I’m not sure publishing needs saving (not self-publishing, anyway) and I think this is a bit new yet to think it’s going to save anything, but who knows what’s in our future.
Always good to keep abreast of what’s coming down the pipe.
Amazon, Beware: How Print-It-Yourself Technology Could Save Publishing.
Sue has pointed writers to a good post about preparing your manuscript for editing using spell check.
Even though I am an editor, I am a writer too, so I want people to save a little money if they can and prepare their manuscript for editing.
But besides spell check (which frequently happens automatically as you type), I recommend to my clients that at least 2 other people read their ms before they have it professionally edited. It also helps if you ask your readers to look for grammar and punctuation errors, beside the other things you need help with.
Most people know the basics, and they can save the editor time (and thus your money) if they catch some of the simpler things for you. Happy writing!
Why, you ask, would an editor give advice on how to save you money on her services? Won’t that make less money for her, you ask? In the short term, yes. But looking at the bigger picture, you’ll get a better editing job if I don’t have to worry as much about the small stuff. Therefore, I would love it if you’d read and take to heart this article on running spell check before submitting your work for editing. Thanks to libroediting.com for their wise words.
Shelley Hitz explains how to publish a book bundle on Kindle – though it would be the same for any site you sell on. Basically, it’s putting all the books in one file and making a new image (like a box set) for it. Pretty simple, I guess. But unfortunately, she doesn’t say how to make the new box set image and I’m not so good with photo shop. I guess I have to ask some friends to help me. There are lots of people that are good with photo shop.
While you’re waiting for help with your new cover, make sure your series ebooks are connected. I know Amazon has a specific line that you put the same series name in for each book in the series (mine is “Rose series”) then the volume #. They are supposed to be displayed together when someone pulls up one book in the series. I know you can do that on Goodreads, too.
from spaceplace.nasa.gov
Well, the easiest place to start is to e-publish, not that print publishing is hard, but e-publishing is even easier. It only requires two things: 1. A front cover that is at least 1600 pixels wide by 2500 pixels tall. This will fit the requirements of kdp.amazon.com and smashwords.com (two of the sites I recommend you publish on, though there are others). 2. A properly formatted book. Item two is what I am going to focus on today.
There are two ways to upload your book on both Amazon and Smashwords: A formatted word doc or a mobi doc. I’ve done both and I’m not sure which is easier. I think perhaps creating the mobi file is a touch easier, but both require a bit of work on your part. Lets start with the word doc option.
For this option the best way to get it right is to follow Mark Coker’s formatting guide that he created for his Smashwords clientele. It’s free and if you follow that guide, your word doc will easily upload to Smashwords and Amazon. Sounds easy, but it does take a bit of time to do all the recommended steps.
I am aware of two programs that allow you to create a fairly quick mobi or epub file: Jutoh and Scrivener. Mobi is used for kindle and epubs are used for everyone else (nook, kobo, ipad or any other android reader). I have viewed a webinar for Scrivener and it looks like a fine program – has a few more bells and whistles and probably works better for non-fiction authors since it’s a lot easier to move chapters around and you can load websites very easily. But I purchased Jutoh and have been happy with the results. Both programs cost approximately $40, by the way. Very reasonable! 
Jutoh: Jutoh is pretty easy to use. There is a small learning curve (as their would be with Scrivener) and Jutoh has a very good user’s guide/help section to the program if you need it. The nice thing about both of these programs is that you can upload you book and create the links to each chapter without all the putzing needed when working with a word doc. You can also easily put in hyperlinks to your book’s website or sites to buy your other books – if you have more than one. **Be aware that Amazon and Smashwords don’t accept documents that have links to other people’s websites, so don’t put them in. They will make you take them out.
One other caution for Jutoh specifically – I recommend you use Jutoh’s styles when formatting your book (centering, special formatting), it will look better in the end product. One time-saver for you is if you put in page breaks in the word doc that you download to Jutoh, it will automatically make these the chapters breaks. You can do it within the program, but doing it in word first will save you time. Just pick the “chapters by page break” option when setting it up in Jutoh.
