Post: #1

Hey guys. I know there's a bunch of guys on here that have written books on various subjects. I'm just looking for some insight to your process. I'm not looking to write a game book or anything. I'll setting up to write a book on programming high end Audio/Video equipment. It's a niche market. There's lots of tutorials and training material you can find online but nothing useful in book format.

I have a few questions if you could help me out.

1. What software do you use? Do you write everything in Microsoft Word? Do you just paste pictures into word documents? Is there a way to do it all online using Google Documents?

2. How do you go from a digital draft to a printed book? How many do you print at a time? Where do you keep them?

3. Do you have anyone review or proofread your draft? Where do you find them? What does it cost?

4. Do you need an ISBN number? How do you get one? Cost?

5. How do you get your book on Amazon and other book sites? How do they pay you? Check, direct deposit, other? What about taxes?

6. Do you sell copies yourself from your website? Do you mail out copies one at a time by hand?

7. How do you determine the selling price?

8. Who does your artwork? How do you go from artwork to book cover?

9. Do I have to ask permission if I use a company's equipment in my book? Do I have to pay them?

And anything else I may have missed. Thanks in advance.

Post: #2

BUMP!

Searched through the forum and was surprised at how few threads dealt with this topic. I'm writing a few e-books at the moment which I may hope to turn to print someday. I basically have all of the questions above plus dealing with e-books. Any knowledge would be greatly appreciated.

Note to two of the questions above: I've been using Microsoft Word for writing and have hired a logo designer for artwork.

Post: #3

(12-19-2017 11:57 PM)kamoz Wrote:  BUMP!

Searched through the forum and was surprised at how few threads dealt with this topic. I'm writing a few e-books at the moment which I may hope to turn to print someday. I basically have all of the questions above plus dealing with e-books. Any knowledge would be greatly appreciated.

Note to two of the questions above: I've been using Microsoft Word for writing and have hired a logo designer for artwork.

I've worked in various roles for a handful of publishing companies from editorial to production and beyond as well as have a small editorial consultancy for self-published authors.

Here are my answers:

(05-31-2012 09:43 PM)Parlay44 Wrote:  Hey guys. I know there's a bunch of guys on here that have written books on various subjects. I'm just looking for some insight to your process. I'm not looking to write a game book or anything. I'll setting up to write a book on programming high end Audio/Video equipment. It's a niche market. There's lots of tutorials and training material you can find online but nothing useful in book format.

I have a few questions if you could help me out.

1. What software do you use? Do you write everything in Microsoft Word? Do you just paste pictures into word documents? Is there a way to do it all online using Google Documents?

Word or google docs is fine. The key feature that will help in the editorial process (Track Changes) is available in both.

2. How do you go from a digital draft to a printed book? How many do you print at a time? Where do you keep them?

This is where things get complicated as the process is different depending on the subject matter and where the end product will be.

For parlay's question (a nonfiction title), an educational publisher will find an author to fill a particular niche. Generally, these authors tend to be professors at major universities or professionals at the top of their game. A publisher will take a draft and run it through their own editorial process. They will then do market research into identifying how much of a "run" they wish to do. For audio production textbooks, the run will most likely be small but the cost per title high since it's a niche market.

For trade titles (trade = fiction works) the process is surprisingly similar to what goes on in the entertainment business. Most of the time, a literary agent (same type of agent actors, directors, etc use) will take a draft of yours, read it, and decide which publisher to push it to. Very rarely will a publisher will go outside of the agent system to get a draft.

It then runs through the editorial process. Market research is done to discern how much of a print run to do, any advertising, and then sends it through their distribution channels

Self-publishing is a great way to get your product to market without having to deal with the annoyances of the traditional publishing process. While there's still some prestige in getting an agent and going through the professional process, breaking into these circles is pretty darn difficult. Amazon offers a great tool to do on-demand printing which avoids the issues that come with printing a bunch of books, having to warehouse them, and then sell them to make a profit.

Depending on the material being written and where it will ultimately end up, I can go into more depth over a PM with some background on the text.

3. Do you have anyone review or proofread your draft? Where do you find them? What does it cost?

Tooting my own horn, yes, I highly recommend you go through the editorial process. Beyond simple proofreading, there are many styling considerations as well as other organizational things that need to be considered to avoid annoying your audience.

Remember, you get what you pay for. Editorial services can run from simple proofreading all the way up to ghostwriting. You generally want to hire an editor you have a good relationship with and who has a similar world view as yourself. This is especially so if you're writing red pill material.

You can find freelance editorial folks almost anywhere and you're welcome to PM me as I perform all of these services for a modest fee.

