Is there any help out there for self-published authors?

by Jackie Mae

On this snowy Wednesday I am pondering over my choices. Many authors, not unlike myself, struggle with a multitude of decisions unrelated to writing. Long after the the months or perhaps years of writing, crafting that story to perfection, you find yourself facing a seemingly uphill battle. You now need to market.

There are many people eager to help you. Deciding which of those hundreds of offers you will find yourself faced with to accept is the crux of my story.

Marketing. To some a wonderful word, to me it was a four-letter word. Nonetheless I jumped into the fray with both feet. Excited, determined, and naive I had to take some hard knocks before I learned to have concise, realistic goals. Easier said than done. As I pondered my direction my email was flooded daily with advertisements promising answers to all my problems.

You name it, I have done it. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Linkedin, Google+, my website, and my blog. There are several individual groups within most of these social media platforms and I posted on all of them. Some of these strategies worked and some were a total flop. My time was being squeezed big time. I joined physical writer groups, associations, networking groups, and book clubs. More time gone.

At this point I considered a virtual assistant but the budget was being reserved for that unexpected hit. You need money to publish. You need marketing materials, there is travel involved, luncheons to attend, events to host, and events to attend. Don't forget Uncle Sam because he sure won't forget you. You just never know what expense is just around the corner. Income is based on sales. You will need a lot of sales.

Google it. It works. If you don't know something, Google it. If a marketer contacts you, Google them. If someone tells you a too good to be true story, Google them. Granted we all start out somewhere at the bottom but, seriously, check them out. There are plenty of genuine people that can help you take it to the next level.

I have finally found a workable plan to write. I sought out one of those persons eager to help me. A Life Coach was someone whose job was unknown to me. Did a Life Coach teach you about life? Well it turns out a Life Coach can help with your direction or lack thereof. I found out a Life Coach is just what I needed. She helped me formulate a plan that works for me. Now, instead of being constantly frustrated, I have set aside time to write. That is why I am positioned where I am, to be a writer. If you spend all your time marketing when will you ever write?

My advice to you is align yourself with good people. I have been blessed with wonderful people around me; and so, I give back every chance I get. Books, yeah books is what got me in this wonderful mess. I really couldn't imagine doing anything else. I am having the time of my life.

I am going to put some helpful links here that a self-published author needs to start out with. By no means is this a comprehensive list. My list evolves constantly. It has to and so does yours. This is a sampling. I will continue to put more as more articles are posted. So stay tuned. In the next few months I am going to cover more marketing tips along with bloggers and reviewers.

I will be truthful - it's very hard and you will need a boatload of determination. I have not climbed to the top of my mountain yet but I am putting strong footholds forward everyday.

http://www.goodreads.com/author/program
https://www.createspace.com/
https://kdp.amazon.com/
http://www.smashwords.com/
http://www.lulu.com/
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/

Aah...the trials and tribulations of an author.

   NPR. National Public Radio. My hero. If a brick and mortar can be a hero, NPR is mine. But of course, it is so much more. NPR's Best Seller's List, it comes out weekly highlighting the best. It is a personal dream of mine. To not only visit but have the honor of having my book(s) post on NPR's Bestseller's List.

   Are these books all traditionally published or are some of these titles indie and/or self-published? I set out to find out. It didn't take very long. Most, if not all, are traditionally published as far as I could tell. What does this say? Is there any hope for the rest of us? Does it mean only traditionally published is the best? NPR is not alone. Just look on the web. Big name sites are everywhere. Goodreads in one of my personal favorite sites to surf. Sure there are sites like Smashwords and LuLu, and though they are making headway, they compete with the likes of Barnes and Noble and Amazon. Yes, I said Amazon. 

   Have you tried the Google search, "best of  ... "  Have you ever wondered how to get in "the best of ..." sites? Or, how to come up on the first ten pages of that Google search? SEO, that's a whole other topic my friends. 

   Amazon is clearly bringing indie published/self-published or vanity published to the forefront of potential readers; that golden audience, the reader, and how to reach them. I personally feel I will thrill readers with my selection of books. But how do I reach them? I was becoming frustrated, because I found myself with every published author's nightmare - marketing. Okay, you have a small nest egg; one you know you need for retirement, college, something or anything besides following your dream of writing successfully for a living. And don't even get me started about reviews and moving up Amazon's ladder, out of the pits of Amazonland. This is clearly my personal opinion and I am not getting paid nor do I dislike any of the companies mentioned in this blog article. Just the opposite, in fact, I am most grateful to Amazon and the others listed here for the opportunities that they have provided me.