Hi all, self-published author here to answer some questions if needed. :)

Sir Craigalot · Aug 15, 2006

Hello, after my first publish, I'm now getting to do some of the more funner and harder stuff to do. It's actually the dry work in my game, but still fun and challenging. This place seems pretty cool and supportive, I'd like to add some of that support to that with some of my experiances.

My book The King's Kindness started way back in 2003. I couldn't publish it cause I lacked 3 things.

A) My own computer.

B) A scanner.

C) A publisher.

Everything else I had, and for the most part was the main things you need. I had skill in writing, art, and a fun spirt that my creativity flowed though. So I wasn't down and out, just stalled for a bit. Later I got A-C, and finally finished the project about a week ago, getting it published after it was polished. I was finally relieved that I got it out, but the sad part is, not many know of it yet. Now I'm in the promotional phase. Probably not the best at it, but I'm trying! lol. Go take a look at what I did, the preview is in low resolution and don't do my book any justice, but you can still see how simple but good it is.

http://www.lulu.com/content/384607

Any feedback or questions would be cool, I'm down for helping other who aspire to make children's books.

Birol · Aug 15, 2006

Based on the experiences of others here, Lulu is a very good printer and a reasonable value for the services provided. For curiosity sake, what made you select the self-publishing route over a commercial publisher? Were the illustrations a family project?

Sir Craigalot · Aug 15, 2006

Birol said:
Based on the experiences of others here, Lulu is a very good printer and a reasonable value for the services provided. For curiosity sake, what made you select the self-publishing route over a commercial publisher? Were the illustrations a family project?

I decided to use the lulu.com route due to me just wanting to get something of mine out for others to enjoy. I heard that even with traditional publishers, you still have to do the foot work of promoting it. It just seemed a better deal, and this was my first children's publication. I didn't want to pound on any more agents door wanting to get repped when I could just put it out myself and save me some stress.

2nd question: I had to do everything! lol. It was a lot of hard work and very late nights. When they say nothing is easy, they really mean it. I had to first draw each page with pencil, then go over it with a good ink pen (imagine doing that with 36 pages :/). Copy them, then color them like a coloring book. Then scan them and stick them to a word doc file, later touching them up. Some would dread doing all that work, but for me it was absolutely fun and would do it all over again (which I'm going to be doing soon). I do have to give a lot of credit to my wife who helped me with some of the bugs with uploading files and such, she is very good with computers and knows a bit more than I do. And sometimes when I would color on pages, my daughter would color too in her coloring books like I inspired her to do something that I was doing lol; it just made me push on even more

. So in some ways it was kind of a family project, but I did the bulk of the work. It was a very unique experiance and I'm looking forward to doing it again.

moondance · Aug 15, 2006

My traditional publisher does the promotion for me. Perhaps you didn't look hard enough?

Best of luck with the self-promotion though - it sounds like you have enough confidence to do it.

J. Weiland · Aug 15, 2006

Welcome to the forum, craigalot. I too apologize for my initial comment. This just shows how powerful words can be I guess, and how words excluded can get people, myself included, out of the chair and onto the warpath.

We are only human after all.

Cheers,

JW

Grey Malkin · Aug 15, 2006

I support those who go through the self publishing route because it's a great way to find out, first hand, what actually goes into getting a book from idea to final print. But as for a viable business venture?? My main question would be this: How many of you have bought a book, by an author unknown to you, from Lulu?

Deleted member 42 · Aug 15, 2006

Grey Malkin said:
I support those who go through the self publishing route because it's a great way to find out, first hand, what actually goes into getting a book from idea to final print.

Except, well, it doesn't. It really doesn't. For a book like this, you'd first do a proposal, then a draft(s), then your agent or editor would probably have revision suggestions, so you would revise. Then it goes through copy editing, and the publisher would be looking around for an artist, and then you'd look at/consult proofs of the art, and then the book is set, and proofed and you'd get galleys/complete proofs . . .

And a commercial publisher, especially for a picture book, does a fair amount of promoting/marketing. First of all, the publisher has sales people, people who know the books, and who have a regular list of stores. They know what the stores sell, and they know the specialist children's books stores. Plus publishers, and this is really important for children's books, publishers take out ads in the professional publications read by librarians, teachers, and bookstores, and they set up booths at the appropriate trade shows.

