What is the publishing process really like?

What should I do after I have written my book?

Amazon says I can sell the book for free on their platform. All I need to do is convert my Word file into a PDF, upload it to KDP, and then sit back and watch my sales soar.

Why do I even need to spend so much money on an editor? These editors charge so much. Are they making fools of new writers? What is it they know that I don’t?

I have Grammarly for proofreading. I have ChatGPT for editing, even writing, and research.

Self-publishing is a scam. They charge too much and give no guarantees.

I only want to get traditionally published. They will do everything for me, including editing, marketing, and distribution. All I need to do is send them my manuscript.

Uh… so many questions, so many things to do. And until you have taken the plunge, you don’t realise the process is more than just hitting upload.

Publishing can feel overwhelming, I know, I have been there. But once you see the road, walk it yourself, you can traverse it with a lot more confidence.

Even if you don’t do it all yourself, understanding the publishing process helps you:

1. Avoid being taken for a ride by scamsters.

2. Know what you are paying for (and what you are not).

3. Make smarter choices for your book’s future.

That’s exactly why Dagny Sol and I are planning a Pen to Print session, where we break it all down: manuscript → edited book → published → marketed. 

If you want in, just drop a hey in the comments.

#booksbooksbooks #bookpublishing #authorcommunity #writing

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