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Biggest DIY indie publishing mistakes.

Biggest DIY indie publishing mistakes.

IMPORTANT NOTE: THE BOOKS USED IN CASE STUDIES HERE ARE NOT GREEN HILL PRODUCTS

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The Hall of Shame

Image of bad self-published books

The secret Green Hill Publishing Hall of Shame collection of very bad books

Many self publishers or indie authors have genuine talent. But as a self-publishing company that’s mission is to help indie authors publish in a professional manner, we regularly get some grotesque examples of things that have gone terribly wrong. Some of these books have been produced by UK, North American or Australian fee for service companies  (similar  to Green Hill Publishing but often charging outrageous fees to their unsuspecting victims). Others have been wholly put together by the author themselves.

Ironically many of these authors come to us with a request for us to help market the book with the objective of generating sales revenue. Our advice is fairly standard:

    • the book will not sell to potential readers or not be considered by retailers
    • the cover design is poor (often terrible)
    • the typesetting is amateurish
    • the print is sub-standard or faulty and/or the price of print is far too high

Often the result of this feedback is that the authors are offended, sometimes angry. We are never able to help market these books because they are not appealing to readers and retailers can smell a poor book a mile off. To be able to market a book a lot of “ducks need to be in a row” – several elements need to be just right. Some of these elements are visible. like print quality, book cover design and typography. Others are invisible like the strength of the book concept/story, the quality of writing/editing, metadata and online findability.

Our studio/office has a special secret section called the Hall of Shame – a collection of the worst possible books that authors have asked us to market.

In a few instances where the authors ask us to fix their books,  unfortunately the scenario has been along these lines:

‘That’s is a a very good costing. But the US company I used charged two and a half times as much and I simply don’t have a lot of money left. Can you do it for free?’

 

Contents

1. Print botches
2. Gutter loss
3. Bizarre page structure
4. Wrong or draft manuscript used to layout book
5. An unprofessional self-publishing company

1. Print botches 

Botched print job

Oops… the printer has accidentally inserted some blank pages throughout the book and the poor author has tried to tear them out.

There are a few scenarios when it comes to self-publishers doing poorly in the area of getting their books printed. Book printing is a specialised craft and many printers simply don’t have the equipment to print in quality at a good price. Often self-publishers will walk into a printer that they have noticed passing on their morning commute. If the printer doesn’t have the equipment they might secretly pass it to another company. Or they might do it themself. They might do it themselves and it might be poor.

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2. Gutter loss

Book with gutter loss

Book with gutter loss.

We’ve seen this so many times and it makes the book look silly. Not only that, its impossible to read. Gutter loss is where the interior typesetting does not allow enough space in the inside margins. When the book is bound some of the text is obscured. More about gutter loss: Printmybookaustralia.com.au

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3. Bizarre page structure

Strange page set up with two blank facing pages

Weird blank pages and odd setup.

We’ve seen books with very unusual structure – the order of the various sections – often reinvented by the author themselves. The problem with this approach is that the reader can be easily confused. Book publishing has benefited from the structure of books being codified or defined over centuries. Everything has its place and this standardisation helps readers navigate through a book with familiar ease. One author presented their book with the Author Biography at the front of the book reasoning that ‘people won’t be that interested in the book but they should be interested in me.’

We recommend any author with ‘new innovative’ page ideas should first have a look at the New Hart’s Rules – The Oxford Style Guide. For over a hundred years, Hart’s Rules has been the authority on formatting of publications, but we see authors doing their very first book somehow knowing better. The result is invariably a weird and unprofessional book.

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4. Wrong or draft manuscript used

Book that has used the wrong manuscript.

Publisher gave wrong manuscript to the printer

We’ve got many examples of botched books that have been designed and printed using the wrong manuscript or artwork. Usually the affected author is indignant that the book contained the old manuscript (which is normally littered with errors). We ask ‘how did the book producer get the old manuscript?’ and the answer invariably is ‘I sent it to them’. What normally happens is a disorganised author will send numerous versions of the manuscript with the same file name. Should a print error come as a surprise? In this instance the publisher blamed the printer… “our printer has made a terrible mistake”.

In the instance at left the author sent numerous different PDF files (all supposedly ‘finished art’ exported from Word) to the printer and the printer should have used the 5th one sent not the 6th one. In total the printer was sent over 50 emails over a 7 month period. The author remarked to us “I sent so many emails, and they still got it wrong”. Obviously the author took no responsibility for the chaos they had created. And it seems they didn’t even examine the proof copy provided before the big print run. The result – an embarrassing book filled with several hundred terrible spelling and grammatical mistakes.

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5. An unprofessional self-publishing company

A self-publishing company’s own book where they ignore their own poorly written advice.

