Comments on: Freedom isn't Free—5 Common Tactical Errors in Self-Publishing https://authorkristenlamb.com/2013/07/freedom-isnt-free-5-common-tactical-errors-in-self-publishing/ Author, Blogger, Social Media Jedi Mon, 05 Aug 2013 15:56:50 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.8 By: D G Rampton https://authorkristenlamb.com/2013/07/freedom-isnt-free-5-common-tactical-errors-in-self-publishing/#comment-36654 Mon, 05 Aug 2013 15:56:50 +0000 http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/?p=12114#comment-36654 Great advice to think about!

I’ve been stuck in the hamster-wheel of the ‘traditional’ route for two years, trying to sell a Jane Austen/ Georgette Heyer type MS to the publishing industry. Regrettably, they can’t see past their ‘Romance Paradigm’ – fast plot, simple sentence structure and sex.

But I know that intelligent women do in fact read romance too (shocking, I know!), so I’ve decided to self-publish.

Thank you for your steer towards the light at the end of the very long tunnel.

DG

]]> By: A Hodgepodge of Useful Bits & Pieces – August 2013 | KD DID IT Takes on Books https://authorkristenlamb.com/2013/07/freedom-isnt-free-5-common-tactical-errors-in-self-publishing/#comment-36653 Fri, 02 Aug 2013 20:16:36 +0000 http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/?p=12114#comment-36653 […] do have to agree with Kristen Lamb in her post, “5 Common Tactical Errors in Self-Publishing“, and I think it’s the number one error for authors who […]

]]> By: Monday Must-Reads [07/15/13] - YESENIA VARGAS https://authorkristenlamb.com/2013/07/freedom-isnt-free-5-common-tactical-errors-in-self-publishing/#comment-36652 Tue, 16 Jul 2013 03:48:03 +0000 http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/?p=12114#comment-36652 […] Freedom isn’t Free—5 Common Tactical Errors in Self-Publishing | Kristen Lamb’s Blog […]

]]> By: Todd Thorne (@dark_opus) https://authorkristenlamb.com/2013/07/freedom-isnt-free-5-common-tactical-errors-in-self-publishing/#comment-36651 Tue, 16 Jul 2013 00:03:25 +0000 http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/?p=12114#comment-36651 Loved it. Linked it. You’ve got some great points in here, Kristen. Number 5 is the one I most often find myself repeating to fellow writers. It’s the real bane, especially for anyone touched by the dreaded “what’s the point of it all?” depression.

]]> By: Freedom isn't Free---5 Common Tactical Errors i... https://authorkristenlamb.com/2013/07/freedom-isnt-free-5-common-tactical-errors-in-self-publishing/#comment-36650 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 12:49:26 +0000 http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/?p=12114#comment-36650 […] Here's the thing. Self-publishing, in many ways, just allows us to accelerate the career path of the author. Even in traditional publishing, it usually takes about three books to gain traction. In …  […]

]]> By: Self Publishing Week in Review: 7/9/13 | Self Publishing Advisor https://authorkristenlamb.com/2013/07/freedom-isnt-free-5-common-tactical-errors-in-self-publishing/#comment-36649 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 11:00:37 +0000 http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/?p=12114#comment-36649 […] Freedom isn’t Free—5 Common Tactical Errors in Self-Publishing […]

]]> By: David Todd https://authorkristenlamb.com/2013/07/freedom-isnt-free-5-common-tactical-errors-in-self-publishing/#comment-36648 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 15:26:52 +0000 http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/?p=12114#comment-36648 What have been some of your challenges with self-publishing? My main challenges have been technology and people related. I am not particularly tech savvy, so the learning curve on the book uploading process has been steep. And I have to climb it all over again with each new upload, and almost with each edit. After 11 items self-published it is starting to get a little easier.

The people thing is feeling that I have no consistent human partners upon whom to rely. Every critique group I’ve joined has folded, except one that I left because it became to embroiled in political discussions with me being the only one on my side ranged against eight on the other. Beta readers almost never come through. Family members could care less if I publish or not, and I have to cajole them to make a single post about a book. I get the sense of being very much alone in this.

One other challenge is overcoming Genre Identity Disorder. I have finally published the last of the novels that were pent-up in my gray cells, and hopefully am about work on things in series, or at least in the same genre as something already published.

In what areas is it forcing you to grow? I’ll have to get back to you on that. Well, I suppose just perseverance in the face of no support and almost no sales. Working on items 12, 13, and 14, and locking in ideas for 15 through 30.

Have you had to outsource? Yes, for covers, and for formatting on one book that included graphics (though in hindsight I’m not sure he did anything I couldn’t have done). I’m learning to do covers, however, because 1) I’ve run out my string of being able to beg covers from talented family members and friends, and 2) it’s too expensive to pay for covers to short stories.

What sacrifices have you made? You mean besides giving up sports watching and most other TV watching and reading for pleasure rather than for developing as a writer? I suppose you could count being chronically behind on family finances as an answer to that.

]]> By: Steven Devonport https://authorkristenlamb.com/2013/07/freedom-isnt-free-5-common-tactical-errors-in-self-publishing/#comment-36647 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 09:15:38 +0000 http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/?p=12114#comment-36647 Hey there, I’ve just stumbled across this article and your blog – loved the honesty that comes across in your writing and the videos.

I’ve already bookmarked you for further reading – thanks.

]]> By: pamelacreese https://authorkristenlamb.com/2013/07/freedom-isnt-free-5-common-tactical-errors-in-self-publishing/#comment-36646 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 01:46:16 +0000 http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/?p=12114#comment-36646 Excellent points. I really love the first one…so many good writers I know published before they were ready and it has hurt them. That old acorn about it taking 3 books before anyone reads you? That one scares the fur off me. Because I want my FIRST (published) book to be sell well, to be read, to be loved. But I have seen that with my traditionally published friends…their first book was great but it wasn’t till the third one that their sales began to take off…whether book three was actually as good as book one or two or not. Momentum, I guess?
So, there’s my question. What if we want that ‘first’ book to be the ‘third’ book? What then? Do we write three or four more and hold it back to release after the ones that are doomed to be mediocre because they are our ‘early’ books? Do we release it first anyway and settle for it never having the readership it deserves because it is first?

]]> By: Lalo https://authorkristenlamb.com/2013/07/freedom-isnt-free-5-common-tactical-errors-in-self-publishing/#comment-36645 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 00:48:15 +0000 http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/?p=12114#comment-36645 In reply to Author Kristen Lamb.

I’m so glad to hear my theory is probably a reality. I read back over my work and I know I’m better than that. However, I proof read or edit for others and I spot those errors so fast! I am really enjoying your blog.

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