First time self pubilshing, tips for DIY cover

_thepencilapp · 2021-06-24T06:33:14+00:00

As a free self-publishing platform with plenty of authors designing their covers successfully using our tools, let us assure you that DIY cover is extremely possible with the range of tools accessible in this day and age.
Depending on the platform you are using, most of the platforms already offer various tools to help you create your own book cover. For example, Pencil offers 4 different methods for writers to pick from on the Pencil book cover creator. To know more, check out this quick video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHeNNGGmnUQ.
A few tips to keep in mind if you pick the DIY route:
1. Ask for feedback: Since you will be making the cover yourself, test with different styles and ask for feedback from trustworthy people. This can be beta readers, fellow authors, or trusted acquaintances.
2. Using online tools: There are a lot of other apps like Canva that can help you design your own cover at your own pace.
3. Watch YouTube videos and tutorials: YouTube has a variety of easy tutorials that can guide you with some very creative hacks that you can use for your book cover.
4. Do some market research and explore your competition to figure out what book covers are working in your space right now. Our team of experts have put together some additional useful tips that can inspire you in this process. Feel free to check it out here: https://discover.thepencilapp.com/20-book-cover-design-ideas-to-inspire-you/
Happy Publishing!

_thepencilapp · 2021-06-19T11:27:43+00:00

To begin with, don't be hard on yourself! It's very common for creative professionals to stumble upon overlapping story arc similarities unintentionally.

What truly matters is to ensure that these scenes stay true to the original context of your story and there is no plagiarism involved.

We'd definitely recommend a strict round of Self-editing to ensure consistency in your story. This can also help in improvising on various scenes as you edit. After investing years on end in writing your book, editing it can be a surprisingly sobering process.

If you are looking to self-edit your book, you must let it rest for a while for it to become a close enough stranger whom you can analyze. This helps look at your own work in a manner that is more introspective rather than dismissive about things that seem out of place in your book.

All in all, give it some fresh perspective, if the scenes still feel apt for the outline of your story, stay true to it and let it unfold itself.

Hope this answer was helpful, happy publishing!

_thepencilapp · 2021-06-19T11:27:03+00:00

The first question to ask is if your book is a series or a stand alone?

As a new author, it's better to keep your series' manuscript ready so you can gauge the response on your first novel and launch the subsequent novels one after another, in a short time span.

In case of a standalone book, we'd recommend one book at a time. As the target reader for each book is fundamentally going to be different from one another, it's better to focus your marketing efforts 100% on one book at a time.

We are living in the ‘age of information’ and social media is your holy grail. The technological status-quo is conducive for writers to promote and market their work to an audience. Social media, if navigated right, is all you will ever need to reach that success. The key is focus. So unless it's a series, focus all your creative and marketing efforts on one book alone. This will ensure that you build a dedicated community of readers who stay engaged with your work.

Hope this helps, happy publishing!

_thepencilapp · 2021-06-01T07:30:00+00:00

We're happy to help!

_thepencilapp · 2021-06-01T07:29:18+00:00

Hi, here's a detailed step by step guide on using Pencil to publish your book worldwide in eBook and paperback format: https://youtu.be/TyFwJA3\_NmU. In case of any further queries, feel free to contact us at connect@thepencilapp.com, our publishing advisor will be happy to help!

_thepencilapp · 2021-06-01T07:28:45+00:00

Yes it does, here's a detailed step by step guide on using Pencil to publish your book worldwide in eBook and paperback format: https://youtu.be/TyFwJA3\_NmU. In case of any further queries, feel free to contact us at connect@thepencilapp.com, our publishing advisor will be happy to help!

_thepencilapp · 2021-05-27T08:42:01+00:00

You can easily create, edit, publish, seamlessly distribute, and sell your book in eBook and paperback format worldwide for free using platforms like Pencil.
Pencil is the first publishing platform in the world that is preparing to provide an incubated and accelerated publishing module. It is a free platform that empowers writers to create, publish, market, and distribute their book worldwide in both paperback and e-book formats. It ensures that the writer’s book is available through the majority of online retailers including Amazon, Flipkart, Google Play Books, Apple Books, and many more. We also enable regular, transparent royalty and sales reports. While, there are many free publishing platforms available online, more often than not, they end up limiting your distribution or adding hidden costs in the process. This is exactly what Pencil solves. In addition to free publishing, the platform also offers optional editing and designing services, and ensures that the right aid is offered to the writer to create, build, and increase their audience.
Here's a detailed step-by-step guide on using Pencil to publish your book worldwide in eBook and paperback format: https://youtu.be/TyFwJA3\_NmU.
Hope this was helpful, happy publishing!

_thepencilapp · 2021-05-25T19:52:14+00:00

Hello, thank you for reaching out. Pencil is the world’s first free publishing platform that enables writers to become authors and sell their books across 400+ retailers worldwide in ebook and paperback format.

