If you're about to jump in with both feet into self-publishing/POD, you may be interested to read my blog on my experiences to date. It's plug free (partly as the book isn't actually out yet), and is offered purely as a 'how not to' guide.

I do want to stress that I am not publishing through YWO, so any criticisms of the process/service offered do not relate to them in any way. Besides, most of the mistakes were mine, through blundering into the process with eyes wide shut...

Remember, if you laugh at anything, chances are it made me cry at the time...

http://self-publishinguser.blogspot.com/ "A,B&E", "Not In My Name" and "52FF" (flash fiction anthology) all available on Amazon Kindle

"How a psychopath makes sweet love. I can get you ringside. Royal box even."

Have just sighted your blog, Sulcus. Interesting reading and boy am I sorry you have had so many communication issues with your publisher.

YWO have been pretty good . . . initially there were teething problems with the Dec 2008 5000, but I was pleased with my own result. Then with the sequel, YWO/Legend became New Gen which meant I had the prequel with YWO and the sequel with New Gen. Bad marketing look for me I felt, and so transferred The Last Stitch back to YWO which now means that both my books are within the one publishing family. Ted has been little short of wonderful and I cannot praise YWO more highly.

I am glad I went down this 'independent' path. The learning curve has been absolutely enormous and thrilling as well. And you know what? From what I have read on Writer Unboxed, whether you are mainstream or independently published, the marketing process and the expectations placed on the author to be part of that are one and the same.

I hope your experiences improve and look forward to reading your blog as time goes on. My advice re Facebook is don't knock it. My website hits increased by 2000 in a month after I joined!

As Victrix has said, we do this to increase our exposure as viable and well-reviewed authors. It's another stepping stone.

www.pruebatten.com http://www.pruebatten.com/

This is the crux of it all. An unknown writer has to do ALL their own promotion and marketing, whether backed by a mainstream publishing house or not. Given this, you may as well try and control the rest of the process by self-publishing, rather than wait for someone to say yes to your initial query, then yes to the submission, a further yes to the full MS and still yes after the re-write you insist on. Self-pub is much more proactive. "A,B&E", "Not In My Name" and "52FF" (flash fiction anthology) all available on Amazon Kindle

"How a psychopath makes sweet love. I can get you ringside. Royal box even."

I haven't felt the need to put finger to keypad and type anything on here for awhile, but I thought I'd make a small contribution on this thread. I've had three books published through YWO and the fourth is in the machinery for Xmas. I think YWO are great, but I don't confuse self-Pub with the real thing i.e. Agent > Publisher > Fame/Fortune. My latest two, Solomon's Key and Body 13 are with agents as I type, if they get rejected then I'll self-pub and try again. I'm busy writing the sequel to Body 13 now, The Graves at Angel Brook. I get the impression from some of the comments that people are pinning all their hopes on self-pub! I have no problem with the comment on marketing being just as committed, but as Lexie has said, Self-Pub won't get your books into the shops.

A sardined soine - I can see one wouldn't want that. But the fact remains that most self-publishers are lucky to sell a few dozen books.

I am frequently emailed by POD firms, and they are so eager for my custom. The contrast with conventional publishers could not be more striking. Lexi

Trying to be a Time Lord: click here for my blog