Published my first novel! The Cleric

[blackpyre]

Hi all,

I'm really excited that I got my first novel published. It's currently available throught CreateSpace here. In roughly 5-7 business days it'll be available on Amazon.com.

I'm hoping this will turn into a nice way to suppliment my LEGO addiction. It will be greatly appreciate if everyone could be an enabler. :)

And since I'm here, I give full permission to allow anyone who wants to make MOCs of The Cleric to do so. I only ask you direct them to where my book is sold.

Thanks and happy building!

Will

[Artifex]

Congratz! I wish you all the best with your novel! I hope we see many MOCs based on The Cleric anytime soon! :thumbup:

[blackpyre]

Thanks,

I'm just not sure what catagory it would fall under for MOCs?

And if I made one would it be My Own Creation of My Own Creation? In other words a MOCMOC.

:D

Will

[blackpyre]

Woo Hoo!

I'm now listed on Amazon! Check it out!

HERE!

Awesome!

Will

[djmangunz]

Well done! If you wouldn't mind, I am curious about the process in which you took to get published. Are you self-published or did you connect with a literary agent?

[blackpyre]

No problem,

This book I decided to self-publish. When I looked at literary agents many wanted some sort of body of work that they could show off. I figured that the first few books would give me what I need to have credibility and work out the flaws in my work.

After looking at all the self-publishing options I decided on Create Space. It had several things I really liked.

First, they hold the rights to the ISBN #. That means my book has one and I don't have to pay for one. I lose it only if I take my work down which I have the right to do.

Second, It puts my work in one of the largest sales channels for books. Namely, Amazon.com

Third, there is no up front cost to publish. You don't even need to have a minimum amount to sell. They will only pay you if you make over $20 though.

Fourth, if I want to have my book in more channels like libraries, other book stores, etc. it only costs $25 for one year. After that year is up, it goes back to being just Amazon.

Fifth, I have the option of making it into a digital version. That costs $69 for one year to be up.

Of course you can always go a different route. I've been in talks with a publisher directly about work on a LEGO related book. I got that invitation by contributing to write for The Brick Blogger. I don't make any money off of it, but it did get me noticed.

I think a literary agent is still a good method to look into. I'm finding one of the hardest things to do is to get the word out to the right audience. Publishers and agents really help in doing this. However, with networking sites like Facebook that may be changing.

I now have a Facebook page purely for my writing. You can find it at www.facebook.com/williamreed.writer

That's where I plan to update the statis of my book, my next book, blogs and articles I write about LEGO, or anything else that even relates to my writing.

That's probably the best place to ask direct questions about the process. Plus, I check it a bit more regularly than all the forums I've been on. ;)

I hope that helps.

Will

[SilvaShado]

And anyone wanting to read the first chapter can find it on CreateSpace.

[just2good]

Sounds like a fun, interesting, and light read! I wish you two the best of luck with the novel.

I'll pick it up once it gets to a local book store or library.

Edited February 15, 2012 by just2good

[blackpyre]

I'm hoping to get a Kindle version up in the next month or so. Then, if it works go through the expanded channels to have it available in local stores. I'll update when that happens.

And thanks for the well-wishes.

Will

[djmangunz]

Blackpyre, thanks so much for the information. I have been writing a series of books for a few years now and the hardest thing about it is figuring out what steps to take next. Finding a literary agent seems like a bit of an intimidating process. This gives me a few more options, so thanks for the help!

[blackpyre]

No problem. ;)

I want to make a slight correction on what I said before. Create Space can make your book electronic for you for $69, but if you have the tools you can do it yourself through Amazon directly for free.

The other thing I like about self publishing is it presents you with a lot of basics about publishing you should know without feeling dumb for asking. Like, the standard sizes of a book, dealing with special fonts, working with sections and custom formating, etc.

Overall what sold me was the quality of the binding. I know this will sound like a sales pitch (cause it is :D) but you might want to buy my book simply to check out the quality of what Create Space does. I used the standard 6" x 9" size, but they do have others. Also, I could point out things I had control over vs. what Create SPace asked me to do.

I think that the book's cover is the most restrictive part of the process without paying.

Will

[blackpyre]

Hey all,

Wanted to give an update on my book. It is now available for Kindle here.

I also have submitted my book for the Amazon Breakthrough Novelist Award competition and made it past the first round!

Will