Bufty · Aug 15, 2006

Re the thread caption - As a published author, any specific area upon which you wish to receive questions?

moondance · Aug 15, 2006

Why, when there is an even number of socks in the washing machine when the cycle starts, is there an odd number by the time it has finished?

Birol · Aug 15, 2006

Play nice, friends.

Grey Malkin · Aug 15, 2006

Medievalist said:
Except, well, it doesn't. It really doesn't. For a book like this, you'd first do a proposal, then a draft(s), ...

I just meant physically - ie to get the thing from an idea to a physical, readable book, especially if you do as much of the work yourself, rather than shipping it out to a third party - but I guess that's really for people interested in publishing, not necessarily writing. Different game. I'll shut up now while I'm still making some kind of sense (possibly only to me

)

Grey

Jamesaritchie · Aug 15, 2006

Grey Malkin said:
I just meant physically - ie to get the thing from an idea to a physical, readable book, especially if you do as much of the work yourself, rather than shipping it out to a third party - but I guess that's really for people interested in publishing, not necessarily writing. Different game. I'll shut up now while I'm still making some kind of sense (possibly only to me )

Grey

Trouble is, you have no idea whether you even have a readable book. You really can't separate writing, publishing, and quality. Anyone can fill three or four hundred pages with ink, but very, very few people can make a book readabe, and self-publishing is not in any way an indicator that a book is good, or even readable.

Deleted member 42 · Aug 15, 2006

Grey Malkin said:
I just meant physically - ie to get the thing from an idea to a physical, readable book, especially if you do as much of the work yourself, rather than shipping it out to a third party

I see your thinking here, but even that . . . no.

You prepare a ms. in a Word Processor, and submit it, once it's final, and edited by the editors etc. to the publisher, and they're going to use an expensive layout and typesetting program, and professional book designers.

There's an entire staff of professionals who deal with this part of the book, all of whom are skilled artists.

moondance · Aug 15, 2006

Birol said:
Play nice, friends.

*blows raspberry at the teacher and runs away*

Why should I play nice? Have you even READ the title of this thread?

xhouseboy · Aug 15, 2006

moondance said:
Why, when there is an even number of socks in the washing machine when the cycle starts, is there an odd number by the time it has finished?

Jerry Seinfeld already answered that one. If you look carefully, an odd sock is pressed up against the cycle drum in an attempt to avoid detection. And then, when you're not looking, it makes a break for freedom. Socks are notorious for rebelling against confinement in a sock drawer.

Birol · Aug 15, 2006

Moondance, Craig strikes me as sincere in his desire to help others. He has taken the time to introduce himself and provide a brief writing biography. I think common courtesy and respect would allow others here to do the same.

alleycat · Aug 15, 2006

xhouseboy said:
Jerry Seinfeld already answered that one. If you look carefully, an odd sock is pressed up against the cycle drum in an attempt to avoid detection. And then, when you're not looking, it makes a break for freedom. Socks are notorious for rebelling against confinement in a sock drawer.

Silly. We've gone over this in the Writing About Nature forum. Socks pupate into sweaters you never wear. Don't believe me? Go look in your sock drawer. They're not all there, are there? Now look in the very back of your closet. Ah-ha! See that ugly green sweater? That was the argyle socks your Aunt Margaret gave you six years ago.

moondance · Aug 15, 2006

But houseboy, I always check the drum before and after using the machine - my mum taught me to spin it by hand after emptying to make sure there were no socks stuck to it. Can they make themselves temporarily invisible?

And Birol, I was only teasing. Whilst Craig may be sincere, he is self-published, which is not the same thing as BEING published - and his thread title smacks of condescension.

*blows raspberry at Birol too before knitting new jumper out of odd socks*

xhouseboy · Aug 15, 2006

moondance said:
But houseboy, I always check the drum before and after using the machine - my mum taught me to spin it by hand after emptying to make sure there were no socks stuck to it. Can they make themselves temporarily invisible?

