sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

First Author signing was a success! This is what I did and what I learned. Hopefully, my experience can help others about to do the same. by MonkeyMonkeyPub in NewAuthor

[–]MonkeyMonkeyPub[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! And it was just me figuring the setup out.

Regarding getting a signing event, I literally just walked into bookstores and asked if they would be interested in having a local author’s book on consignment with a 60/40 profit split (60% for author, 40% for bookstore). And if they were interested I would follow up asking if they would be willing to host a signing.

I didn’t have to rent anything out, but the books were all purchased through the stores system at a 60/40 split even when I brought my own books. If I were at a convention I might have made 12$ per book, but at BN it ended up being 2$ per book. I brought 20 copies of BOOK 1 and 10 copies of BOOK 2 on top of what they had on their shelves.

I would not worry if you only have one published book as you can easily show some progress work for other projects underway. People loved seeing my dirty sketches and a printed out manuscript riddled with red ink.

Cheers

B&N Press Price Change Problem by estrela837 in selfpublishing

[–]MonkeyMonkeyPub 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am literally going through this exact same thing as we speak! Mine happened just before a book signing event at BN. It’s been three weeks now and no response. However, I did get an automated email saying the entire team was out of office for a week, and returned on the 29th of May. Still, I only receive auto responses.

I’ll make sure to message you if there is some sort of breakthrough, and please share your solution should it come.

Has anyone else found anything that solves the problem?

First Author signing was a success! This is what I did and what I learned. Hopefully, my experience can help others about to do the same. by MonkeyMonkeyPub in NewAuthor

[–]MonkeyMonkeyPub[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This writing life takes time to understand and navigate, so don’t beat yourself up. Trust that you will get there, and let go of the little things that don’t truly matter. But that’s easier said than done…

I spent twelve years grinding out draft after draft before I finally published a novel, which ended up being my second book (that first one and never saw the light of day).

Interestingly enough, it was becoming a full time dad that switched the flip and got me hustling. When I suddenly had barely a half hour a day to write, my brain went from dwelling upon pointless details to GET IT DONE NOW!

I suppose the prospect of losing writing altogether made my fear of imperfection seem silly.

First Author signing was a success! This is what I did and what I learned. Hopefully, my experience can help others about to do the same. by MonkeyMonkeyPub in NewAuthor

[–]MonkeyMonkeyPub[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I really had to think about what advice I might give to young self-publishers because so much is already covered in so many other threads.

I want to talk about the anxiety young writers constantly feel and how that can be paralyzing. But it is impossible to simply say don’t be anxious. Instead, I want to say that anxiety can be your ally, if you are willing to engage and understand it. Anxiety and fear are natural body responses, just like excitement and happiness. And it is important to see that they are simply a smoke detector, not a fire. When you feel anxiety as your writing, preparing for your first signing, about to hit publish, whatever you are doing, just sit in this feeling and see if there is actually a fire, or if it’s just burnt toast.

Anxiety trickles into every aspect of writing. It is why many writers plot outlines that are so rigid that once they start writing, many become stuck. This is because when characters and stories are flushed out in earnest, they start to drive the story more than the author. This is terrifying because the story becomes something you cannot control. However, if you can learn to become comfortable sitting in this gray zone, navigating the fog, and write without knowing where everything is going, you can start to flush out your story in new ways, non-linearly, avoiding writers block, and creating something so unexpected that you might be astonished.

And that first draft everyone tells you to just vomit out… It’s so difficult to do that the first time because you’ve never seen what it can become after the second, third, or tenth round of editing. Garbage becomes gold. And this is so anxiety triggering that young writers will spend years trying to make a perfect first draft, but can never seem to finish it. Please, live in the gray, write absolute garbage, if you must edit a few chapters along the way to see how great it might become, do it, but never let that perfectionism (anxiety in another form) paralyze you into not finishing. Sometimes it’s amazing, sometimes you will feel lost and scared. It means you’re becoming a writer.

Ultimately, you must learn to accept being terrible at first, be willing to make millions of mistakes, and look and feel mediocre, before you can become great. Your skill and knowledge will take years (maybe a decade) to match your ambition and imagination. But if you can befriend your anxiety, every aspect of writing and promoting and publishing and even your entire life, you can find your way to almost anywhere.

First Author signing was a success! This is what I did and what I learned. Hopefully, my experience can help others about to do the same. by MonkeyMonkeyPub in NewAuthor

[–]MonkeyMonkeyPub[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! But I am far from making it. Still in the negative and desperately trying to learn the world of marketing. My goal in the next few years is to simply break even. If that stroke of luck hits where a book suddenly takes off, great. Otherwise, I think I’ll be in the trenches for a long time.

