You’ve written a manuscript, and now you’re wondering how to publish your first book.
When I published my first book, Beyond the Water’s Edge, I had just enough knowledge about self-publishing to get it done. But publishing a book and setting it up for success are two different things. If I had to do it over, this is what I wish I knew before hitting publish.
This is a culmination of everything I’ve learned from newsletters for writers, Reedsy courses on publishing and marketing, and the hole that is Reddit.
I knew I could self-publish the books on Amazon KDP and Draft2Digital, and to steer clear of vanity presses (costs a butt ton to format and dump it on these sites, and you lose control of your book. Run from pay-to-publish presses).
So how do you set yourself up for success before hitting publish on your book? When in doubt, copy what the experts do.
Here’s what I wish I knew before I published my first book:
- Traditional publishers push hype about upcoming releases as far in advance as possible (up to a year).
- Publishers have critical reviewers read the book in advance in the hopes of getting onto most anticipated books of the year lists (like Goodreads) and other articles.
- Social media influencers are given ARCs (advanced reader copies). ARCs are essential for reviews and to generate social media awareness.
You can be an ARC reader. Big-name publishers use NetGalley. You can create a free account and request books before they hit the shelves—just remember to leave a review. There are other sites too, like BookSirens and BookFunnel, as well as Bookstack on Substack. You can check out becoming an ARC reader for indie books via Bookstack HERE. - Pre-release sales data gets counted with the first week’s sales to boost numbers and push a book up in its category. Authors sometimes give incentives for pre-orders, such as book merch.
- Publishers host giveaways in advance or coinciding with the release of a book on places like Goodreads and The StoryGraph.
Last I checked, Goodreads giveaways run around $110 for the standard package, and the StoryGraph (while in beta testing) is half-priced for $49. This doesn’t necessarily directly help sales, but it does get reviews, which are a must for your book to be taken seriously. - Authors build a social media presence before publishing.
I missed this—big time. I kind of hate social media, so I only created accounts around the time I published. I wish I had known of Substack sooner, because it’s a social media platform I actually like, instead of suffering through.
Traveling the Self-Published Road for Your Book
Indie books can be a hidden gem. Sometimes, of course, they’re a little rougher and could use some more polishing. But if there’s one constant, it’s that indie books push boundaries. They give us stories that break the mold.
That’s because traditionally published books require comps. Those are comparable titles published in the last five years that prove an author’s story concept is marketable for publishers. That’s also the reason we see tropes and core story concepts repeated over and over.
I didn’t take the traditional route because I took a chance with my book. I wanted to break certain tropes, and I didn’t think an agent, let alone a risk-averse publisher, would take it up.
So I self-published.
The result: a book I’m truly proud of.
P.S. Want to get the complete roadmap on how to write and publish a novel?
Happy reading!
Janine Eaby is the author of Beyond the Water’s Edge—a Young adult fantasy book series influenced by her faith, love of nature, and desire for adventure. Ideal for fans of portal fantasies to other worlds like The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
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