Aspiring authors who decide they need help often seek a fee for service self-publishing company. The problem is the internet is littered with scammers, mediocrity, underpowered start-ups, small scale 1-2 person companies who don’t have specialists, graphic designers posing as publishers and aggressive marketers who are based in North America and use designers in Bangladesh and call centres in the Philipines.

Here is a book put out by a somewhat genuine Australian start-up who quite obviously have little expertise. Their own book on how to self-publish is one of the most poorly written and designed books we’ve ever seen. An author who was a victim of the company, gave this to us incredulous that they promised so much and delivered so little.  The language is poor and mistakes overt – but the very ‘green’  inexperienced author fell for it not being able to see the shortcomings.

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SUBMIT YOUR BOOK DETAILS
CALL US 1300 810 131

Featured Blog Posts:

Featured Blog Posts

Interested in publishing your book but unsure where to start or what is even involved? Tell us about your project and we will post you a copy of our:

 

The Little Book of
Big Publishing Tips.

 

In just a quick 8,000 words, this little book will equip you with the knowledge you need to successfully publish your book.

The Little Book of Big Publishing tips goes into the essentials of self-publishing a book, outlining the business and financial side of publishing, legal issues, design, editing, sales and marketing. There's even a section on how to identify a vanity-publishing scam.

submit your project details

Why Manuscript Styling Matters (and How It Helps the Process)

Why Manuscript Styling Matters (and How It Helps the Process)

‘Do I really need to style my manuscript?’

Many authors ask this question and the answer is simply, but emphatically, YES! Manuscript styling expediates the process of publishing your book. Publishing consists of many dynamic parts, and streamlining even one can positively affect your timeline. Of course, ensuring that the content of your book is laid out in a logical and readable manner is the largest and most time-consuming of those components, and can be unique to each project, so it makes sense that manuscript styling falls to the author.

Contents

1. How Manuscript Styling Makes Publishing Smoother
2. Style Hierarchy Helps Communicate Structure
3. Don’t Panic: Styling Doesn’t Mean “Perfect”
4. Where to Start with Manuscript Styling
5. Final Thoughts: Great Books Start with Great Preparation

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1. How Manuscript Styling Makes Publishing Smoother

After your manuscript is submitted, our designers need to arrange the manuscript in a specific style, including how the text appears on the page, spacing, fonts, and the placement of images. The goal of this is to make the book easy to read and visually appealing to the reader.

The technical aspects are critical to the visual layout of the content and will vary according to the length of the book, genre, and even print format. These aspects also influence how the typesetters (designers) will determine the trim size (book size), the margins (how much white space is visible around the text), and the font’s typeface and size. However, many other technical matters must be taken into consideration, to—very importantly—invoke the intended mood of the book using the setting, period, and theme.

While typesetters seem to perform magic, They Are Not Mind Readers. Without those styling indicators, it can be difficult for them to tell what should be a heading, a subheading, quotations, or regular text. Without clear and consistent styling, the typesetter’s manual workload is increased, therefore increasing the time typesetting takes and prolonging your project.

Green Hill Publishing provides a Word template for you to copy and paste your manuscript into and style to your preferences. With even basic Word styling to start with, then application of the Green Hill template, the document mapping and typesetting processes will be more refined, saving time and getting your book ready for printing and distribution quicker.

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2. Style Hierarchy Helps Communicate Structure

Why does Hierarchy matter? In short, organising your content into levels of importance, or hierarchy, gives readers a clear sense of the flow of the book. Headings and subheadings are especially helpful cues for both your designer and your readers. Defined structure helps designers produce a more polished and accurate layout.

Readers will benefit from understanding what you have written and what has been quoted from another source, what is regular text and what you wish to emphasise, and so on. Without styling, all content will blend together. There are some Hidden Benefits to styling your manuscript, such as improving accessibility, making revisions quicker and easier, and significantly speeding up the typesetting processes.

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3. Don’t Panic: Styling Doesn’t Mean “Perfect”

Perfection is not the aim here. Smoothing out the process is.

Obviously, aiming for perfection and even styling as you go could stifle your creative rhythm. For that reason, focus on getting those words out on the page, expressing yourself, and enjoying it as you do it. There will be time for styling and re-drafting once you have transformed your thoughts and ideas into content.

Also, you really don’t need to be a wizard with Microsoft Word. Have a play around with the Styles pane at the top of the Home tab in Word, and search YouTube for beginner tutorials. It can be fun!

After your manuscript has been formatted, it may look quite different but don’t panic, the designers will go back to your original to determine your intended layout, and there will be opportunities to discuss.

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4. Where to Start with Manuscript Styling

The steps for styling your manuscript:

  • Experiment with the Styles pane in Word.
  • Watch some tutorials on YouTube.
  • Apply basic Word styles to your manuscript such as Heading 1, Heading 2, Normal, etc.
  • Download and use the Green Hill Template.
  • Reach out to support@greenhillpublishing.com.au if you have questions about styling.

