The New Era of Publishing – Making it Work For You! with April Eberhardt

After the official passing of the gavel from one chapter president to the next, and the presentation of our thank you gift for our three-year presidential veteran, it was time to get down to business with the workshop.

Our chapter had a special guest this month, literary agent April Eberhardt. She came to share her thoughts on the future of publishing and what writers need to know before considering self-publishing.

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Risk aversion in traditional publishing opened the door for independent and self publishing. They are looking for ways to stay relevant, including new electronic publishing divisions. The bigger the publisher, the more bureaucracy, the harder it is for them to be flexible.

Where there is change, there is opportunity. An author’s ability to choose how to be published has given authors more power in the business. 

Discoverability should be the biggest concern to all authors. You are up against daunting competition. Promote yourself.

Emerging to models of publishing provides different ways for writers and readers to connect. Blog, comment on blogs, get involved in the underground conversation.

Traditional publishing offered you and advance, and they took care of the expenses of publishing the book. In the new models there is an investment component, authors are being expected to shoulder some of the burden of expenses and marketing.

Whatever you choose to do today, you don’t have to do tomorrow.

5 Must Dos for Self-published Authors

1.       Make sure your story is good. Start with an engaging top-notch story.  Have a good, fast start.

2.       Edit. If you can, hire a good freelance editor.  Trade editing with another author.

3.       Create and alluring cover. Think brand identity and allure.

4.       Exercise your marketing skills – create awareness. Discoverability. Social media. Blogs, Review sites. Goodreads.  Call in your favors.

5.       Let go of the idea that only traditionally published books are real. The perception of self-published books is changing.

If you are going to self-publish, you have to do it right.