With spring finally in the air and the cobwebs of winter hibernation lifting, this blog post was originally going to be about how to rev up the motivation to write and stay at it. Then I started thinking about how many times I’ve heard someone talk about a book they’ve already written and put aside . . . So, that’s where my inspiration ended up leading me. Given the time of year too, I knew this message would be of value, specifically, what to do now if you want to publish your book in 2018. This will help too, if you’re almost finished your manuscript and you’re not sure what to do next or when.
1) Think about what kind of professional expertise you need or want, and what you might like to do yourself should you have the time and appropriate skill. Seek out companies that value your story and message and specialize somewhat in your genre.
2) Don’t wait until your manuscript is perfect. If you know it is complete, but you keep going back to it thinking you need to change and add content, it might be time to consult with an editor or publisher. I C Publishing has a manuscript review and evaluation service that many have found to be helpful in determining if/where their manuscript requires more work or simply tidying up through the editing process.
3) Recognize the value of professional editing and the importance of the numerous stages often required to bring your best work to the forefront. Even the most able and eloquent writers work with an editor or editing team to ensure all the bases are covered.
4) Give yourself a cushion of time at every phase of the work; wherever possible, don’t rush. Enjoy the entire process; it keeps you at your best and focused on your purpose for writing your book in the first place, not to mention the difference you want to make once it is in the readers’ hands.
5) When it comes to project planning and management, contemplate when you’d like to have your book ready to release in 2018 and work backwards from that time. For example, if you’d like to release your book in October, consider reserving Sept for printing (you might only need two or three weeks, but it’s better to have some leeway), August for typesetting (inside layout) and e-book (PDF) creation, June and July for cover design, editing, and proofreading. There are of course variables that can affect the exact time you need, such as the size of your book in word and page count, number of images if any, and so on; however, this approach gives you a good start.
6) Other key factors that come into play for the successful creation, launch, and life of your book—beyond producing a quality product and making it readily available to those who want to purchase a copy—are the marketing strategies you develop and/or build on to expand your reach. . . This can include things like deciding what social media platform(s) make the most sense for you to network on, whether a blog/website is the way to go (it usually is), speaking opportunities, book-signing tours, and so on.
Each point above could really be their own blog post; however, to save time and meet you where you may be at, you’ll notice that I’ve linked to a few other articles to give you more information as you need it.
I believe that you’ll agree; it’s helpful to understand your options in order to make the right decisions for you moving forward. With that in mind, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me should you have any questions. And if you haven’t already signed up to receive our e-communications direct to your inbox, I hope you will. When you do, you’ll also receive one of my e-books free as thank-you for your interest.
Wishing you the very best in your literary journey! It’s such an exciting one when you’re ready, and you’ve found the right partner or team.
Sincerely,
Sheri Andrunyk
Publisher, Author, Mentor
I C Publishing & Consulting / I C Bookstore
Committed to Quality Content, Design, and Platform
Bridging the gap between self and traditional publishing
Coaching and mentoring in business for over 30 years
Where applicable, every attempt has been made to cite, give proper acknowledgement, and/or access appropriate permissions for content used in our publications (books, blogs, and social media). For images, if not created in-house, we source via reputable image platforms. In the unlikely event something has been missed, please accept our apology and contact us immediately so we can investigate and/or delete accordingly.
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