{I got a little nosey with Annie from Annie Blogs. She’s sharing about self publishing for my little series on Content Expression. You might know her from the first page of Seth Godin’s Poke the Box. Yes, she’s that Annie. And no, her last name isn’t Blogs. You’ve got to read her latest masterpiece, From Head to Foot. She’s brave, tells it like it really is, and will inspire you.}
Why did you choose your form of content expression? Tell a little about your journey.
I wrote over half of From Head To Foot in 2007. I knew I wanted to pursue writing as a career choice, so as I was writing, I was also attending writer’s conferences. I think, for new writers and seasoned writers even, writer’s conferences are a great idea for inspiration as well as connection.
I was going after a traditional publishing deal because self-publishing had a “not good enough” stigma to it. I mean, the truth is- if you write a book, you want that book to be on bookstore shelves.
I met a literary agent at Mt. Hermon’s Writer’s Conference in 2008. I finished writing the book that year and she and I signed a contract in 2009.
It was great. I thought it would only be minutes before publishing houses were knocking down my agent’s door, begging to pay me ungodly amounts of money for my work.
But it didn’t happen.
So one year later, Spring 2010, my agent and I parted ways.
Living in Nashville, Tennessee, I have many friends in creative fields and some friends in publishing. All of the sudden, self-publishing starting coming up in conversation. And to make a long story short, I decided it was right for my audience and me.
I wrote a book for teenagers/college students. I know a lot of students in that age bracket, I speak at events for that age group, and I write articles for teen/college magazines. I also have a blog with enough traffic that I knew some of them would help propel the book. So I went for it.
I connected with Westbow Press in September 2010 and the book was available for purchase by December 7, 2010. (WAY faster than traditional publishing!)
I wasn’t trying to get rich or sell a million copies (though both things would be GREAT). I just wanted to get a book in the hands of the people who were already in my sphere of influence. I also wanted to make back what I invested. Four months in, and we are at about 70%. So I’m pleased.
Was it by choice or was it forced?
Yes. It was by choice because I could have chosen to keep waiting and pushing and trying to get a traditional deal on my own. It was by force because a traditional publishing gig hadn’t come along and I felt like it was the right time to get the book out.
Are you glad it worked out the way it did?
Sure. I mean, I love the book- I couldn’t be more proud of it. I love that because I self-published, I got to hire my super talented friends to do the editing and design work. Would I have liked to get an advance instead of paying for the publishing myself? My Discover Card statement squeaks out a pitiful, “yes.”
But the more I grow as a creative, the more I learn who I am as a writer and an artist, the more I love the process I experienced and the freedom I had in the publishing process. That doesn’t mean I will turn down publishing deals in the future, but for me and my first book, I love that I self-published.
How did you figure out what was the best format for your audience/reader?
Well, I wrote the book for teenage girls and that is not who reads my blog. So I don’t think I “nailed it” as far as hitting my target audience with this book. But what I did know about my audience is they like to read when I write honestly and openly. I knew that was going on in the book, so I knew they even though the age demographic wasn’t spot on, they would be supportive.
Also, I have worked hard over the last few years to build a tribe (vs. just a fan base). I feel deep connection with my readers, I think they feel the same with me, and I think they feel connected with each other. So I knew that no matter the format, they were on board.
Where do you think the Publishing industry will be in 2 years?
You know, watching Seth Godin and The Domino Project- I have no idea. I think books will never go away. There’s too much nostalgia and too much enjoyment of holding a book in your hands for it to just disappear. But I do think e-books will continue to grow in popularity.
I have to wonder if the publishing industry will mirror what has happened in the music industry- where there are still big name companies with big name artists, but there are a whole bunch of independent artists making a decent living by handing everything themselves.
In fact, I would say that what has happened in music has blazed a trail for those of us who want to self-publish books. It has made it cool to push your work forward even without a publishing house.
The internet, and the world in general, is giving more voice to artists than ever before. So if you are willing to work really hard, make art every day, and you don’t mind eating Ramen noodles a few times a month, you can live off your art. And it is a total joy.
So where is the industry going? Wherever the artists and the audience want it to go. And I think it’s going to be super fun for everyone involved.
What kind of format would you like to try?
Because I’m about 78% pure crazy and because I’m learning to embrace failure, I’ve got a LONG list of things I want to try to do (that I may be terrible at, I know). I’d love to do a free e-book for teens. I’d love to co-write a book with my writing partner-in-crime Lyndsay Rush. I think it would be cool to write a song, but that’s probably more Nashville pressure than anything. I secretly write poetry and I may figure out a creative way to put that out someday, but for now- it’s still a secret.
One of my favorite things about From Head To Foot is that it is more than a book for the reader. There is a leader’s guide with illustrations, there are videos on YouTube for each chapter, there are activities, songs, and recipes attached to each chapter. I like creating full experiences for the reader. So that’s what I dream when I think of formats- I dream of trying to give someone a full day’s helping of inspiration.
(I haven’t done it yet. But I want to.)
What are 5 tips that someone that is self-publishing should know and apply?
- Hire good people who are GREAT at their craft (editing, designing, etc). If you want it your book to look professional, you better hire professionals.
- Do your research. There are TONS of self-publishing outlets that you can choose from and some of them are great. Some of them will rob you blind. So make sure you read all the details and read what other authors have experienced.
- Write a really good book. Good books sell. Bad books don’t. If you are going to self-publish, make sure enough people have read your book and believe in your writing (besides your family) to make it worth your investment.
- Build your tribe. You must have people around you that will buy your book AND talk about your book. Use social media, speaking engagements, and other writing outlets to create a group of people who know you and your work.
- Have fun. You aren’t doing this to get rich and you aren’t writing the Bible. So don’t be too serious and make sure you are enjoying it. There are going to be days when it feels like the hardest thing you’ve ever done. If you can’t remember the fun days, you will quit.
