If I go back to when I first started writing in 2012 I didn’t know squat about publishing, never mind needing lessons in grammar, and the person’s voice. Like many others out there I tried traditional publishing. You remember the first publisher of Fifty Shades? It was an Australian Publisher – Yeah I tried them and was rejected, though I’ll say even now, my work was no worse than … I also looked for an Agent who thought they were Editors. No…they weren’t or if they were, they didn’t understand the historical genre of my novel. Since that time this same agent sent work to a UK Publisher who was iffy to say the least. In fact they closed down without paying anyone out and their bookstore was still going…probably still is.
Side tracked…sorry.
Anyway I found out that manuscripts needed setting out a certain way to be accepted by a traditional publisher. While I set out to learn I bumped into self-publishing and decided to go that way instead.
By the time I had learnt enough to make paperbacks and ebooks I had written four books. I bought some copies and was delighted with the results (now I just groan at my obvious need to learn more). I took them to the local writers group which showed little interest. Few of them were authors even less were published. This is where my company came in.
“Can you publish my books for me?” said one man.
“I can give it a go.” And I did. That journey though, is another story.
This all happened in May 2014. My company Plaisted Publishing House became a Limited Company on 1st August 2014. I filled out all the forms, set up a bank account registered for GST (VAT) etc. After paying or getting a refund on GST over three months I discovered I didn’t need to pay any until my business earned $60K NZD which won’t happen anytime soon due to the fact I have no investment other than what I earn and put back into the company. My aim was to start slowly and build gradually and make sure I wouldn’t fail or should I say close my company. It’s worked too.
Now you’ll note that even though I’ve published my own books, I stated I still had much to learn. My journey was only at the beginning. Over the last four years I’ve developed my business, building my professionalism, sharing what I know with the Indie Author Community. I’ve assisted over Thirty Indie Authors. If I included the Anthologies I could say I’ve assisted over one hundred.
As I’ve improved my learning (which I am still doing today) I have increased my prices, however, they’re still lower than most. You see I work in a different way. The aim of my company is to work with small businesses to contract work out to them and create packages for clients. All clients keep their copyright, all royalties and receive at least four formatted manuscripts for the different distribution websites. A client pays once. There is no profit made from continual book sales. A client could become a best seller…a millionaire…YOU STILL WON’T PAY ME ANYMORE….well unless you want too…LOL.
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog.
Thank you Chris. Much Appreciated 🙂
Welcome, Claire 😀
Reblogged this on Viv Drewa – The Owl Lady.
Very interesting!
Thank you Jennie 🙂
You’re welcome, Claire. Looking forward to learning/reading more.
😀 Thanks Jennie.
A great post. For someone who is just starting out down this path, I am inspired.
Wow and thank you. 🙂
My pleasure.
Interesting post. Thanks, Chris, and Claire.
Thanks for reading John 🙂
I have a very similar path so it was a pleasure reading about how you came to publishing.
I will put up part two next week. 🙂 It has been a lot of learning and still is. 🙂
🙂
Reblogged this on Claire Plaisted – Indie Author and commented:
My other journey 🙂
“By the time I had learnt enough to make paperbacks and ebooks I had written four books. I bought some copies and was delighted with the results (now I just groan at my obvious need to learn more). I took them to the local writers group which showed little interest. Few of them were authors even less were published.”
My experience exactly. I did consider becoming a publisher, but my weakness is marketing, and still is.
Looking forward to part 2!
I do wonder why the writers groups aren’t overly interested. In the end i decided it was due to most of them being writers rather than Authors. Your experience matches mine though of course I took the next step, partly because someone asked and also because I am a bit of a computer geek. I love formatting and helping authors get their work looking professional. I still see a lot of formatting which makes me cringe. Part two should be up later in the week – I’m digging into my memory for details. 🙂 Thank you for your response.
I think because there are several ‘official’ creative writing courses in Norfolk, there is a great deal of snobbery about published vs. self-published. But as you say, writing and authoring are not the same thing!
I’ve hit that one too. In New Zealand it is hard to be Self-Published. I have been verbally attacked once about Traditional vs Self and since that time i have a fine response. “You never enjoyed reading Shakespere or Jayne Eyre..perhaps Tom Sawyer was not to your liking.” As you may know they were all originally published…printed prior to publishing houses… 😀
Black Beauty was ‘privately published’ by a local store and retail business still in operation, Jarrolds of Norwich.
🙂