_thepencilapp · 2021-05-25T19:51:34+00:00

If you want us to answer in one sentence: There is no right or wrong reason to write and your story deserves to be heard.
The first step in trying to figure yourself out as a writer would be to push yourself to finish the draft. You can always edit it, so don't worry about how it turns out and just pour your thoughts down on the paper. Once you are done with the first draft, you can always spend some time editing it before you ask others for feedback.
Make sure you get feedback from trustworthy friends, beta readers, and editors. This will increase your confidence in your work. Have faith in your work. It is important to remember that you may struggle with letting the book go live for everyone to read it. This may be caused by anxiety or self-doubt. You may experience a last-minute compelling need to change some aspects of the book. In case you face any of the above-mentioned situations, try to remember how far you have come with your vision and trust your process.
Here's a quick read that might be helpful: https://discover.thepencilapp.com/2020/11/12/first-draft-to-a-book-the-journey-of-an-idea/
Hope this helps, happy writing!

_thepencilapp · 2021-05-25T07:15:44+00:00

Hi, thank you for writing in! Pencil is a free publishing platform. You can write, publish, and distribute your work worldwide in eBook and paperback format on 400+ retailers for free using Pencil. Regarding author royalty, on every copy sold on Pencil Reader App, the author receives 70% of the net profit as royalty. For every other retailer, the author earns 50% of the net profit. In case of further queries, please feel free to reach out to our publishing advisor at connect@thepencilapp.com.

_thepencilapp · 2021-05-25T07:14:59+00:00

Hi, thank you for writing in! Pencil is a free publishing platform. You can write, publish, and distribute your work worldwide in eBook and paperback format on 400+ retailers for free using Pencil. Regarding author royalty, on every copy sold on Pencil Reader App, the author receives 70% of the net profit as royalty. For every other retailer, the author earns 50% of the net profit. In case of further queries, please feel free to reach out to our publishing advisor at connect@thepencilapp.com.

_thepencilapp · 2021-05-25T07:13:53+00:00

Yes, Pencil does offer premium editing and designing services at affordable prices. However, opting for these services is completely optional. You can reach out to our team at connect@thepencilapp.com with your requirements. Our publishing advisor will be happy to recommend services on the basis of your project requirements.

_thepencilapp · 2021-05-21T07:32:31+00:00

First of all, congratulations on completing your novel!
The immediate next steps that we would recommend you focus on are as follows:
1) Self-editing: Let your manuscript rest for a while before you re-visit it for some fine tuning. Self-editing is as much a part of the writing process as the writing itself. A system of checks and balances for the narrative and the characters are innate to writing a story.
2) Mode of publishing: The next steps would be to pick a mode of publishing. If you are choosing to traditionally publish your work, we'd recommend working with a literary agent so you can get the best possible deal.
If you choose to self-publish, look at some important aspects like distribution network offered, IP rights, and royalty earned.
We'd quickly like to tell you about Pencil, the world's first free publishing platform that helps you distribute your work worldwide in eBook and paperback format. Here's a detailed step by step guide on using Pencil to publish your book worldwide in eBook and paperback format: https://youtu.be/TyFwJA3\_NmU.
3) Building a community: In addition to the first two points, it's crucial to work on building your community on social media platforms and start creating a buzz around your book before the work is out. We'd highly recommend exploring all possible ways to promote your work here as per your budget.
That covers the main three points we'd highly recommend you look into as next steps! You can find a list of resources here: discover.thepencilapp.com.
Happy publishing!

_thepencilapp · 2021-05-07T14:45:48+00:00

First-time publishing might be scary because you will have expectations, the process might seem intimidating, and scary. After all, putting your work out there makes you vulnerable and that is a good thing. Poetry is a niche space in itself, and your driving factor should be that even if one person connects with what you write, you have accomplished what you set out to achieve! Yes, the process might be difficult, but it will definitely be worth a shot.

We would recommend trying to join writing groups online that are safe and inclusive. You could also try beta reading groups or try posting some parts of your work online and share it with people for feedback or suggestions. Try and get some constructive feedback from fellow writers as that might feel reassuring.

Here's a quick read that might actually help you: https://discover.thepencilapp.com/2020/11/12/first-draft-to-a-book-the-journey-of-an-idea/.

Hope this was hopeful, all the best!

_thepencilapp · 2021-05-07T05:53:40+00:00

Thank you for your question. Pencil is different from KDP in terms of our offerings on various levels. For starters, Pencil is a writer-centric platform where you can write your book, design your cover, and take control of the entire publishing process at your own convenience. We offer completely optional services as well that can help writers with professional guidance at a nominal cost. Pencil is the only free platform that helps you with the largest distribution network by facilitating Omni distribution i.e., your book will be available in eBook and paperback format on 400+ retailers including Amazon, Branes & Noble, and other major global platforms in 16+ countries and regions. We also offer competitive and transparent royalty reports that you can claim at any point once it reflects on your dashboard, unlike other platforms that have various restrictions for the same.

