Thanks for your reflections and honesty here, Sarah. I feel very supported and held already.
If I let myself I'd pause forever 😅 So I'm trying to gently support myself to move forward with sharing my book. I already feel like your approach is going to be so helpful. Onward!
I’m so excited Janelle! Can you tell me more about your book? Also, if there are sections (I’m thinking of the ISBN links) that seem US centered I’m fairly certain I know the UK resources as well. If I haven’t added them before you get there pop in a message and I’ll be sure to update those. For any other countries I’m sure we can work it out together.
Okay so I always get nervous when people ask about it haha 😅 But I feel very safe and supported to share here.
It's a novel called Miles Between Us.
The tag line is: Two estranged sisters. A Kind Stranger. One last chance to say goodbye.
The premise is two sisters who've fallen out get thrust into a long car journey together when they hear their grandmother is going to die. What happens? Will they get there in time?
It's 'women's fiction'/ commercial/ up lit type vibe.
I am SOO CLOSE to finishing it. (And Amie has been instrumental in me actually deciding to finish - I've been very frozen in fear)
I've had the cover designed by Miblart. I've almost finished collating notes from the editor I hired through Reedsy.
My ultimate goal/ measure of success will literally be holding it in my hands (and crying probs). Everything else I can think about later. But finishing it and holding a paperback of it is literally what I'm aiming for! (It was super interesting to hear about you using Amazon to print but not necessarily sell)
So far the modules have been really helpful as prompts and I like how they're so bite sized. And it took me a few seconds for find Nielsen for the UK ISBNs for instance :)
I will let you know if I get stuck on anything, I'm sure I will!
One thing that might be helpful is a list of 'other sections' or research I need to be ready to self publish. E.g. key words, genre, front matter, back matter, author bio, acknowledgments etc
That's also such a beautiful vision of success. Years ago when Amazon first launched book printing (it was called Createspace then) they offered a free paperback copy to every NaNoWriMo winner if you ordered by the next June or something. I did a single edit and formatted the book for print and ordered one copy for myself. I knew it needed more edits and I never self published that story, but the process of formatting a book and holding it in my hands was really formative. And it prepared me for actually self publishing my book 15 years later. I still have it somewhere...
This should have posted earlier, but I’m not sure it did so uploading again. Sorry if it posts twice. 😂
Such a clear and concise description Janelle! Celebrating your story and your practice sharing! 🥳
I still panic when asked about my book to be honest. (Especially in person). I "shouldn't", because I'm in the marketing phase, but as my first book came out during COVID times I haven't had much practice having real time conversations about it.
Yes, Nielsen! That's it!
At one point I started the course with vocabulary and it really bogged it down so I peppered it throughout. Some of these things come later.
Most of these in the formatting section under Bits and Bobs. Keywords and SEO are under Marketing. I've tried to walk through chronologically to avoid overwhelm.
But I'm also keen to add anything l've overlooked or expand discussion in comments. 💫
Thanks for your reflections and honesty here, Sarah. I feel very supported and held already.
If I let myself I'd pause forever 😅 So I'm trying to gently support myself to move forward with sharing my book. I already feel like your approach is going to be so helpful. Onward!
I’m so excited Janelle! Can you tell me more about your book? Also, if there are sections (I’m thinking of the ISBN links) that seem US centered I’m fairly certain I know the UK resources as well. If I haven’t added them before you get there pop in a message and I’ll be sure to update those. For any other countries I’m sure we can work it out together.
Me too, Sarah!
Okay so I always get nervous when people ask about it haha 😅 But I feel very safe and supported to share here.
It's a novel called Miles Between Us.
The tag line is: Two estranged sisters. A Kind Stranger. One last chance to say goodbye.
The premise is two sisters who've fallen out get thrust into a long car journey together when they hear their grandmother is going to die. What happens? Will they get there in time?
It's 'women's fiction'/ commercial/ up lit type vibe.
I am SOO CLOSE to finishing it. (And Amie has been instrumental in me actually deciding to finish - I've been very frozen in fear)
I've had the cover designed by Miblart. I've almost finished collating notes from the editor I hired through Reedsy.
My ultimate goal/ measure of success will literally be holding it in my hands (and crying probs). Everything else I can think about later. But finishing it and holding a paperback of it is literally what I'm aiming for! (It was super interesting to hear about you using Amazon to print but not necessarily sell)
So far the modules have been really helpful as prompts and I like how they're so bite sized. And it took me a few seconds for find Nielsen for the UK ISBNs for instance :)
I will let you know if I get stuck on anything, I'm sure I will!
One thing that might be helpful is a list of 'other sections' or research I need to be ready to self publish. E.g. key words, genre, front matter, back matter, author bio, acknowledgments etc
Thanks so much, Sarah x
That's also such a beautiful vision of success. Years ago when Amazon first launched book printing (it was called Createspace then) they offered a free paperback copy to every NaNoWriMo winner if you ordered by the next June or something. I did a single edit and formatted the book for print and ordered one copy for myself. I knew it needed more edits and I never self published that story, but the process of formatting a book and holding it in my hands was really formative. And it prepared me for actually self publishing my book 15 years later. I still have it somewhere...
This should have posted earlier, but I’m not sure it did so uploading again. Sorry if it posts twice. 😂
Such a clear and concise description Janelle! Celebrating your story and your practice sharing! 🥳
I still panic when asked about my book to be honest. (Especially in person). I "shouldn't", because I'm in the marketing phase, but as my first book came out during COVID times I haven't had much practice having real time conversations about it.
Yes, Nielsen! That's it!
At one point I started the course with vocabulary and it really bogged it down so I peppered it throughout. Some of these things come later.
Most of these in the formatting section under Bits and Bobs. Keywords and SEO are under Marketing. I've tried to walk through chronologically to avoid overwhelm.
But I'm also keen to add anything l've overlooked or expand discussion in comments. 💫