PART ONE: Early Decisions to Make Your Book Dream Come True

Your manuscript’s first draft is finished, and you naturally want to know, “What next?”. To be honest, there is a LOT that comes next.

Your 1st step, though, is to build your team.

Your 2nd step is to hone what you want your distinct mark to be as an author, for both what you write and as the face of your book business.

Your 3rd step is to decide which method of publishing to use.

In addition to these three steps, you will also need to consider your book’s marketing and distribution, which will be covered in more detail in Part Two: Later Decisions to Make Your Book Dream Come True.

Disclaimer: The following is not meant to be comprehensive. Rather, think of it as a solid starting point.

While it may be tempting to “go it alone,” rationalizing with yourself that involving other people will only slow the process and cost unnecessary time, energy, and money, the truth is that you and your book project stand a much better shot at success with a team. Candidly ask yourself, “How much of my book project am I doing myself? What’s my budget? What are my other commitments outside of my book project?”

Clearly, you are the writer. Are you also prepared to be the proofreader, the editor, the illustrator, the project manager, the publisher, the marketer, the sales team, the distributor, the events coordinator, the booking agent, the accountant, the lawyer, the contact for your book business?

Over time, your team will grow and shift with the book project’s needs; therefore, do not worry about filling all the spots at the beginning. Simply decide which members to recruit first and add as you go and when it feels natural to do so. Trust your instincts. Remind yourself often, “It’s my book. It’s my team.”

If you need a coach at any point in the process, you may find consulting with a book shepherd tremendously helpful. Book shepherds are generalists and specialists knowledgeable in all four areas of moving a book project from concept to shelf: writing the book, producing the book, marketing the book, and distributing the book. They are the writer’s ally and coach throughout the creation and post-production. At Book Shepherd Jackie, we offer 30-minute free consultations and group Q&A sessions.

WHEN BUILDING YOUR TEAM, ASK YOURSELF…

Who will be my proofreaders? Select three individuals whom you feel will give you honest feedback. At least one should have an English, journalism, or writing background. A fresh pair of eyes can make a positive difference and improve your manuscript. Know that independent and traditional publishing houses will expect your submitted manuscript to be of a certain caliber and free of errors and plot holes.

Which professionals are necessary for my book project? Which professionals are essential for my book business? No one is “just a parent, just a doctor, nor are they just a writer of books.” For your published books to achieve momentum and longevity, you must think of yourself as a book author and the face of your book business. A publishing and writing seminar presenter sums it up nicely: “Writers write books. Authors sell books.” While I do not remember the individual who said that, it did stick with me, and I believe it to be true.

Some professionals and services that can help you with your book project include: editors, illustrators, graphic designers, project managers, publishers, and print shops. Professionals that can be called upon to assist you with your book business include: book agents, book publicists, attorneys, accountants, social media companies, marketing firms, website hosts, and website builders. Book shepherds can help you with both your book project and your book business.

WHEN HOMING IN ON YOUR DISTINCT MARK, ASK YOURSELF…

How will I stand out from the hundreds of thousands of authors and their books entering the arena each year? You will want this distinct mark (also called brand) to be evident in your writing, books, author website, social media posts, and marketing pieces and products. For example, one of Book Shepherd Jackie’s aspiring authors creates children’s books focusing on the circle of life, which includes death, a normal part of life.

WHEN DECIDING WHICH METHOD OF PUBLISHING TO USE, ASK YOURSELF…

Which is the best choice for me and my book project? Your main options include:

• Self-publishing

• Independent book publisher

• Traditional book publisher

• Hybrid publisher

Each of these has its own considerations. If you self-publish, you are financing the book’s production, marketing, and distribution entirely yourself. Depending on the service that you are using, you may be limited to generic templates and may no longer own the rights to your book.

Suppose you publish with an independent book publisher. In that case, you will likely have more of a team relationship. Depending on the independent book publisher, you will receive a varying amount of support with your book project’s editorial, production, marketing, and distribution. The independent book publisher may cover the cost entirely or in part.

If you publish with a hybrid-type book publisher, expect to be offered a low-barrier entry point. Hybrid book publishers generally have three tiers, meaning if you are a writer with no books published, you likely will be offered a self-publishing package with you footing the entire bill. In this tier, your text will be published under an imprint of the actual parent publisher’s name. If your book achieves a certain amount of success, whether in sales and/or buzz, your next book may be offered the second tier, which is a sharing of the expenses by you and the hybrid publisher. The third tier would be later on and, if presented, would be published under the publisher’s parent name and would include the publisher picking up 100% of the expenses to produce the book and more significant involvement in the book’s marketing, sales, and distribution.

Suppose you publish with a traditional book publisher. In that case, your manuscript must be presented by an established book agent, which means you must secure a book agent. The odds of getting a book published through a traditional publisher are slim unless you are a well-known figure.

As you can tell already, making your book dream come true admittedly has several steps and decisions to make. If you discover that with each step, you have more and more questions, know that this happens to everyone. Yes, it will likely be overwhelming at times. In the end, though, as a direct result of your ability to re-commit day in and day out, you will succeed. You will have your book in hand, on the shelf, and you will have done it in a manner reflecting you.

NEXT STEPS: After you spend some time with these three early decisions, you will be ready to tackle the later marketing and distribution decisions discussed in Part Two: Later Decisions to Make Your Book Dream Come True.

There’s one way to find out,

Book Shepherd Jackie