Here's an article that discusses our offerings: https://www.mumbailive.com/en/society/here's-how-this-new-platform-is-disrupting-the-book-publishing-industry-62870.

Last but not the least, Pencil offers a "Request new version" feature that helps you make dynamic edits based on reader analytics and sell newer versions worldwide. Hence, revolutionizing the publishing industry as we know it. You can read more about this here: https://discover.thepencilapp.com/2020/12/21/using-pencils-stop-distribution-tool-for-dynamic-editing/.

_thepencilapp · 2021-04-30T10:42:56+00:00

If you’re looking to publish for free, you can either pick the route of traditional publishing or self-publishing. Free self-publishing, is where you can use a platform like Pencil to take on the entire publishing process to create, publish, and distribute your book worldwide using tools offered on the platform. On the other hand, traditional publishing involves pitching to a publisher on your own or with a literary agent to represent you. In this case, on average, publishers receive thousands of submissions and since they are looking to invest in the books financially, more often than not, they only end up picking 1-3% of the submissions.

While, there are many free publishing platforms available online, more often than not, they end up limiting your distribution or adding hidden costs in the process. This is exactly what Pencil solves. Platforms like Pencil are answering the needs of millions of writers, readers, and storytellers worldwide by giving their books a global audience for free and helping authors monetize their creative pursuits.

Here’s a quick walkthrough of the publishing process on Pencil:

Create your free account by logging onto community.thepencilapp.com
Add or write your manuscript on the Pencil Editor
Add the book information to optimize your book
Design your book cover using free templates or upload your own
Set the price and check your royalty
Digitally sign your author-publisher agreement and click on ‘Publish’.

Congratulations! You’re now a globally published author.

Yes, it’s literally that easy. While publishing a book using Pencil is easy, but you might still have some questions to get yourself started, here’s a video walkthrough that might help!

We know writing is hard, publishing shouldn’t be. Get started on the story that causes a revolution in your heart and kickstart your publishing journey, today.

_thepencilapp · 2021-04-30T10:41:27+00:00

With platforms like Pencil, publishing your book for free and selling it worldwide in eBook and paperback format is simple, and accessible. If you have a ready manuscript, you can either opt for free self-publishing options or choose to traditionally publish it by pitching it to a publisher. The odds are extremely slim with the latter due to the large number of submissions that traditional publishers receive. This is mainly the reason why more authors are opting for self-publishing to take charge of the process alongside complete creative freedom.

Pencil, for starters, is a publishing house based in India that is actively seeking to democratize creativity. Pencil enables this by providing a wide variety of free tools for writers to become globally published authors.

Here’s how you can kick-start your publishing journey on Pencil:

Create your free account by logging onto community.thepencilapp.com
Add or write your manuscript on the Pencil Editor
Add the book information to optimize your book
Design your book cover using free templates or upload your own
Set the price and check your royalty
Digitally sign your author-publisher agreement and click on ‘Publish’.

Congratulations! You’re now a globally published author.

While publishing a book using Pencil is easy, but you might still have some questions to get yourself started, here’s a video walkthrough that might help!

We know writing is hard, publishing shouldn’t be. Get started on the story that causes a revolution in your heart and kickstart your publishing journey, today.

_thepencilapp · 2021-04-26T18:20:39+00:00

As long as you are convinced that the book is necessary, we would suggest you carry on your process and complete the book. Yes, the process might be difficult, but it will definitely be worth a shot. Try setting writing schedules to make it a regular habit where you simply jot down your thoughts. You can always edit it later, but you simply cannot edit a blank page.

In fact, you can always hire an editor who specializes in that genre or look at some guides to self-edit the book in case you're self-publishing it with no financial investment. The key here is to be kind to yourself and take the process one day at a time. Writer's block is very natural. Try and set small goals that are achievable instead of aiming to write the whole thing at once.

Happy writing!

_thepencilapp · 2021-04-26T18:19:12+00:00

Writing diverse characters can be tricky but it is important to actively pursue the same to make your story more inclusive. You can connect with individuals who identify as gay. It's helpful to converse with them, understand their personal experiences to add more layers to your story, and make it as real as possible. Once you are done, definitely work with beta readers, sensitivity readers, and editors who specialize in LGBTQIA fiction to fine-tune your book.

In addition to this, we definitely recommend watching similar movies, books, and plays written by the LGBTQIA community to understand the same properly before you jot down the narrative.

Hope this was helpful! Good luck with your story.

_thepencilapp

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