The Publishing Options of The Publishing Options of TodayToday

How to publish your fiction

How to ‘make it’ as an How to ‘make it’ as an author in three not-so-easy author in three not-so-easy steps:steps:

1. Write a good story

2. Publish it3. Repeat

Write a Good StoryWrite a Good Story

How do I know my story is ready to

be published?

◦Free of spelling and grammatical errors

◦Strangers have given you positive

feedback

Friends and family don’t count because they

are biased.

Write a Good StoryWrite a Good Story

Where do I find strangers to

critique my story?

◦Find a creative writing group that

works for you

◦Online:

www.critters.org

Publish ItPublish It

Your publishing options

1. Traditional Publishing

2. Indie Publishing

Traditional PublishingTraditional PublishingThe way authors have been

published for at least the past 50-100yrs

Publishers control the distribution system to bookstores

To reach readers, authors must go through publishers

Traditional PublishingTraditional PublishingHow to publish your short story

traditionally◦Submit your story to magazines

along with a cover letter (also known as a ‘query letter’)

◦You will receive rejections letters◦Persevere

Traditional PublishingTraditional Publishing

Where to find magazines

◦Novel and Short Story Writer’s

Market

◦Online:

http://duotrope.com

Traditional PublishingTraditional PublishingHow to submit to magazines

◦Read the magazine(s)◦Learn the style of fiction that they

publish◦Make sure that your story is a good

fit for their magazine◦Follow the magazine’s submission

guidelines◦Submit your story with a query letter

Traditional PublishingTraditional PublishingHow to write a query letter

◦Make it concise (two paragraphs of no more than 3-4 sentences each)

◦Tell them why you’ve chosen to submit to their magazine and why your story might be a good fit

◦Give them some background information about yourself (esp. previous publications)

Traditional PublishingTraditional PublishingBe patient and persistent

◦Magazines can receive 100s of submissions but only publish a few stories

◦It may be weeks or months before they can reply to you

◦Do not hassle them for a quick response

◦If your story is rejected, do not give up◦Find another suitable magazine to

submit to

Indie PublishingIndie PublishingA viable option since 2010Bookstores are closing and

content is migrating onlineAuthors can bypass publishers

and upload their stories directly to online e-tailers

Authors no longer need bookstores to reach readers

Indie PublishingIndie PublishingHow to self-publish your short

story◦Design a book cover and format

your story so that it is compatible with online e-tailers and digital reading devices

◦Upload your story online

Indie PublishingIndie PublishingOnline distributors

◦Amazon KDP Kindle Direct Publishing allows an author

to publish their story straight into Amazon’s store

◦Smashwords An online distributor that will send your

story into the virtual stores of major e-tailers like Apple, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo

Traditional vs. IndieTraditional vs. IndieTime

◦Traditional publishing involves a lot of waiting. It can take months or even years before your work is published.

◦Indie/self-publishing is almost instantaneous. It can take a few minutes to a few weeks before your work is available to readers.

Traditional vs. IndieTraditional vs. IndieMoney

◦Valid traditional publishers will pay you money upfront. All services (editing, art, formatting, etc.) are free.

◦Indie publishing may include upfront costs if you choose to hire cover artists, professional editors, or formatters. However, the actual online upload process is free.

Traditional vs. IndieTraditional vs. IndieMoney

◦Traditional publishers usually pay around 15% royalties for novels

◦For indie publishing, you will not be paid upfront, but distributors normally pay around 70% royalties for all stories based on a list price that you choose

Traditional vs. IndieTraditional vs. IndieControl

◦Traditional publishers can make editorial, marketing, formatting, cover art decisions without your approval

◦With indie publishing, you will control all aspects of how your final story appears

Traditional vs. IndieTraditional vs. IndieReaching readers

◦Traditional publishing: if you’re published in a magazine with a wide readership, you could potentially reach 100s if not 1000s of readers.

◦Indie publishing: if you’re an unknown author, your story may be lost in a crowded marketplace.

Traditional vs. IndieTraditional vs. IndieReaching readers

◦Traditional publishing: a well-established magazine will already have its own readership and marketing plans.

◦Indie publishing: without a built-in readership, you must devise your own marketing strategies, such as free giveaways, to increase your visibility.

Traditional vs. IndieTraditional vs. IndieIn summary:

◦There are no guarantees with either route. Research carefully and choose the option that is best for you.

◦Most of all, remember to keep writing and never give up.

◦Good luck!

For more information:For more information:

Digital Book World:◦http://www.digitalbookworld.com/

Publisher’s Weekly:◦http://www.publishersweekly.com/

Nathan Bransford’s blog:◦http://nathanbransford.com/