Things to Consider Before Publishing Your Book

Posted by Sangita Rastogi on March 5th, 2019

The saying “if you build it, they will come” don’t really work for authors. Publishing a book is like throwing a bottle with a note in the ocean with the hope that someone will find the note and then be obedient enough to buy your book. After spending a lot of time pouring everything you had into your book, you should prepare that book for publication as well. Here are the tips to ensure that you set your book up for success:

Choose a Platform

If you want to print your book just to have a copy of it for yourself, you can go for it. But if you intend to turn your work into a fulltime career, it is necessary to understand the various publishing platform. In today’s world, the best way is self-publishing online. If you approach your publication with a smart and patient approach, your efforts will definitely pay off.

Proof Your Manuscript

Inexperienced or new authors usually think that a couple of quick reads and a run through spell checker are sufficient. But getting a manuscript ready for publishing requires a lot of efforts. Authors usually fail to spot the typo errors and inconsistencies. Thus, seeking help from a professional proofreader is the best way to ensure that readers appreciate your story.

Identify Your Audience

It is essential to identify the audience for selling your book. Not every book is meant for everyone, the sooner you realize this, and the better it is for you. When talking about the target audience, consider taking social, regional, and cultural appeal, and age & gender demographics.

Choose an Appropriate Size and Price

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. The readers are used to seeing books of their preferred genre in a particular way, and retailers are generally used to stocking books that meet the standards of the industry. So, visit local bookstores near you and identify where your book is likely to be shelved. Then determine the average size, material, and cost of other books in that section. Pick a size and format that can offer a return on your investment and set a mid-range price, comparable to the ones already there. Similarly, for publishing your book online, search for a similar book and look for their specifications.

Final Word   

Spend the right amount of time to build a publishing platform for your work. The platform should consist of details about your social media, website, blog, etc. In simple words, a platform should be good enough to offer a return on your investment and appreciation for your work.