Top tips and self-confessed bloopers on how you can write and publish your best book, from experienced author, Dee Blick
The First Lesson I Learned as a First-Time Author
Dig underneath your vanity publisher’s sales spiel
I started writing books 18 years ago, and for my first book, the L plates were firmly attached on the cover. For starters, the cover was, still is, utterly underwhelming. I had trusted my vanity publishing house (I had crossed their palms with a lot of silver) to deliver an amazing cover, and they promised me I would be delighted with their efforts.
What I got instead was a sky full of clouds with the name of the book and my name floating on the front. The back cover was orange with white text – a big no because it was so hard to read. It was made clear to me by my account manager when I tentatively expressed my unhappiness that there were no credits in the bank for further changes (or more likely a trip back to the drawing board for a complete redesign) unless I was willing to pay for it. And it would cost me hundreds of pounds, which I didn’t have.
The Inside Layout Nightmare
Again, it was pointed out that if I wanted to make any further changes, I had to pay £1.25 for each change ranging from a comma to a word.
Now there is that phrase, Caveat Emptor: Let the Buyer Beware. When I was signing the contract with the publishing house, the fine details were nowhere on show. But then again, I did not go looking for them. I was so pleased to find a publisher that spoke with real enthusiasm to the audience about publishing their book—as only a super salesperson can—that I signed the contract within seconds of the sales pitch ending. I did not even sleep on it.
Lessons Learned: Do Your Research Before Paying a Publisher
And this is a lesson well learned that I want to share with you if you’re considering paying a publishing house to produce your book. They may call their services all manner of snazzy names, but if you’re paying them to produce your book, you must delve into the details – what are you getting for your money?
And crucially, do you need all the services for which you are paying? For example, is global distribution to bookstores realistic or necessary, and what is the likelihood of your book being ordered by resellers worldwide? If this is not on your radar now, don’t pay for it. You can always change your mind and add on these services at a later stage if initial sales of your book indicate a global appetite.
Compare Costs: Publishing House vs. Freelancers
My advice to you would be to do a like-for-like comparison. Figure out how much it would cost to produce your book using freelancers, setting up your book on Amazon KDP, and buying books direct from a printer for your own book signings and distribution. Then contrast with the same service offered by a publishing house. For example, you should cost the following:
- Editor
- Proofreader
- Book cover design
- Book layout
- eBook format
- Unit price per book from a printer
- Cost of initial stock of 250 books
Do You Need a Publishing House?
This begs the question: Do you need a publishing house to support you?
The answer to this depends on how confident you are about publishing your book and how much time you have to manage the entire process yourself.
Some authors, especially first-time authors, are happy to outsource the production and publishing of their book to an experienced publishing house so they can concentrate on writing their book. Some want to retain control of some aspects of production, while others prefer to manage the entire process themselves.
Final Advice: Know What You’re Paying For
My advice to you? Whatever you decide, don’t be like me with my first book and make assumptions about the services you’re buying. Dig deep into the details, talk to other authors, and then look at the alternative scenarios of writing and publishing your book yourself.
You absolutely can write and publish a book on the smallest of budgets today—managing the freelancers that will help you realise your vision and even buying books directly from a book production printer.
You absolutely can find some first-rate publishing houses that will only promote the services they feel you really need, sharing their expertise so that you don’t make mistakes and can realise the full potential of your book.
Make Your Decision with the Facts
Make the decision with all the facts at your fingertips. I self-published The Boutique but used professionals for design, layout, and editing, while buying books directly from a specialist printer.
You want your book to be the absolute best book you can write and produce, regardless of the route you go down.
I’ll share lots more in future columns. I hope I’ve given you some important things to consider if writing a book is on your list this year.
About Dee Blick
Dee is an international bestselling author of five books. Her latest novel, The Boutique, is a collection of nine short stories where each character—eight women and one man—connect through a vibrant fashion shop.
Storylines are poignant and gripping, with unpredictable grand finales, plot twists, and gritty subjects. The book is available on Amazon in e-book and paperback. Read the many 5-star reviews and discover more about Dee’s inspiration for writing The Boutique, including her own personal story of overcoming addiction.
You can connect with Dee on Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok, or email her at [email protected].