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5. Final Thoughts: Great Books Start with Great Preparation

No one wants to limit your creativity or change your message. That is not the purpose of styling.

Green Hill Publishing are here to help bring your vision to life, and making sure that the process runs as smoothly as possible, and consequently ensuring it happens quicker.

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SUBMIT YOUR BOOK DETAILS
CALL US 1300 810 131

Featured Blog Posts:

Featured Blog Posts

Interested in publishing your book but unsure where to start or what is even involved? Tell us about your project and we will post you a copy of our:

 

The Little Book of
Big Publishing Tips.

 

In just a quick 8,000 words, this little book will equip you with the knowledge you need to successfully publish your book.

The Little Book of Big Publishing tips goes into the essentials of self-publishing a book, outlining the business and financial side of publishing, legal issues, design, editing, sales and marketing. There's even a section on how to identify a vanity-publishing scam.

submit your project details

Is self-publishing a fantasy novel viable?

Is self-publishing a fantasy novel viable?

Self-publishing isn’t just for memoirs and family histories – it’s a fantastic option for fantasy novels, too! It offers a direct way for authors to share their unique and imaginative stories no matter how niche or controversial their topics may be.

Contents

1. Why self-publishing works so well for fantasy
2. Recent success stories in self-published fantasy
3. Tips for self-publishing your fantasy novel
4. Marketing strategies for self-published fantasy novels

clock - estimated reading time  Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

1. Why self-publishing works so well for fantasy

Self-publishing offers a fantastic opportunity for fantasy authors. This approach is not just viable; it also provides numerous advantages. Let’s explore some reasons why:

 

1.1 Control over series-potential and world-building

Fantasy writing emphasises detailed world-building and character development across multiple books. As a self-published author, you have complete control! You decide the length of your series, control the pacing, and bring your creative vision to life without restrictions.

Unlike traditional publishers that often impose limits on series length and story changes, self-publishing lets you carve your own path. Picture creating a vast fantasy realm filled with rich histories and diverse cultures. Self-publishing empowers you to connect every aspect of your story seamlessly, keeping readers captivated by your attention to detail.

Creating a series of fantasy book over a standalone also helps build a loyal fan base. Readers love diving into ongoing adventures, and you can keep them engaged with each new release.

 

1.2 Allows you to explore niche or controversial topics

Fantasy literature goes beyond just dragons and wizards; it’s a rich genre that embraces diverse themes and intricate narratives. Self-publishing empowers authors to explore niche or unconventional topics that often don’t fit the traditional publishing mould. Whether you want to blend fantasy with cyberpunk elements, delve into dark, morally complex characters, or explore controversial political themes through a fantasy lens, self-publishing gives you the creative freedom to do so.

This unique ability to break boundaries appeals to readers who are over having fantasy gatekept and instead crave fresh perspectives and original storytelling. Additionally, niche topics often attract dedicated audiences. By engaging with these communities, you can build a loyal readership that champions your work and shares it with others.

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2. Recent success stories in self-published fantasy

Still unsure if self-publishing your fantasy novel is the right choice? Have a look at some inspiring success stories of other fantasy authors who started their journey self-published:

 

2.1 Wight – Cradle Series

Will Wight’s Cradle series shines as a prime example of how self-publishing can achieve massive success. Wight used Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) to launch his epic fantasy series, which were his debut novels. With engaging characters and a captivating storyline, he captured the hearts of fantasy fans worldwide and became a New York Times and Kindle best-selling author.

Wight consistently released new content and actively engaged with his audience on platforms like Reddit. By connecting with readers directly, he built a passionate following eager for each new instalment. The Cradle series consistently ranks high on Amazon’s charts, proving that self-publishing fantasy novels can lead to substantial financial rewards.

 

2.2 Sarah J Maas – Assassin’s Blade Novella

Sarah J. Maas’ Assassin’s Blade novella is a remarkable success in the fantasy genre. While most know her for her more recent achievements in traditional publishing, Maas started out by publishing stories online, independent of any publisher. These stories gained so much readership interest, she later gained a traditional publishing deal for her now-acclaimed debut Throne of Glass series.

This strategic choice allowed her to prove her story’s viability and readership long before a traditional publisher was on the scene.

 

2.3 Rachel Aaron – Heartstrikers Series

Rachel Aaron’s Heartstrikers series is another prime example of successful self-publishing in the fantasy genre. By taking control of her writing career through self-publishing, Aaron created a captivating urban fantasy world filled with dragons, magic, and intricate plots. Her commitment to high-quality storytelling and effective marketing strategies built a loyal fan base and earned a host of positive reviews on platforms like Goodreads.

