Support for Indie Authors discussion

My book is now out. Since this is my first time self publishing. I was wondering what now? Any advice as to what I should be doing now. I am currently sending my book out for review. Also as an author I thought I could send my book out to reviewers for free, but now it looks like I need to purchase it and gift it?

Carol,
Best wishes with your debut novel. Although, you should have laid the groundwork prior to publication, I didn't realize this at the time of my first novel either.

Each reviewer has their own policy and prerequisites.

Giveaways are part and parcel of promoting your novel, though you'll want to do this judiciously.

If you're on Facebook, may I suggest you join groups such as Scribes & Bibliophiles and Marketing for Creatives. Just associating with other indie authors, you'll get the drift of how to go about things.

Best wishes.

Thank you Eva I didn't know about the FB GROUPS, that was helpful.

You can also google the topic at Facebook and see what appeals to you. I'm still learning as I go along. As always, it's nice to have the support and encouragement of other indie authors.

My recommendation would be to connect with other local authors in your area and start building a network of friends and resources. I can't express how helpful it is having people to bounce ideas off of, do events with, and generally support one another.

Thank you Thomas. I've got a couple MeetUp's with local groups coming up and next week I'm going old school to bookstores and libraries hunting for book clubs.

Get a free mobi copy of your book from your kdp preview. That way you can send it out to reviewers, and it won't cost you a dime.

Carol,
Congrats on publishing your first book! I first published in March of this year and I still remember the feeling like it was yesterday :)

There is a good article in the goodreads newsletter about publishing timelines that I think you would find helpful. I want to say it was in the June issue but if you look in the archives it will be easy to find. If you don't see it let me know and I will try to link it for you.

Good luck and please pop in anytime if you have more questions. Tons of excellent advice on the threads :)

That's great info! I need that article too. I'll look for it as well!

Hope this helps!

https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/6...

Thank you Riley!

@ Tara thank you. Going to sound like a complete moron, but where is this ask the author thing?

Carol
The only dumb question is the one you're afraid to ask :) Ask the Author is a feature on your gr author page. You have to activate it - your questions remain invisible until you choose to answer them, at which point they become public.

Jeez I didn't know that. Seriously I'm so dang green...I've been preparing for months and it finally happens and I know nothing. Also there's so much to take it in.

@Robert whiskey and adventure that helps me.

BTW I dig your picture you look like a character I would or will write about.

Robert wrote: "Everyone has answered the 'What do you do if you get writer's block' question. I can't find that question anywhere ..."

In the ask the author automated questions you get when you activate it. If you decline to answer a question, it disappears. I don't think there is a way to get it back once it's gone.

Carol, congrats on publishing your first book. It's always a thrill. :)

Thank you G.G I am trying to enjoy it, but I'm terrified of failure. So ack...

Carol wrote: "My book is now out. Since this is my first time self publishing. I was wondering what now? Any advice as to what I should be doing now. I am currently sending my book out for review. Also as an aut..."
I have been lurking on this thread, but I figured I would just say I am in EXACTLY the same boat Carol, and have found this thread amazingly helpful. So thank you for asking.

Robert wrote: "Everyone has answered the 'What do you do if you get writer's block' question. I can't find that question anywhere ..."

Hi Robert. I found a way to search the discussion threads awhile back and use it often. Go the the home page for this group. Above the moderator names and photos, there is a box stating "search discussion posts" with a grey search button to the right of that. Pick one or two words to enter in the field. Lots of items will come up on the page for you to scroll through before you find what you want. I will say, it's all there, lots of helpful information. You just have to find it. Good luck. : )

Carol wrote: "@Robert whiskey and adventure that helps me."

Hi Carol. What brand? : D

BULLIET rye works for me. It's my favorite

@Kayla everyone says be happy and I'm Miss Anxiously awaiting the worlds approval..ugh what's worse is my heart says write but my brain says nope market the first book more your not doing enough.

Carol wrote: "Thank you G.G I am trying to enjoy it, but I'm terrified of failure. So ack..."

There is no failure. Not many sales is not a sign of failure. It's not easy to be noticed among billions of books. The way I see it, even one sale is something one can be proud of.

Carol wrote: "BULLIET rye works for me. It's my favorite"

Thanks. Good to know it helps writer's block. I've been drinking too much coffee. LOL!!

G.G. wrote: "Carol wrote: "Thank you G.G I am trying to enjoy it, but I'm terrified of failure. So ack..."

There is no failure. Not many sales is not a sign of failure. It's not easy to be noticed among billio..."

G.G. You are absolutely right. I worry about publishing for the same reason, but I'm going to do it anyway. : )

@Sue I was having a bit of writers block and I swear a weekend away out in the wild drinking with friends took care of that. Sometimes we just need a little adventure.

@G.G very true now if I can just convince myself that it's true. Lol I'm impossible right now.

Tara wrote: "Hope this helps!

https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/6..."

thx!

(although i was thinking that it wouldn't be specific to GR; nevertheless, it is quite helpful--especially the timeline.)

Carol wrote: "@Sue I was having a bit of writers block and I swear a weekend away out in the wild drinking with friends took care of that. Sometimes we just need a little adventure."

Yes, I agree. I stress myself out so much when I get blocked that it's necessary for me to put it aside. I like Johnny Walker Black, Jim Beam Black, and Jack Daniels Single Barrel. Though I received a bottle of Macallan's as a gift that I'm saving for the day I push the button on KPD. : )

I don't see this mentioned here, and I don't know the details, but you can do a Goodreads Giveaway of your paperback. You can have Amazon drop ship it to the winners so you don't have to pay additional shipping. However, that won't work if you're going to autograph them.

Carol
You wouldn't be nervous if this didn't matter to you and you can't succeed unless it matters.

Alex
Thanks - I want to say i have a similar link somewhere on my device. If I can dig it up I will share it here.

@ Tara thank you...your right it means everything to me. But I realize that this is a long process and I can't be faint hearted.

@ Sue thanks I currently only have an Ebook and I did a giveaway this morning through Amazon. It was over it less than a blink of an eye, crazy.

@Robert I thought so and that's what makes it interesting. I had a neighbor who had a mustache just like that tattooed on his face, I always stopped to chat with him. How could I not?

Carol wrote: "@Kayla everyone says be happy and I'm Miss Anxiously awaiting the worlds approval..ugh what's worse is my heart says write but my brain says nope market the first book more your not doing enough."

@ Carol. Yup, we are in exactly the same boat. Amazingly so. Though I am starting to write again as of today, because I keep hoping that maybe if I just fill the world with my writing, it might actually count as a form of marketing just due to saturation. :P

G.G. wrote: "The way I see it, even one sale is something one can be proud of. "

This is exactly right.