You and Your Book: Keep on Keepin’ On

I might be dating myself, but whenever I feel the need for a little self-encouragement, I hear The Brady Bunch song:

We’re gonna keep on, keep on, keep on doin’ it right
We’re gonna keep on, keep on, keep on movin’
Gonna keep on, keep on, keep on groovin’

So, when I sat down to write this article about self-publishing…that Brady Bunch song is the first thing that popped into my head.

JEN: What should I tell them about self-publishing?

HEAD: Keep on, keep on, keep on movin’.

You get the picture.

Here’s the deal: self-publishing is a marathon, not a sprint.

Even self-publishing fanfiction maven E.L. James will tell you — you have to persevere. She did, and went on to be included in the Forbes’ list of the highest-earning authors with earnings of $95 million including $5 million for the film rights to her trilogy Fifty Shades of Grey.

Keep on, keep on, keep on groovin’, right?

While my own publishing efforts through Three Chairs Publishing are only a few years old, I’ve been in the book publishing industry for close to 25 years. Since 1996, I’ve served as the Vice President, Director of Production and Marketing for the award-winning Bick Publishing House, and count as one of my mentors its founder, ALA Notable Book Author Dale Carlson. Together, we have produced more than two dozen titles including the Independent Book Publishers award-winner Understand Your Self.

Over the years though my company Words by Jen, I’ve produced a variety of books by local authors, artists, historians, wellness practitioners, and poets. My work has included everything from developmental work and copy editing, to design and printing coordination…but the common denominator for any self-published author is that you gotta keep on, keep on, keep on doin’ it right.

And by doin’ it right I mean: making sure you’re taking good care of your book as it makes its way out into the world. Not just in the quick-dash moments of “I have a book!” but in the long run, on the back stretch, too. Here are some things to consider…

Have you planned any new book events?
Have your updated your website and social media?
Have you visited your Amazon and Goodreads author pages?
Have you checked in with your local retailers?
Have you been in touch with your core audience?
Have you done any follow-up sales or promotions?

Want to explore more about self-publishing? Shoot me an email and let’s find out how we can work together!