Author's Log: Stardate 05232011

As you might already know, my oldest son Jared just joined JarRyJorNo Publishing's editing team. What started out as a book report for him, lead to a fantastic editing job by him of _The Watchman of Ephraim_. He completed it on Friday and yesterday I began the uploads of the 3rd edition of _TWOE_. With the exception of Lightning Source/Ingram, all of the uploads went without a hitch!

The Smashwords.com site is working faster than ever - I wasn't entered into their dreaded 'queue' and Kindle Direct and PubIt were also super-easy for their uploads.

For the trade paper and hardbacks, I use CreateSpace and Lightning Source/Ingram. Following the sound advice of Sensei Dean (Wesley Smith), I always publish to CreateSpace first - just to make sure everything is perfect. Then I publish to Ingram and allow them to nickel and dime me with their $30 republish fee.

Following more of Dean's advice, I invested in the fantastic InDesign suite of programs (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat). The ID program is IDEAL for publishing to paper! I'll match the quality of my printed books to any from TRADPUB.

This was the third edition of _TWOE_ to be published. Subsequent editions of books used to be published if there were changes in the publisher or font, but new editions can also be published if there are significant changes made. I've made what I believe to be significant changes twice. My objective with my next one, _Signs of War_ is to get it right the first time (like the song says, '...it's the main thing!')

The most important aspect of publishing (read: uploading) to the various distributors (mine are) - Smashwords - Kindle Direct Publishing - PubIt - CreateSpace - Lightning Source/Ingram - is the SETUP and PREPARATION!

Dean Wesley Smith wrote a fantastic, step-by-step procedure to follow when publishing (it's here). It's the procedure that I followed and continue to follow ... and I can tell you, if you follow EVERY STEP of his procedure, you will make your self-publishing a breeze!

One of the steps Dean explained was the proper formatting, saving and naming of the various Word.doc files necessary to publish to the various distributors. Let me tell you - it was important to follow his directions the first time I published - BUT it is even more important to follow his directions (from the first time you make-ready your manuscript) because it makes publishing new editions EASY!

My Tip: When you're ready to publish - go to Sensei Dean's website I told you about above and follow the directions to the letter. If you have any questions, feel free to comment here or email me.

One last note before I get to writing _SOW_: An indy bookstore recently called for boycotting Joe Konrath because he signed a deal with Amazon. You can read about it here.

Let me make a few points: (Pay attention Indy Bookstores)
+ Self-Publishing is a revolution that has happened to literary publishing.
+ Self-Publishing is a phenomenon that will transform literary publishing into something completely new. It already is!
+Self-Publishing WILL NOT replace TRADPUB ... nor should it! However, from now on both MUST BE considered on the same basis. They are now two viable RESPECTABLE alternatives to utilize to publish literary works.
+Self-Publishing was born in technology, so it feels comfortable with the continually changing, progressing, multi-media landscape. Modern TRADPUB was born in the last age - so it has a painful learning curve with which to deal - and there's no getting around it - TRADPUB WILL HAVE TO ACCEPT AND INCORPORATE THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF LITERARY PUBLISHING ... including accepting Self-Publishing as a RESPECTABLE alternative!
+Indy Booksellers - don't fight the change - EMBRACE IT! Join with self-published authors and work together with us to find ways to make money in collaboration ... not in competition! Konrath and his co-writing pal Blake Crouch made some EXCELLENT suggestions to you guys. Sound advice: LISTEN TO THEM!

Final point: Whenever revolutions happen - wide-sweeping changes occur to the very foundations of rule and govern-ship. Indeed, even new cornerstones are laid for new towers built to reach the heavens.

There is only one choice for the old powers-that-be, their methods and their advocates ... change with the times or become history!

End transmission

(Please feel free to leave comments – your comments can be as helpful as anything I write for others. I hope this series turns out to be less my talking at you and more – a group of like-minded storytellers that self-publish or intend to. Peace & God Bless!)