Not too sure about making themselves invisible, but I do know they're well schooled in the art of escaping and avoiding detection. Little known fact from World War II: Many Pows made their break for freedom sockless; at the time of their escape, their socks were already three days ahead of them and had met up with the Resistance to be escorted across the border into Spain. But never in pairs. A pair of socks travelling in occupied Europe drew too much attention.

And Alleycat - you may be right. I was doing a clear-out the other day, and there's no way I wore some of the stuff I was digging out. At least, I hope not.

Birol · Aug 15, 2006

Let me say this so there is no misunderstanding: Until SirCraigalot does something more egregious than failing to know his audience or having professional-level knowledge of how publishing works, he is under my protection. You may attempt to educate him or explain his misperceptions, but you may not attack him unless he attacks you first. Respect your fellow writer. Do I make myself clear?

Craig, let me take a moment to explain your audience to you. Many of the people you are addressing are professional authors published by commercial, what some call traditional, publishers. Their books have professional illustrators, editors, typesetters, etc. Other members of your audience are the professional editors employed by commercial publishers. Still others aspire to be professional authors or editors. You get the idea.

If you are willing to learn, if you want to continue to write and this was not just a one-off project, something to share with your daughter and family members, there is much they can teach you and they will do so willingly, because they love what they do and enjoy working with others who share their passion, but you need to recognize that a project done in your spare time does not measure up to what so many of these individuals have accomplished at a truly professional level.

Good Word · Aug 15, 2006

Hello Sir Craigalot, and welcome to Absolute Write!

There's a LOT of information and experience shared here, and I hope you get the chance to poke around a bit.

Toothpaste · Aug 15, 2006

I'm genuinely curious about what sort of promotion you are doing Sir. Craigalot. I suck at that stuff. Actually I think I may ask it as a general question to everyone. Let me go make a new thread . . . excuse me. . .

Sir Craigalot · Aug 15, 2006

Hello guys. Thanks Birol, I'm glad to have your support

. I never meant to disrespect anyone or nothing like that, and I'm not trying to look mocho or anything. Anyone wanting to share knowledge would be great; it's why I came here. But I also wanted to give what I know. Though I'm sure there is a vast number of talented individuals here, I read a lot of post and many people here wanted to know about publishing in the children's book genre. All I did was go down the uphill trail and wanted to share the experience with others who were curious about that trail.

Sir Craigalot · Aug 15, 2006

Toothpaste said:
I'm genuinely curious about what sort of promotion you are doing Sir. Craigalot. I suck at that stuff. Actually I think I may ask it as a general question to everyone. Let me go make a new thread . . . excuse me. . .

I didn't see where your thread was, but I'll answer here. Promotion can be of various ways. Talk to your library, college, book fair coming to town? Go to it! Really it is all about telling/showing people about your work. For me, I work somewhere where there is a lot of traffic coming through the door. I was thinking of making something, like a little brochure and setting it nearby for people to just pick up with my url on it. Even some flyers that I can put on peoples door knobs about my book. Forums are great too. Just anywhere there is a lot of people who may care to see what you do with some of your time.

Lauri B · Aug 15, 2006

Sir Craigalot,
What promotion have you done for your book? If you're interested in other ideas for self-published titles, there is a forum called "POD and Self publishing" which might give you some inspiration, and directly below that is a forum dedicated to Book Promotion.

Self publishing is a difficult route to go, promotion and sales-wise, regardless of the type of book you produce. Best of luck to you making sales.
Lauri at Nomad

Hi all, self-published author here to answer some questions if needed. :)

Sir Craigalot

Birol

Around and About

Sir Craigalot

moondance

J. Weiland

Lurker

Grey Malkin

Moody Member

Deleted member 42

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

moondance

Birol

Around and About

Grey Malkin

Moody Member

Jamesaritchie

Deleted member 42

moondance

xhouseboy

In the Yellow Woods

Birol

Around and About

alleycat

Still around

moondance

xhouseboy

In the Yellow Woods

Birol

Around and About

Good Word

still crazy after all these years

Toothpaste

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

Sir Craigalot

Sir Craigalot

Lauri B

I Heart Mac