4. Do you need an ISBN number? How do you get one? Cost?
ISBN numbers are doled out by the International ISBN Agency. A publisher will happily give you one as part of their services. If you're going the Amazon route, they have a system in place to get you one. If you go through the ISBN Agency, they'll want you to buy a few thousand for a lot of money when in reality you will only need just a couple. Go through your publisher or Amazon to get one.

5. How do you get your book on Amazon and other book sites? How do they pay you? Check, direct deposit, other? What about taxes?

It's as easy as signing up here https://www.amazon.com/gp/seller-account...=200260520

I've never used the system, but I presume they have many options for getting your royalties. Taxes will consider this income and i'm guessing Amazon will give you a 1099. Talk to your accountant about how to make this legal.

6. Do you sell copies yourself from your website? Do you mail out copies one at a time by hand?

If you go through a publisher, they will do all of that for you. You don't need to do anything.

If you decide to go through Amazon, they'll help you go through their website. However, you may want to consider linking your titles from your personal website and elsewhere to your Amazon page. I'm not sure Amazon has many options for advertising on their ebook platform.

7. How do you determine the selling price?

Again, if you go through a publishing company, they'll decide this for you. If you're self-publishing, you'll have to do the market research yourself.

Who is your audience and how much money do they have? Who are your competitors and what are they charging? How much do you think your work is worth?

You will need to do the market research to find out the best price. For Amazon and ebooks, stick to cheap 99 cents to five dollars.

8. Who does your artwork? How do you go from artwork to book cover?
Assuming self-published works here because your publisher will again do all of this for you. You can hire illustrators anywhere from Fiverr, college, or a drawing club.
Like an editor, you will want a good illustrator whose vision you agree with. Have him/her read your content and do some concept art. If you like it, you can hire them and he/she will then digitally do your artwork which can then be re-purposed for a book cover. You will need to work out payment and royalties for your book with your illustrator.

Or the cheaper option is to find some stock art you like, throw some text over top of it, and call it a day. Make sure the copyright you purchase for the stock art allows for unlimited reproductions without any royalties.


9. Do I have to ask permission if I use a company's equipment in my book? Do I have to pay them?

You will need to check your employee handbook to see if they have a clause that says, "Anything created on company time is the explicit copyright of the company."

Clear this first before proceeding, because you can get into a bit of trouble if you get caught.

And anything else I may have missed. Thanks in advance.

My two bits of advice: Find editors who have experience in your subject matter and won't provide bad advice (ex: like hiring a feminist to edit a men's game book).

And two: when finished and actually going through the editorial process, try to view your work as your reader would. Avoid using annoyingly complex words, don't use outdated, flowery, and pretentious prose, and above all trust what your editor is trying to do for you.

If you'd like, i'm more than happy to answer more pointed questions via PM.

Post: #4

OK, this thread is kinda funny. I hope Parley44 isn't bitter.

Post: #5

I just stumbled on this free course perhaps it can help you (it's aimed on writing spirituality books but looking at the index it looks interesting for any subject)

https://benebellwen.com/2017/08/14/writi...te-course/

Post: #6

Also, to add to my post there's one extra bit of info that I want to put out there: As a writer regardless of your subject material, you should have an end goal in mind of where you want your title to end up.

This matters a ton and is dependent on what the actual subject matter of the book is.

Post: #7

(12-20-2017 02:16 PM)The Beast1 Wrote:  Also, to add to my post there's one extra bit of info that I want to put out there: As a writer regardless of your subject material, you should have an end goal in mind of where you want your title to end up.

This matters a ton and is dependent on what the actual subject matter of the book is.

I don't understand your point. Are you talking specifically about the market or platform or the overall vision of the book?

Post: #8

Here's a blog post on the mechanics of writing a book; I especially liked his idea of laying out the chapters on the floor.

http://randsinrepose.com/archives/how-to-write-a-book/

Post: #9

(12-21-2017 03:19 AM)Thomas the Rhymer Wrote:  

(12-20-2017 02:16 PM)The Beast1 Wrote:  Also, to add to my post there's one extra bit of info that I want to put out there: As a writer regardless of your subject material, you should have an end goal in mind of where you want your title to end up.

This matters a ton and is dependent on what the actual subject matter of the book is.

I don't understand your point. Are you talking specifically about the market or platform or the overall vision of the book?

Should have been more specific, but yes essentially all of that.

I'm overcomplicating this in my explanation, but a lot of times when i've met people who say they're writers they'll say they aren't sure what they want to do with the finished draft in the editorial stage. How much polishing do they want to do? Or worse, they say they've written something and then get stuck three-quarters of the way through, ask for ghostwriting assistance, and then poo-poo every possible idea to move forward. Maybe i'm unlucky, but most authors i've met seem to be indecisive.

Then once that's all finished comes the question of, where do you want to publish and how (print/digital)?

The work i've spent time on is mostly scientific and academic publications. The trade side (fiction) is more subjective. I prefer the dry science side of things.