I don't know about you, but I've always had trouble thinking of myself as a writer. I think part of this is because most of my books are available in digital, audio, and paperback formats. I don't know about you, but when I was growing up, you weren't a writer until your book was available in a hardbound edition.
For those of you who don't remember back before eBooks hit the scene, traditional publishers would release hardbound editions first. Then six months or a year later after sales had slowed down enough and they had milked the hardbound edition for all they could, they would release the paperback edition. It was a long wait, but for the monetarily challenged there weren't many other choices. You could join a book club, and grab the free volumes they offered. Or, you could visit the library. But, most times, it was just a long wait, hoping the new Stephen King or David Morrell novels would hit the paperback stands.
I know I was excited when my first paperbacks were printed up, and I could finally grab hold of one of my books. Thank you Create Space. But, even that wasn't enough to convince me I was a real writer. I still kept thinking you haven't made it until you've got a hardbound book.
Well, I finally took the leap today and did it.
I printed two of my books in the hardbound edition on Lulu. I haven't seen them yet, but they should be in my hands within two weeks, and that's the day I'll know it's official. I'm a writer.
In a way it's funny, we all set certain goals that let us know we made it.
I've sold over twenty thousand Kindle books in the last year and a half, thousands of paperbacks, and close to a thousand more audio books. Yet for me, success is seeing my books in a hardback edition.
How about you?
What goals did you set for yourself that would finally let you know you were a real writer? Was it selling your first Kindle book? Selling a thousand Kindle books? Making a hundred grand in royalties?
We're all different. And we all aspire to different things, and I think that's good.
Anyway, if a hardbound book is in your future, I'll try and get a tutorial up in the next week or two to guide you through the process of creating one on Lulu. Most of it's pretty easy, but designing that dust jacket almost did me in.
Hopefully, I'll be able to save you some time, and a whole lot of frustration.
For those of you who don't remember back before eBooks hit the scene, traditional publishers would release hardbound editions first. Then six months or a year later after sales had slowed down enough and they had milked the hardbound edition for all they could, they would release the paperback edition. It was a long wait, but for the monetarily challenged there weren't many other choices. You could join a book club, and grab the free volumes they offered. Or, you could visit the library. But, most times, it was just a long wait, hoping the new Stephen King or David Morrell novels would hit the paperback stands.
I know I was excited when my first paperbacks were printed up, and I could finally grab hold of one of my books. Thank you Create Space. But, even that wasn't enough to convince me I was a real writer. I still kept thinking you haven't made it until you've got a hardbound book.
 |
| The final dust jacket design for eBay 2014 |
I printed two of my books in the hardbound edition on Lulu. I haven't seen them yet, but they should be in my hands within two weeks, and that's the day I'll know it's official. I'm a writer.
In a way it's funny, we all set certain goals that let us know we made it.
I've sold over twenty thousand Kindle books in the last year and a half, thousands of paperbacks, and close to a thousand more audio books. Yet for me, success is seeing my books in a hardback edition.
How about you?
What goals did you set for yourself that would finally let you know you were a real writer? Was it selling your first Kindle book? Selling a thousand Kindle books? Making a hundred grand in royalties?
We're all different. And we all aspire to different things, and I think that's good.
Anyway, if a hardbound book is in your future, I'll try and get a tutorial up in the next week or two to guide you through the process of creating one on Lulu. Most of it's pretty easy, but designing that dust jacket almost did me in.
Hopefully, I'll be able to save you some time, and a whole lot of frustration.
 |
| Final dust jacket for Sell it Online (I designed these with Lulu's cover creator) |
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