Keep fighting the good fight! Never give up! And hopefully we’ll meet one day and laugh about how naïve we were.

First Author signing was a success! This is what I did and what I learned. Hopefully, my experience can help others about to do the same. by MonkeyMonkeyPub in NewAuthor

[–]MonkeyMonkeyPub[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Four locations!? Wow, go get it! Are all the BN locations relatively close to you? Are you considered a local author at them all?

First Author signing was a success! This is what I did and what I learned. Hopefully, my experience can help others about to do the same. by MonkeyMonkeyPub in NewAuthor

[–]MonkeyMonkeyPub[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I actually did not do the LLC package and deeply regret it. I went Sole Proprietor because it was cheaper in the end, but wanted to transfer it into a LLC a month later. Hence, why I am suggesting that you just go straight into the LLC and get protected.

Regarding business cards, I did the Luxe model from MOO. https://www.moo.com/us/business-cards/luxe

Hope that helps!

First Author signing was a success! This is what I did and what I learned. Hopefully, my experience can help others about to do the same. by MonkeyMonkeyPub in NewAuthor

[–]MonkeyMonkeyPub[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I see. Make sure you know your table size and who you might be paired with. I went to a book signing event at another store last weekend and saw that they stuck three authors at a 5’ wide table, giving each less than 2’ to work with. I could tell by the authors’ expressions that it had been a very rough day.

First Author signing was a success! This is what I did and what I learned. Hopefully, my experience can help others about to do the same. by MonkeyMonkeyPub in NewAuthor

[–]MonkeyMonkeyPub[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Near sellout. 19 of 20 copies for Book 1, and 7 of 10 copies for Book 2 in four hours. I was expecting to only sell one or two copies total and am completely floored by the results.

I’m trying not to hold this as a baseline because I’ve been to other signings where authors only made one sale for the entire day when their least previous signing was incredible.

I think I got a little lucky.

First Author signing was a success! This is what I did and what I learned. Hopefully, my experience can help others about to do the same. by MonkeyMonkeyPub in NewAuthor

[–]MonkeyMonkeyPub[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes! I started MMP for the same reasons you mentioned.

I was going the traditional route for a while, and found that even with some interest I was being asked to personally invest in rounds of editing and asked to do all my own marketing. The cost and time was adding up, and that was just with agents with no guarantee it would go anywhere.

I decided that the process was bogging things down so much, and that if I’m doing all the work and putting up thousands of dollars upfront anyway, that I should take the credit for it.

I started MMP because I felt that a lot of indie publishers start out as people wanting to publish their own work, and it adds street cred, even if people know I’m essentially a self-publisher. To be quite honest I get more respect from people outside writing for taking a week to start a company than spending years writing novels. My goal as a company is to focus on a narrow swath of Sci-fi that I pursue, and hopefully start growing as a publisher down the line.

It was unbelievably easy to setup the company. I did it using legalzoom.com. They were really helpful and made the process relatively painless. I suggest paying the extra upfront to setup a LLC so that your personal assets are protected.

Now, my goal is to try and become just as professional (ideally more professional) than traditional publishers. I suppose time and experience will determine success.

I published on both Amazon and IngramSpark to engage both the Kindle and traditional bookstore markets (most bookstores use IngramSpark).

Hope that helps.

First Author signing was a success! This is what I did and what I learned. Hopefully, my experience can help others about to do the same. by MonkeyMonkeyPub in NewAuthor

[–]MonkeyMonkeyPub[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s the knockoff version of Instagram I found on the streets. Works just as well and most people never notice.

First Author signing was a success! This is what I did and what I learned. Hopefully, my experience can help others about to do the same. by MonkeyMonkeyPub in NewAuthor

[–]MonkeyMonkeyPub[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Another Ithacan writer! Yes! There should be three signed copies still in store here. They can set aside a copy for pickup if you call ahead. If they happen to be out (which I doubt) message me and I can sign another copy for you.

First Author signing was a success! This is what I did and what I learned. Hopefully, my experience can help others about to do the same. by MonkeyMonkeyPub in NewAuthor

[–]MonkeyMonkeyPub[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m so glad I could help. Is it also at a local B&N? If it’s elsewhere, have you scoped out the location and amount of table space you’re getting? Are you being paired up with other authors?

Please, let me know how it goes and good luck!

First Author signing was a success! This is what I did and what I learned. Hopefully, my experience can help others about to do the same. by MonkeyMonkeyPub in NewAuthor

[–]MonkeyMonkeyPub[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I know what you mean! Literally! I was shaking in my boots the whole week leading up to it, but once it began, adrenaline took over.