Once it’s uploaded and formatted the way you want (remember no fonts bigger than 16 point or unusual fonts – ereaders aren’t sophisticated enough to handle these things) you pick the format you want. As mentioned, for kdp.amazon you want the mobi format. Smashwords will also accept mobi files, so you might as well start there. When you’ve selected mobi you hit “compile” and the program will create a folder in your computer’s “document” file titled “Jutoh Documents.” It will put the mobi and Jutoh file there. The nice thing about Jutoh is that if you hit the “error” tab at the bottom of the Jutoh screen, it will show you all the mistakes you make and tell you what the error is. If you click on a error message, it will take you to that error in your document. How cool is that! 
The next step is to check the document. For kindle, download the free kindle reading app for PC or Mac. Look through the whole document for formatting issues and make sure the chapter and web links work.
I always create a epub file because not everyone has a kindle and when giving away free copies of the book, it’s nice to have that option. Obviously, ebooks are a lot cheaper to give away than paper books. To create a epub file, pick the epub option then compile again. Correct any errors, then download Adobe’s Digital Editions. Digital Editions reads epubs. This link will give you the program for either PC or Mac formats. Now it’s time to visit Smashwords and kdp.amazon and set up your accounts. Both sites make it very easy to upload your cover and interior files. Then let everyone know it’s there! If you have any trouble with this process, don’t hesitate to contact me.
Christine Keleny CKBooks Publishing
Where Publishing Dreams Become Reality
I am not a reader in the romance world, so I have not heard of Jamie McGuire, but it sounds like a lot of other people have. Regardless, her discussion on Mark Coker’s blog is very helpful to any author who wants to publish either the traditional way or through self-publishing or both! Thanks for sharing Mark and Jamie! Smashwords: Why Jamie McGuire Returned to Self Publishing. CKBooks Publishing Where Publishing Dreams Become Reality
image from jmdeditorial.co.uk
Belinda has some very good points about what to look for in a beta reader – I think the most important point is that they read – a lot. Someone who reads a lot knows what stories are supposed to “sound” like when they are read, even if they don’t know why. And they don’t have to know the why’s of a good book, that’s the authors job. But they can point out areas in the ms when the author isn’t hitting the mark, or when the author has strayed (“That part was a bit slow.” or “I found myself wanting to skip this part.”…)
I usually have different readers who are good a differenr things. I have one friend who is very good at picking up grammar and punctuation errors. This is helpful to me because if I can fix those things before I send the ms to the editor then that is less time the editor has to take with my manuscript, which then saves me money on my edit. I have another friend who is good at picking up on what’s good or not so good with the story itself – if I should have given more detail in some place or went over too long in another place.
What Belinda doesn’t mention is how many readers you should have for your book. I would recommend at least three and more if you can find them. I say this for two reason.
1. I am constantly amazed how people read the same material differently and find different things.
2. Not everyone you ask to read is going to give you what you’re looking for, so the more people you have reading, the better your chances of getting good feedback.
Another important thing to remember is to give your beta readers some instructions about what you want or don’t want them to do. If they have agreed to read your ms then they want to help you. Give them a heads up and let them know what kind of feedback you’re looking for. This helps them focus and not get totally lost in the story. And your instructions might not be the same for each reader, either.
And last but not least – thank them – profusely! A dinner, bottle of wine, chocolates… whatever suits their fancy, and be sure to give them a copy of the book, once it’s done (assuming they liked it :)) Hopefully they will be willing to help you again, and again.
What makes a good Beta Reader? | @Belinda_Pollard.
Christine Keleny of CKBooks Publishing
Where Publishing Dreams Become Reality
Some helpful information about the use of twitter by authors by James Moushon on the blog hbpublications.blogspot.com.
He mentions Hootsuite. I use that and I think it is helpful. I have on my list to do to use bitly but hootsuite helps me shorten address, so it hasn’t been a priority. I also like his “add photo” and add a URL ideas. I think those are very smart strategies. I had not heard of the Amazoncart feature, which is another way to more easily link your book(s) to your readers, but he’s right – you could also just use a URL. If you are a twitter novice like me, this is all helpful information. Thanks James!
The eBook Author’s Corner: Authors: Improve Your Twitter Messaging and Control.
Mark Coker of Smashwords gives us an interesting thought about the book(s) you write.
This gallery contains 2 photos.
Karon Thackston gives some good advice about how to better describe/list your book for any site, really. I particularly like the power words. But all her examples are of non-fiction books and
non-fiction authors. I wish she had picked fiction examples. That’s a harder book to sell.
How To Write Fascinating Amazon Book Listings.
Christine Keleny – CKBooks Publishing
Where publishing dreams become reality
CKBooks Publishing 