Ep 177 How to self-publish?

In this minisode of So you want to be a writer: how to self-publish, author branding when you write for multiple genres, are you writing “new adult” fiction?

Got a question for Val and Al? Ask at podcast [at] writerscentre [dot] com [dot] au

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Shout Out

From CamTheHuman:

Hi Val & All, I’ve just found your podcast (from Ep 172) via Twitter and I love it. As a fellow Aussie writer and being in the midst of writing my third book in a self published series, I’ve already learned so much of the business related expectations in this industry from you both. It’s incredibly inspiring, so thank you for providing such great advice and help for passionate aspiring authors such as myself.

Thanks, CamTheHuman!

Listener questions

From Madeline:

Hi Valerie and Allison,

I love listening to So You Want To Be A Writer podcast and on the latest minisode you talked about genre which was very helpful.

I know in the past you have also talked about whether your work is for Middle Grade or Young Adult readers, however I have a question regarding my novel and whether it is too grown up to fall into the Young Adult category.

I have written a fantasy novel and my protagonists are 19 – 21 years old, however the issues they are experiencing are relatable to the Young Adult audience (such as: falling in love, discovering a secret in someone’s past, going on an adventure etc.) however their ages are too old as Young Adult protagonists are usually ‘high school age’.

I did some googling and found out about New Adult which I’d never heard of before. It said in New Adult the protagonists would be 18 – 30 years old. But I don’t know whether it is actually a genre that the industry deals in? Or if people online are just using it to classify books?

Or is this a fad term and it would be better just classifying it as adult?

I would love hearing your thoughts on this topic.

Thank you,

Madeleine

From David:

Hi Val & Al,

Your podcast really helps to keep me focused and motivated. Thank you for putting all the effort into making it each week!

I wondered what your thoughts were on self-publishing. Do you feel that one platform is better than another? If you’ve read anything like ‘Be the Monkey’ or ‘APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur,’ do you agree or disagree with their belief that the traditional publishers are lagging behind the trends?

Thanks again for your wisdom and words of the week,

David

David, here are some links you might find useful:

The Creative Penn

Hugh Howey

Joe Konrath

Peg Fitzpatrick

Successful Self-Publishing

How to Build Your Author Platform

From Alisa:

Hi Valerie,

2017 has been a busy start. One book out, another on the way, and a career change in action. Terrifying, but exhilarating.

I have a question about author branding that I can’t seem to get answered. I’m hoping the expertise at the AWC can shed some light on my problem. Could you consider this a ‘question to the editor’?

I have 3 books out – one ebook and two hard copies. Writing them was a fantastic challenge. I don’t have any problems with motivation or finishing a project. But I am at a complete loss regarding author branding…..because….

My books are wildly different.

1. Gardening 101 is a book about soil management for gardeners. I’m a soil scientist and the book addresses the questions I received weekly at work.

2. Hatch and Dispatch : tales and advice from a midwife is coauthored with a midwife. It provides advice to expecting mums told through stories from 35 years in the delivery suite.

3. The Clever Fish is an illustrated Dr Seuss style book about a fish that climbs a tree, but near the top has a decision crisis. Keep going or go back down?

The only theme between the three is they are written by me.

Do you have any advice for other writers like myself who aren’t topic specific? How do we talk about our work without confusing our audience? I can’t find any advice specific to this problem.

Thanks

Alisa Bryce

Val and Al answer your questions in this episode.

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