The Heartstrikers series not only showcases Aaron’s talent but also highlights the growing opportunities for self-published authors in today’s competitive market. This success story shows how writers can carve out their niche, engage readers, and thrive as independent authors.

 

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3. Tips for self-publishing your fantasy novel

 

3.1 Invest in detailed world-building

World-building is the backbone of any fantasy novel. Readers crave rich, immersive environments they can lose themselves in. Take the time to flesh out your world’s history, geography, cultures, and magic systems. However, consistency is key – ensure your world adheres to its own rules and logic.

Investing in world-building not only enhances your story’s depth but also lays the foundation for future instalments. Readers who connect with your world will eagerly anticipate returning to it with each new book.

 

3.2 Get an eye-catching cover and well-made book interior

Never underestimate the importance of a captivating book cover in attracting readers. Your book cover is more often than not a reader’s first impression of you and your book, making it a crucial marketing tool. Collaborating with a talented and experienced book cover designer who understands the nuances of the fantasy genre can greatly enhance your cover’s appeal.

A well-designed cover should effectively convey the essence of your story and align with genre expectations without trying to say too much. Simple yet effective covers are best.

For the interior, there is more to it than simply putting words on a page. Typesetting and interior book design play essential roles in not only making your book attractive, but also in making your book an enjoyable reading experience and conveying quality and professionalism.

 

3.3 Use series potential to attract long-term fans

Fantasy storytelling thrives on epic sagas and interconnected narratives. To maximise your success, plan your book series from the very beginning. Create a detailed roadmap that outlines the main plot, character development, and key events. This strategic foresight helps you plant the seeds of foreshadowing for future instalments, keeping readers engaged and eager for more.

 

3.4 Build your community with genre-focused marketing

Engage with your audience by establishing a strong online presence – your author platform. Using your author platforms, join fantasy-themed forums, subreddits, and social media groups to interact with fans. On your own accounts and author website, share valuable insights into your writing process, offer behind-the-scenes glimpses, and provide sneak peeks of upcoming book releases.

Doing all of this promotes community interaction and loyalty, fostering a sense of belonging for readers. The more engaged your audience is, the more likely they are to promote your novels and keep coming back for future editions and sequels.

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4. Marketing strategies for self-published fantasy novels

Writing a captivating novel is just the beginning; effective book marketing plays a crucial role in reaching a larger audience. By using marketing strategies, authors can significantly boost their visibility and connect with readers, maximising their book’s reach in today’s competitive literary market.

 

4.1 Create a visual presence on social media

Visual content reigns supreme on social media. To effectively engage your audience, use eye-catching graphics, stunning book covers, captivating character art, and engaging videos. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are perfect for showcasing your fantasy world with visually appealing content. You can use interactive posts, polls, and Q&A sessions to boost engagement as well, generating interest and readership loyalty.

Be sure to regularly share updates on your writing process and upcoming book releases. The key to keeping readers excited about your work is to establish a strong, consistent, and appealing author brand across your platforms.

 

4.2 Leverage Kindle Unlimited (KU) for extra visibility on your eBook

Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited (KU) program offers a fantastic opportunity for self-published authors to boost their book’s visibility. By enrolling in Kindle Unlimited, authors let readers access their eBooks for free through a subscription service, significantly broadening their audience reach.

Participating in the KU program can also improve your book’s ranking on Amazon’s bestseller charts, making it more visible to potential buyers. This extensive reach introduces your work to new readers who might not have discovered it otherwise, ultimately increasing your book sales and loyal readership.

 

4.3 Connect with fantasy bloggers and Bookstagrammers

Contacting influencers in the fantasy community is a powerful way to boost your book’s visibility, allowing you to tap into their dedicated followers who value their recommendations. To get started, be sure to do your research to ensure the reviewer or influencer aligns to your marketing needs (there isn’t much use sending a fantasy novel to someone who only reviews non-fiction books!). When you’ve received interest and approval, then you can organise sending out review copies of your book to them or participate in author interviews and features on their platforms.

These collaborations often lead to increased exposure, positive reviews, and a growing readership. In turn, this helps to enhance your credibility as a self-published author and connect you with a larger audience who are passionate about fantasy novels.

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SUBMIT YOUR BOOK DETAILS
CALL US 1300 810 131

Featured Blog Posts:

Featured Blog Posts

Interested in publishing your book but unsure where to start or what is even involved? Tell us about your project and we will post you a copy of our:

 

The Little Book of
Big Publishing Tips.

 

In just a quick 8,000 words, this little book will equip you with the knowledge you need to successfully publish your book.

The Little Book of Big Publishing tips goes into the essentials of self-publishing a book, outlining the business and financial side of publishing, legal issues, design, editing, sales and marketing. There's even a section on how to identify a vanity-publishing scam.

submit your project details