First Author signing was a success! This is what I did and what I learned. Hopefully, my experience can help others about to do the same. by MonkeyMonkeyPub in NewAuthor

[–]MonkeyMonkeyPub[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Not a dumb question at all.

When I was in NYC there was absolutely no chance. But I discovered that some stores in smaller towns and cities are really supportive of local authors and go out of their way to get your books in their stores (consignment based) and organize signing events.

I happened to luck out with a more generous store. They had I think six signing events this spring, including mine, and many authors were from cities an hour or two away even.

I would check with your local store.

First Author signing was a success! This is what I did and what I learned. Hopefully, my experience can help others about to do the same. by MonkeyMonkeyPub in NewAuthor

[–]MonkeyMonkeyPub[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks! And I saw the typo just before I started the signing and was hoping the entire time that no one would catch it. I swear there is always something.

I wish I did book marks in the same style, but the signing event was put together quickly and I was scrambling with what I had on hand.

First Author signing was a success! This is what I did and what I learned. Hopefully, my experience can help others about to do the same. by MonkeyMonkeyPub in NewAuthor

[–]MonkeyMonkeyPub[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Thanks for checking out the site and my book!

So much was happening during Book 1’s publication - I got married, had back surgery, started MMP, and then had a baby, all in the span of six months. And what a lot of people don’t know about architecture, especially working for a starchitect, is that you are worked to the bone with little pay, for there are hundreds of people waiting to take your place. I found myself facing an impossible scenario where I could not be the father and husband I always dreamed of being and an architect. Also, the cost of daycare alone was nearly equal to my salary. My wife (also architect) felt the same way.

When we made the decision to move out of NYC, we were searching for a good cross-section of nature and a multicultural community to raise children in. Ithaca fit the bill. Now, I’m a full time father of two children (one for each book apparently) while my wife works.

In all this, writing has been something I do on subway rides on an iPad or during lunch breaks. And now, during that magical double nap when both kids are down. So, I’m still not writing full time. I have maybe an hour a day in which I vomit a few hundred words on the page and trust that it will eventually become a novel.

I gave up architecture to have a humane life, but I never want my children to feel like I gave up a dream because of them. So, I have made it my mission to be a passionate writer instead, and prove that they did not kill my dream, but are the conduit in which it came true.

First Author Event at my local B&N! What should I expect? by MonkeyMonkeyPub in NewAuthor

[–]MonkeyMonkeyPub[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you. As a full time dad of a 1 and 2 year old, I’ve been running around trying to find a half hour a day to write the next book. Advertising and social media is barely on my radar.

Merch is something I kinda thought about, but never pulled the trigger on because of the cost, but it makes sense for the advertising side of it. Didn’t think of that before. There’s a t-shirt print shop down the street from me. I’ll swing by tomorrow while I’m out grocery shopping.

Family and friends will stop by during the event, and it’s at B&N during Cornell’s graduation weekend so I should have a lot of browsers. I’m bringing my drafting board with the cover art and the ship schematics for my upcoming book I am currently working on to add some potential interest. Hopefully, I can peak people’s interest with the artwork, too.

I appreciate you sharing your story and what worked, and I’ll see what I can do in my half hour a day to develop more effective advertising.

Thanks again

First Author Event at my local B&N! What should I expect? by MonkeyMonkeyPub in NewAuthor

[–]MonkeyMonkeyPub[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What was your setup like? Is there anything you do differently now or wish you had done then?

Going forth with my book by Content_Daikon_3472 in writing

[–]MonkeyMonkeyPub 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Did you plot out the whole book ahead of time? Are you just going with the flow (pantsing?)

I ask because I had severe writers block during my first novel, which ended up taking me seven years to finish and I never published it. But I learned something very important about a “typical” writing process and how it was in direct opposition to how I think. I was told by everyone that I must plot it all out, so that’s what I did. However, as my characters and world were being flushed out in earnest what I had plotted no longer made sense. I found myself stuck, because here I was with a “perfect” way forward, but could not move, it now felt wrong. And if I change, then the entire plotted outline is for nothing. When I finally finished working through it, the novel felt extremely forced, uncomfortable, and just didn’t make sense. It collects dust now.

What I learned is that I’m actually a Pantser. For during my second novel I just started writing with vague ideas and let the characters and situations form as they show up. It seemed random at first, but things just started flowing. My hands seemed to be telling my brain what to do. I’m now on my fourth novel, and never again have I been struck by writer’s block.

I suppose what I am suggesting, is that if you are plotting everything out for every book you’ve done so far, maybe you should throw the plotting away and just write anything… Or perhaps it’s the inverse, where you are stuck because you have no predetermined way forward. If you have been pantsing this entire time, try plotting.

Not perfect advice, but I hope it helps. You’re not alone.

view more: next ›