The self-publishing process in action.
As an indie-author/authorpreneur, I’m not just the writer of my books. I also handle the layout, coordination of cover art and editing, and all the steps that go into the publishing process.
With the various and sundry tools available to the authorpreneur/self-publisher, there are questions of timing. Put it all out immediately or set up a pre-release.
My new sci-fi series, Savagespace, has been in the works for a couple of years, now. Several months ago, I determined that I could have everything in place to publish it this fall. I debated with my boss – oh, wait, that’s me – if I would publish everything at once, two a time, or month-to-month in rapid succession.
The latter won. I started the race to release. Savagespace Book 1, Alliances and Consequences, will be published via Amazon for Kindle, paperback, and audiobook on Tuesday, September 17. It will also be available for wide distribution in eBook, paperback, and audiobook on that date.
The ongoing process
This series is a trilogy. As of this writing, I’m still going over the edits done by my editor on Book 2, Revelations and Reconciliations. That process is made extra complex because this is when I record the audiobook.
I read over the chapter and accept or reject what my editor did. Also, in this reading, I might make other adjustments and edits of my own. Repetition has been cut, some less-than-clear phrasing altered, and I even eliminated a whole chapter that I realized was unnecessary exposition.
I do this two chapters at a time and always read aloud. You’d be amazed what your ears will catch that your eyes will miss. Also, sometimes perfectly clean sentences read aloud reveal suboptimal phrasing and structure. This also serves as a cold read before I read and record the audiobook,
I’m very fortunate to have the tools and the know-how to record, edit, and produce my own audiobooks. This is, however, a time-consuming process. Recording the chapter and working out voice alterations and accent changes for variable characters can be challenging. Then, editing, which I won’t do until the recording process is complete, is another time-consuming matter.
Once Book 2 is edited and complete, I’ll be starting on the edit for Book 3 – Challengers and Survivors. Adding to my process, though, I’ll be editing the audiobook for Revelations and Reconciliations at the same time.
The race to release is on. At present, the plan is to put out Book 2 on October 15th. Then, I’ll release book 3 on November 19th. Depending on multiple factors, I am considering creating an omnibus of a sort and building an eBook and paperback “box set” that I might sell directly off my website as of Black Friday (November 29).
The race to release
Because I’m planning so much of this out ahead of time, I’ve given myself pre-release options. I can do pre-sales for nearly a month this way.
There are still a lot of things to do for the rest of the series in the meantime. I need to finish the blurb for book 2 and get that to my cover artist so that she can make the paperback cover. I have all of book 3 to edit and record while editing the recording of book 2.
During this, the race to release includes playing with marketing ideas like this book trailer.
No two book releases, authors, and self-publishers are alike. However, the process of the race to release is going to have many similarities for everyone.
When you’re an authorpreneur, you’re ultimately responsible for more than the writing. You are the first and last line of editing, making arrangements for cover design and layout (because both of these can be outsourced. I can handle the latter but I’m not an artist, so I hire someone to do the former). The race to release can take many forms, too.
Ultimately, getting from idea to finished story to published novel follows certain steps no matter when or how you put it out there.
The release is never the end
The ongoing process means that with this series complete, there will be more to come.
My next work is a standalone, semi-absurd sci-fi comedy. Jay and Char Save the Galaxy was a lot of fun to write. I’ll be editing it and getting it off to the editor. My goal is to release it in the spring of 2025 – beginning the race to release all over again.
My current writing project is more books in my Forgotten Fodder clone sci-fi series. This is a continuation of the story and will be four new books following Jace, Onima, Kara, and company through another conspiracy. Forgotten Fodder – The Turncoat Conspiracy might be ready for release in the fall of 2025 (depending on how fast I can write and produce it).
After that? I have several ideas on the back burner. Whatever happens, there will be more books coming because I always have more stories to tell. Each race to release that will ensue will look different, but elements are always the same.
Thanks for reading. As I share my creative journey with you, I conclude with this: How are you inspired to be your own creator – whatever form that takes?
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