Cher-Rhonda Woodard-Lynk, author of 'Between Secrets' shares her experience of Self-Publishing with us.

I am glad I chose the path to self-publishing.

You don't have to wait around for people to tell you if
your book is worth publishing. Granted you might have
to fork out a few extra pounds or dollars but end to end,
it is worth it. You have a book that is already
marketable and availible for others to read versus
in the file-cabinet collecting dust.

I submitted my book to several publishing companies
only to get rejected time after time. Honestly it can
get depressing and discouraging. But I did a little
more research and asked other authors who've self-published.
Some had their pros and some had their cons.
Like I mentioned earlier, it can be expensive to
self-publish because you have to find a decent editor,
agent, and marketing team to help promote your work.
Or you can do a little more research and get college
students, tutors, professors, and maybe even librarians
to help you. Some may want to be paid but some may not.

So the road to publishing your book may at times be steep.
But that only means you work harder. This is your work,
your piece of art, your pride and joy. You want the whole
world to read it because you feel that one day it could
become a best-seller. Not to mention you put a lot of time
and effort into your masterpiece.

Some Tips

I found out that talking to radio stations, tv stations,
and sometimes even giving your book away for free - are
very good marketing tools. Go to the readings of other
author's - when they're held locally. Poetry sets, bookstores
and word of mouth are also good tools to market your book.
I even had the clerk announce my book at church. People were
coming up to me asking about the book. I always try to keep
business cards on me so that I can give them out to people
who are interested. They appreciate it very much.

It is also exciting when strangers come up to me and say
arent you the lady who wrote that book? It was very
good. I told my mother and all the women I know about
the book. Trust me if it's good, people will tell other people.

So, in other words, self-pubishing is not all that bad
it offers a way to get your book on the market and
availible to readers (customers). You just have to market
and manage your book. And remember, the best person to do
that is you.

© Cher-Rhonda Woodard-Lynk, 2005 (all rights reserved)

Comment, Answers, Feedback WriteIn or email
editor@unheardwords.com (editor@unheardwords.com)

  Back to Top            or            Return To Home