Book Creation Packages

You’ve finally decided ‘I am going to write my book’. Congratulations!
But I know what you are thinking. How do I write my book?

FAQ’s –

Is my idea for a book any good?

This depends on who your audience is. Who will want to read your book once it’s done? Is it a ‘vanity’ or ‘legacy’ project. It’s never all about the money. Consider how you will benefit. What will it do to your confidence, your feeling of satisfaction, your bank balance?

Where do I start with writing my book?

Start with creating a writing habit. Brainstorm your ideas, use a mind-map, use an app to record your ideas. Get writing, get going and keep on writing until you’ve finished.

How much will it cost to publish my book?

This depends. Is your book a picture book (factor in the price of artwork if you are going to use an illustrator), is it a fiction book (factor in wordcount as editors, proofreaders and typesetters generally work on wordcount when they price a job). How much time and effort are you going to spend on it. How much money are you prepared to invest in professional help to get your book created and how much are you going to spend on marketing your book?

How do I find the right people to help me write, edit, proof-read and publish my book?

Google is a good place to start in terms of research. Find out what actually goes into creating a book. Understand why it’s critical to trust a professional with your work rather than that person you know who’s good at English!  Finding the right person to help you at the key stages is critical. Check every one of them out before you part with any hard earned money. Word of mouth, testimonials and get to know, like and trust those you are about to enter a professional contract with. Work with local people – it’s easier to have those difficult conversations or get problems fixed when you can meet for a coffee. Yes some of those services you can buy outside your country may be cheaper but will you be buying cheap but paying twice (and more?). Friends and family may want to support you but how invested will they be to make sure your book is ‘word-perfect’ and what’s the recall and how challenging will it be for you if they get things wrong? Chances are you won’t want to have that conversation, risk a friendship or a family relationship. You are becoming an Author. Treat it as you would any other contractual, business arrangement. And last but not least – have a budget as you will have to spend some money on your book baby. 

What do I put on the cover of my book?

Again, this is all about research before you decide on a book cover. What types of book do you pull off the bookshelf? What makes you want to buy a book? Who is your ideal audience? What do your competitors do with their covers? What do the best-seller book covers look like? My advice would be to use a professional publishing book cover design expert. Setting aside a budget for this at the outset is important. I’d also recommend you set aside a budget for the edit, typeset and proofread. 

What price do I charge for my book once it’s done?

Research. What do your competitors charge and how much is your ideal reader willing to pay to read your book?

Should I put my book on Amazon / Kindle / Other self-publishing platforms?

This is entirely up to you. My advice for a first time author is that yes, Amazon is a good place to put your book. Having a series is a good idea and if you create a following of readers, it’s easier to sell your 2nd, 3rd and series of books to an audience that you have built up. It takes time. Once you have a following you can consider whether or not to put your book on your own website and sell direct. But then you will have to consider how much stock you are willing to hold and how much time, effort and money you have to carry out all of the associated admin tasks. Whilst Amazon does take a healthy cut of any book sale, it also does a lot of the legwork for you.

Where am I going to sell it and how do I sell it?

Consider the answers to the question of where to hold your book. In addition, whilst learning to be an Author, you will also have to learn a number of other things, including how to use social media, how to market and how to sell your book.

How do I find an illustrator and how much do they charge?

This depends. You can ask your children to draw the images if it’s a picture book. You can ask friends, local schools or art colleges and universities if there are students who would like to work with you to create the images for your book. There are websites with a range of illustrators and artists all over the world who offer out their services online. My advice : buyer beware. Do your due dilligence. I like to work with illustrators who are known, local and who I can pick up the phone to or meet for a coffee.

Do I self publish or do I go for traditional publishing?

Again, this is up to you. There’s nothing stopping you from doing both.

The list of questions that you have to get answered when you write your book can be endless but you’ve made the decision to get going and now it’s time to stop thinking, start writing and take those steps to becoming a published author.

There are a few steps along the way to finally holding your book in your hands, seeing it online, but the most significant step is the one that you have already taken. You’ve taken the first step and have started writing.

If you’d like help with how to write a book or the self-publishing process, please get in touch!