Publishing and Self-publishing: Advice for Writers

Self-publishing process

Simplified steps for self-publishing print editions. Simplified kasi kanya-kanya ang diskarte in between.

1. Finish your book.

Dapat may ending. Mahirap mag-publish ng book in a series when di mo pa tapos yung series. I've tried. May mga gusto akong palitan sa book 1 pero wala na. Ayan na eh.

2. Have it edited

Iba yung self-editing mo. Dapat may iba pa ring mage-edit. Hindi lang grammar at spelling at word usage ang kailangan i-check. Eto rin:

- Facts. So may scene na hinabol sa airport. Saang airport? Pwede ba yon? Hindi ba kailangan ng ticket? Hindi ba kailangan ng security ceck? Kung may biglang lipad to London: So may visa siya? Pano nakuha? Kailan kinuha? Was there enough time between one scene, the flight, and the arrival?

- Logic. Do the actions of the characters make sense? Do they follow real-world rules or consequences? Alam mo bang pag sinabi ng babae o lalaki na "No" o "Huwag" at hinalikan pa rin siya, harrassment na ito? Rape? Abuse? Alam mo bang pag under the influence ng alcohol o drugs at may nangyari, pwedeng sabihing walang consent? Ito ba ay romantic, o dapat ihabla?

Ipagpalagay nating hindi sumusunod sa facts at logic ang events ng kwento mo. So what? Fiction naman. Trabaho pa rin ng editor mo (kasi iba ang trabaho niya from you as writer) to point this out. As self-publisher, pwede mo namang hindi sundin ang comment niya. Pero responsibilidad niya na i-comment ito. At responsibilidad mo rin na maghanda para sa magiging comment ng reader, pag hindi mo sinunod ang editor's comment.

3. Design your book

Sundin ang rules of copyright at intellectual property pag gumagawa ng book cover. Pinaka-safe ang magpagawa ng original na cover art.

4. Printing

Maghanap ng printer na naaayon sa goals mo. Ilang copies? Anong price point? Anong quality?

5. Distribution

Paano ng buyer makukuha ang book? Meetup? Shipping? Para sa akin pinakamadali ang shipping. (Trust me, mas malaki ang gastos kung meetup pa tayo. Pamasahe pa lang. Kakain ka pa. Kung sa mall tayo, mapapa-shopping ka pa.)