What's Your Biggest Challenge with Your Book?

[Bill Frank]

I'd be interested to learn what authors/publishers on this network think their biggest challenges are with their book. I wonder if there's any common, pervasive challenge we all face.

[Bill Frank]

Hi, Charlotte. Welcome back. I'm glad to learn your brother is doing better.

You're right. Living overseas is different. We get so myopic when it comes to books in the United States. We can't be blamed for that, however, because over 33% of all books sold worldwide are sold in the United States.

Another thought for you is to contact several distributors where you live. Ask them what they do for their authors to promote their books. You may give you some ideas on "traditional" media you had not considered.

[carol stanley]

I think the everything is a challenge about writing! from start to publishing..(however we publish) Of course my hat is tilted to marketing..Because nothing happens if the book does not sell. Particularly when you are on budget and trying to do everything yourself...However there is a lot of learning on the internet and other sources. So if you have the time you can work it out.
carol www.carolstanley1.com

[Bill Frank]

You're right. Nothing happens until a book is sold. I use the analogy of preparing a feast for many guests to writing and publishing a book. The author may be the best chef in the world and cook the tastiest food, but if nobody comes to the banquet, the food goes to waste. Cooking is analogous to writing the book. The waiters moving the food to the table are analogous to distributors. Inviting the guests to the banquet is marketing. Identifying the proper guests to invite represents segmenting the readers. Keeping the conversation going throughout the banquet is promoting and advertising.

From the sounds of it, you are good at inviting guests to your banquet before you cook the food.

[Head Spook]

WELL FOR ME BILL, I'M NOT A PUBLISHER BUT I DO HAVE ONE PROBLEM AND THAT IS I CAN'T GET A PROOF READER, I MEAN I PROBABLY COULD ON A NORMAL BASIS BUT I AM ONE WHO FINDS HIMSELF BROKE 2 DAYS INTO THE WORK WEEK AND SO I NEED SOMEONE WHO WOULDN'T MIND JUST DOING IT, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. IT'S A SMALL BOOK ONLY ABOUT 50 PAGES BUT MY GRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION ARE SOMETHING ELSE. ANYWAY BILL WISH YOU THE BEST.

[Bill Frank]

Thanks for your kind wishes. A good proof reader/editor differentiates a good book from a mediocre one. To maximize your chances for success, proper editing is critical. Most editors/proof readers will not work for free. You may find a good editor by offering an opportunity to share in the credit of the book. You may offer a by-line on your book in exchange for editing services, for example. Finding such an editor, however, will require matching your subject matter closely to editors who work in the same genre.

[AuthorAnastasia]

I am an editor, proofreader and will be more than happy to assist you with your book of about 50 pages for free. I have over 16+ years experience with editing and proofreading. I will use tracking so that you can see the changes or just go ahead and make the changes necessary if you are still in need. Take care, Anastasia Cassella-Young.

[AuthorAnastasia]

I know that the hardest thing I face is advertising costs because I am still self-published as I make more royalties this way at this time. Marketing can be expensive. What has been the "common" challenge thus far?

[Bill Frank]

Anastasia,

The most common challenge has been marketing. The challenge is expressed in a variety of different ways, but it essentially boils down to "how can I reach my target audience?"

You're one of the first to raise the issue of advertising costs (which, by definition , means a marketing budget exists). There are many ways to spend advertising dollars. The best way to market books remains sending out review copies to reviewers in the media. Your cost to do so is the price of a printed book plus postage. I saw a fantastic product at the Book Expo of America (BEA) this year. It's called eGalley from Rosetta Solutions. eGalley manages the process of sending out galleys electronically; thereby reducing the biggest expense in sending out review copies—the cost of the book. eGalley sends ebooks to the reviewers.

[martha tucker]

I know there are challenges in each phase of the book--
1) Conception. We need to dream about and learn a bit about what to write first. I am a book coach and my first step is to take all of my authors through the confidence building, money-making part of this writing journey

2) The next step of business is writing a bestseller-kind-of-book. Plan to write a bestseller in 90 days. It took me ten years to write my novel, so I know it doesn't take nearly that long if we learn the techniques for writing the bestseller, whether it makes the NY Times list or not. If it's the bestseller kind, you'll build a good name, gather lots of fans, make lots of money and have the urge to write the next book.

3) Marketing is that all so elusive step that puts 89% of us out of the game for good. It's that unsaturable city, county, state, country that daunts our plan to ever make it out of the country and to the London, or Frankfurt Book Fair. We have to take off the creative had and put on the business cap. Here is where we must take flight, go a little crazy, and yet think-out-of-the-box. We must stay out of the crowd. Do it differently.

I have friends who have driven, rode buses and flown to more conferences than i have. A lot more people know them than me. But last year I won the prestigious Cush city "2007 Best New Author Award." I have more people speaking about my book in places where everyone is not paying and competing for sales. How did i do that. I developed a platform. How did I do that. I found my passion in my book. l pulled it out and began to work on it. My book didn't die after a year because people in large groups were still callling for and buying my book.

My biggest challenge was not selling enough books to be able to promote widely, selling only five or ten books a week from my site, and being lost on Amazon. My next challenge was to devise sell hundred of books a week. I learned what it took and began to help others do the same. That's it.

Marti
www.newimagewriters.com

[albertasequeira]

HI Marti,
I would LOVE to know how you sold numerous books. I sold four this week from my site. Other than that I'm advertising, and doing book signings at all craft shows, etc. in and out of state.

[joylene butler]

I'm a little late in commenting on this discuss. How time flies. But I have to say that my biggest challenge has been distribution. Because I'm Canadian & self-published, I'm unable to take advantage of Amazon. Not that I appreciate their conglomerate control over online sales. It's scary how much impact they have. I'm either missing the beat, or have yet to discern how to get my book noticed without paying big bucks.

It seems even my family & friends hesitate to purchase my book online at Lulu.com. I'm not sure why. They're a reputable company. They're even listed on the POD Database as honest & forthright about their costs. The only downfall seems to be shipping, & that's because I'm based in Canada.

As a Canadian, I'm shocked & dismayed at Amazon.ca's attitude. When approached about listing my novel, they responded with an "not interested in direct vendors". Aren't they in the sales business?

I emailed Chapters.Indigo, but no one has got back to me yet. The only positive response has been from local bookstores & retailers.

After 25 years writing, 17 of those spent revising Dead Witness, I decided to self-publish because I wanted control over every aspect of my book. I wanted to take that "next" step. Honestly, I'm not sure i made the right decision. This business requires a tough-skin attitude. I'm a storyteller by nature. Selling myself has never been easy. It's one reason I enjoy the solitude of writing so much.

Thanks for asking.
ps. I'm waiting for books so I can send them out to reviewers. Waiting is debilitating; too much time to reflect.

[Bill Frank]

Joylene,

It's easy to over think as you're waiting for your books to arrive. The key is to keep your eye on the prize—getting people to read your book.

It sounds as though you're taking the right steps. You're off to a good start by self-publishing your book. Self-publishing is the only way to maintain control over your product. Amazon's size and scope make it a force to be reckoned with in the book business. Simply because Amazon won't take a direct vendor, you can still sell on their site. Open an Amazon store to sell your book. Your title will appear in the search engine for Amazon, but you will do the fulfillment. (At least that's the way it works in the US) You may want to check into an Amazon store.