Anyone here have opinions about self-publishing?

[FirstLight]

Or is it better to try and get in with a traditional publisher?

I have a series of books that are basically aimed at mid-elementary age kids. I actually used to work with my local Boys & Girls Club and even brought in a draft of the forst story to "test out" on them, it was really fun! (Didn't have pics, so I had the kids draw a pic of their favorite scene)

Anyway, I've got 2 of the 4 stories done, and really want to make the comittment to myself to get these published!

I've looked at several options, and am still on the fence. I could handle self-promotion to some degree, but do you think you get better marketing with a big publisher?

Anyone with experience in either option let me knpow your experiences!

[Cartoonist]

1. I was a printer

Are you prepared to pay a lot of money?: Especially if you want color.

[AmyStrange]

3. With Amazon's POD (Print ON Demand) system, you don't have to worry about that.

[AmyStrange]

2. You can get more exposure from a big publisher, but...

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that doesn't mean they'll give you much.

They sometimes do give advances, but that doesn't always happen either.

One bit of advice is to make sure your manuscript is no bigger than 100,000 words, because with most neophytes (new authors), they are immediately thrown out for that very reason. They don't even bother reading them.

Regardless, I wish you ALL the luck in the world.
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[FirstLight]

7. since it's a childrens story, lower word count for sure

and I am thinking that POD is a good idea and digital copy for tablets...

I have a friend who is an artist and she was thinking it would be cool if the digital copy had little games in the pictures like "find the..."

That's more detailed than I can get at this point!

[AmyStrange]

8. Fix your subject line please...

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count not...

I like your idea with the little picture games.

Anyway, good luck.
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[FirstLight]

9. oops! sorry!!! lmao

[CentralMass]

4. Hi FirstLight. I just sent you a related DU mail.

[FirstLight]

5. Thanks!!!!

[CentralMass]

6. You are welcome.

[Bobstandard]

10. Self publishing can work

I have self published several guide books. It’s been modestly profitable. Had I worked harder at promoting them it would have been more so. Your success depends on your goals and motivation

It’s hard to get a mainstream publisher interested in a new author. It’s easier if you can show them evidence of reader interest as you might be able to do if you self publish and find an audience. Remember, The Martian by Andy Weir was originally self published.

Dont worry about printing costs. These days you have many print-on-demand options available to you, including from Amazon, that don’t require a lot of out of pocket funds

My tips: 1) Get an excellent editor. You can’t copy edit yourself. No one can. 2) Use a real book designer to lay out the book and make sure they know what formats you intend to publish to, print, ebook, etc. 3) Have a marketing plan. Failing to plan is-in publishing as in all other areas of business-planning to fail. Then follow the plan. Following even a bad plan you’ll be more successful than just grabbing at straws, trying this or that.

Do it! There’s nothing like seeing your own work in print.

[FirstLight]

11. That's kinda where I was headed...print on demand and digital

I definitely have a "marketing" plan in mind, but it needs serious details worked on.

Good think is that I have a couple writer's groups online Im friends with and I can find someone to edit pretty easily.
Guess the art is my last piece...

[AmyStrange]

12. You're right. Doing your own copy editing is NOT a good idea...

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You're so invested in your work that you don't see the mistakes, bad wording, or missing words.

It took me four years to proofread my first book, but I still didn't find ALL my mistakes until someone else actually read it.
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[dreamland]

13. I used lulu.com to publish a few books for our organization.

It's good for a few books that I wanted to pass around to folks and a lot cheaper than a printing shop. BUT you should have as many people proof your copy as possible. You can always make up one copy and edit the changes prior printing multiple books. The hardest part is to get backing unless your library have book fairs with author signings.

[SheltieLover]

14. Please read #15 in this thread before publishing with Amazon

Last I heard, Walmart was planning an epublishing site to compete with Amazon. Sorry, I can't remember name.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/119316478#post15

If you are in the States, any community college's small business dept. Should have S.C.O.R.E. They can connect you with a mentor, folks to help.you with business plan, etc. All free!

Best of luck!

[DavidDvorkin]

15. I switched to self-publishing in 2009

Little money but far more satisfaction. It rejuvenated me as a writer.

I've written a book to help people do it. My wife and I do editing and help people self-publish. Feel free to message me with questions.

This is our "company": https://www.dldbooks.com/