A snail’s pace, that’s about as fast as I’ve been able to work on the paperback production for Perceval’s Secret. I’m pleased that I’m now ready to contact the formatter to discuss formatting the manuscript for the pdf file. I need to download the ISBN barcode soon and that will be an expense I hadn’t planned for. Doing the paperback is a totally new process, so I’m discovering things as I go. Another reason I’ve been imitating a snail.
I am also almost completely caught up with my email after four months. Recently, I found another essay from Hope Clark in her Funds for Writers newsletter that resonated with me, and perhaps it will resonate with you, too, if you are a self-publisher. It has reminded me that going at a snail’s pace and making certain to complete everything in the production process is a good thing.
Here’s Hope’s essay:
WHAT SELLS MORE THAN STORY
Readers and writers both, for the most part, believe books sell because of a good story, when in actuality, what sells a book is much, much more. Story is actually a few rungs down on the ladder.
The following list is in no specific order, but all of these listed come before story.
Cover – If I see a cheap cover, I don’t read the story. To shortcut in one area is a sign of shortcutting elsewhere….to include story.
Formatting – Bad fonts, bad margins, unbroken paragraphs that go on forever, lack of quotation marks. Again, see above. Somebody didn’t do their homework as to what makes for reading that’s easy on the eyes.
Cover blurb / testimonials – One or the other or both need to pop and grab. Just putting something there to fill in space is again, see above. By all means, don’t make the back cover all about the author.
First page – Does it pull the reader in. Period. For whatever reason…..good voice, action, excellent visuals, whatever.
Excellent grammar – Versus bad grammar or lack of understanding of punctuation, dialogue tags, noun/verb agreement, passive voice, you get it.
Author name recognition – It’s way more difficult to sell when you are an unknown. Change that.
Voice – Can the author put words together well. Is it a pleasure to read?
Everyone has a story to tell. The challenge is writing it and publishing it well so that it reaches past all the above obstacles and gets read.
Thank you, Hope Clark! As I’ve gone over the list above, I’ve been relieved that I have worked with a professional editor on both the novels. It makes such a huge difference to have the professional pair of eyes catching what I’ve missed and making sure that my writing is the best it can be so it will be a pleasure to read.
Stay tuned for the first paperback launch announcement!
Anatomy of Perceval Blog 