 billion per month. It hasn't decreased. It just keeps growing. What's 77% of 219 billion?

Wow! That's more than 168 billion people reading blogs. So, yes, blogs are still relevant in 2024, and they are a profitable content marketing channel too.

Blogs are still driving results according to 80% of bloggers, but blogs are evolving too. They're now more than just text on a page. Sure, they've always had graphics, but now, they offer multimedia experiences with interactive infographics, embedded podcasts, and video content.

NICHE YOUR BLOG

One of the ways to attract a dedicated audience is to pick a specific niche rather than being a generalist. People who are passionate about a particular subject matter are always looking for blogs to feed their passion.

BLOGS CAN BE SALES ENGINES 

I'm living proof that blogs are successful at marketing products (books for me) and/or services. They can even help bring in revenue via advertising.

When I published my first ebook in 2011, I had a built-in audience since I'd been writing and publishing SlingWords as well as another personal blog for 6 years.

Tomorrow I'll give you some tips on how to make your blog more relevant if your readership has been lagging.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

In short, don't underestimate the importance of a good blog. 

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Punctuation Tips for Writers

It's National Punctuation Day. Yes, that's really a thing, and it's today, September 24.

I thought I'd give a few punctuation tips for writers because I see a lot of ebooks with "clunky" punctuation. That's my nice way of saying, "You're doing it wrong."

 What to Call Digital Books—ebooks or Ebooks if at beginning of a sentence. Not e-books, E-books, eBooks. (I've been guilty of using eBooks because that was what they were called in the beginning.)

These punctuation "rules" follow Chicago Manual of Style and the Modern Language Association aka MLA Style Manual, but they may differ from the APA, the style manual of the American Psychological Association which is used to format papers, list sources, and cite references.

It should also be noted that most style manuals refer to printed documents, but the Chicago Manual of Style and the MLA seem to be embracing online publications. The most important rule is to be consistent in whatever style you choose to use.

Titles: Book, Plays, Films, Periodicals, Newspapers, Databases, and Websites

Titles should be italicized. Yes, I know most people do not italicize websites, but it is proper to do so. Examples follow.

Newspapers—New York Times, Houston Chronicle 

Books—Heat Lightning by Joan Reeves, The Key To Kristina by Joan Reeves

Plays—Hamilton, The Lion King, Les Misérables 

Films—Casablanca, Romancing the Stone, Kiss the Ground, A Documentary

Periodicals—Time Magazine, Vogue, Elle

Databases—Oracle Database, Microsoft SQL Server, MongoDB

Websites—SlingWords, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

Titles: A Part of a Larger Work

In punctuating something that is part of a larger work, titles are treated differently. The title of the section of the larger work is placed in quotation marks. Examples follow.

Articles—"Survival mode: Inflation falls hardest on low-income Americans" by Rachel Siegel and Andrew Van Dam from the Washington Post

Essays—"Lost in the Kitchen" by Dave Barry

Chapters—"Chapter 1, Hell Hath No Fury Blah Blah Blah" from Sex, Murder, and Mint Juleps

Poems—"Chase Henry" in Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters

Webpages—"Vintage Columns" by Dave Barry

Songs—"God Bless America" or "Take It Easy" by The Eagles or "Pour Me a Drink" by Blake Shelton 

Speeches—"The Gettysburg Address" by Abraham Lincoln or "Tear Down This Wall" by Ronald Regan

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

That's it for today's little lesson. I do have another post planned to discuss Ellipses, a quandary for many authors.

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Self-Publishing Potential 2024

Since the first half of this year is history, it's a good time to take stock of what's going on in self-publishing.

Why have so many authors embraced self-publishing?

The answer is easy. Authors enjoy having more control over bringing their stories to readers.

Often, they also have higher income without the middle "man" of the traditional publisher and/or an agent.

That's one of the reasons behind the 17% annual growth rate according to Blurb, founded by Eileen Gittins in 2005.

Blurb is a platform that facilitates creating, printing, and publishing independent books. By the way, traditional pubishing had only a 1% growth during that same time period.

SELF-PUBLISHING REWARDS

In 2022, more than 2,000 self-published authors earned over $100K in royalties, and many of those authors were women. Around 67% of self-published books come from women authors which is quite a contrast to the traditional publishing world.

Monetary rewards aside, self-published works are now being accepted by prestigious awards like the Pulitzer and the British Book Awards. I was amazed to learn that a self-published work can be submitted for consideration.

Self-published books now make up 30 to 34% of all ebook sales, and there are nearly 300 million self-published books sold each year. What does it mean for an author? The market is growing so there's room for new authors.

According to Alex Newton and his K-Lytics reports, 58% of the Top-400 most sold Kindle books of 2023 were romance titles.

For 2024, the forecast from several sources named these as trending genres: Romance, Fantasy, Contemporary Fiction, Romantasy, and Young Adult.

NOT ALL ROSES

Discoverability is the most important factor in book sales for self-publishing authors. Yes, there is room in the marketplace, but there is also tremendous competition. 

You can write the best book in the world, but if no one knows it exists, you may end up as one of the 20% of authors who have no income from writing.

SELF-PUBLISHING IS A 1-MAN BAND

When I started self-publishing, there were no companies offering services like formatting ebooks and print books, cover design, proof reading, marketing, etc. I had to learn how to do it all. I made mistakes too, but I learned from them. Now I'm able to easily format an ebook which means I'm not paying $50-$100+ for this service.

The more you learn to do, and do well, the less overhead you incur. Just make sure that what you do looks professional.

Now there are many companies offering every facet of publishing including proofreading, editing, design, format, distribution, and marketing. These services may or may not be in your budget. That's for you to decide.

BOTTOM LINE

What should a self-publishing author do with the information I've presented? 

(1) Write the best book you can.

(2) Get it professionally proofed and edited.

(3) Package it so it looks as if it came from a traditional publisher—whether you do that yourself or you hire a company to do it.

(4) Learn how to market your book with successful online ads.

From conversations I've had with readers of just about every gennre, most readers don't know, or care, if a book is self-published or traditionally published—unless they are jarred from the story by several typos, wrong word usage, poor grammar, etc. 

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Readers are there for the story. Don't give them a reason to be shocked out of the story by poorly presented text. That can be the kiss of death for an author.

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