Marketing Strategy: Enlist a Pre-Release Team

By Julie Musil, @juliemusil

Part of the Indie Author Series

My latest book, Bound by the Heart, released last month. Hooray! I tried something new this time, which is always fun as an indie author. Instead of doing a blog tour, which mainly targets other writers, I enlisted a “pre-release” team consisting of family and friends.

The idea was to garner some reviews before the actual release date, which makes the book more visible on Amazon, which exposes it to a wider audience.

Share--Don’t Waste--Your Talent

By Julie Musil, @juliemusil

Part of the Indie Author Series 

 Let’s play the “what if” game, shall we?

What if John Newton, author of the beloved hymn Amazing Grace, kept his thoughts and words to himself? What if he read through those pages, called himself a fool, and then ripped them to pieces?

What if Steve Jobs kept his ideas to himself? What if he tinkered in his garage, creating gadgets that made his own life better, but never summoned the courage to put them on the open market?

Is the Indie Gold Rush Over? Does it Matter?

By Julie Musil, @juliemusil

Part of the Indie Author Series 

In December of 2015, Mark Coker of Smashwords wrote 2016 Book Publishing Industry Predictions: Myriad Opportunities amid a Slow Growth Environment. The full article is lengthy but fascinating.

One of the points he makes is this: “Many indies and traditional publishers alike reported flat or lower sales in 2015. The go-go days of exponential ebook market growth of the early days (2008-2012) are over.”

Does that statement strike fear in your heart?

Prestigious Institutions: Always In Your Best Interest?

By Julie Musil, @juliemusil

Part of the Indie Author Series  

I’m reading a fascinating book--David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell. The subtitle says a whole lot: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants. Yes, it tells the familiar story of David and Goliath, but it takes a different approach. It tells how the very thing that makes a giant a giant might also be their weakness.

In one chapter, the author tells the story of the Impressionist artists who birthed Impressionism. Wikipedia describes Impressionism as “a 19th-century art movement that originated with a group of Paris-based artists whose independent exhibitions brought them to prominence during the 1870s and 1880s.”

Indies...Best Bosses Ever!

By Julie Musil, @juliemusil

Part of the Indie Author Series

When preparing to write this post, I thought, heck, I’m so not in a position to write a post about indie publishing right now. Why? I’ve been a slacker indie author.

My next book has been through one round with the freelance editor. I spent a mini writing retreat at the beginning of summer attacking the editor’s notes with vigor. I’ve even started the cover design process. But since then, it’s been crickets in my writing life.

Between my son’s graduation and upcoming departure for college, my being chaperone on a teen music tour, and family vacation, things have been hectic.

Indie Authors: Permission Not Necessary

By Julie Musil, @juliemusil

Part of the Indie Author Series

I was having a conversation with a traditionally published author, and each time I brought up a question or idea, her reply was, “I’ll have to ask my publisher.”

As an indie author, that concept has become foreign to me. I used to say, “I’ll have to ask my agent.” But now that I’ve jumped into independent waters, I appreciate how I don’t have to begin sentences with, “I’ll have to ask...”

Indie Authors as Global Enterprises

By Julie Musil, @juliemusil

Part of the Indie Author Series

I listened to an excellent interview between Joanna Penn, of The Creative Penn blog, and Mark McGuinness, poet and non-fiction author. The entire post about How to Make a Living as an Author is worth a read. There are lots of eye-opening nuggets in there.

Mark McGuinness encourages authors to, “stop thinking like needy artists or freelancers living hand to mouth, and start thinking and acting like creative entrepreneurs.” And Joanna Penn points out that, “...it’s a viable business now, to be an author.” Think of it this way: If you publish your work on all of the available platforms, you are now a global enterprise.

Podcasts for Indie Authors

By Julie Musil, @juliemusil

Part of the Indie Author Series

Whether you’re pursuing the traditional path, or venturing into indie publishing, podcasts are an excellent way for writers to learn while on the go. Podcast topics range from the writing craft, to marketing, to new trends in the industry, and so much more.

New to podcasts? Here's what you do:

• Go to Stitcher.com or download the free Stitcher app from the app store (these same podcasts are available on iTunes)
•  Create a Stitcher account
• Browse shows based on your interests (publishing, writing children's books, current events, whatever)
• Sift through the many choices (I typed in "Indie Publishing" and over 500 shows popped up)
• Add interesting shows to your list
• When you're ready to listen, download a show and play

The F-Word: Tackling the Nitty Gritty of Formatting

By Julie Musil, @juliemusil

Part of the Indie Author Series 

I was having lunch with a writer friend who plans to self publish a series. Of all the indie tasks, she was most overwhelmed by the dreaded F-Word. Formatting.

Believe me, I understand. I’d worried most about this as well. But now that I have two books out in the universe, I’ve come to realize that formatting is really simple.

If you’re trying to decide whether to format your own books or hire a freelancer, check out Understanding Your Ebook Formatting Options on this site by Marcy Kennedy.

How to Prep for Author Events

By Julie Musil, @juliemusil

Part of the Indie Author Series

Author events are fun for traditionally published authors and indie authors alike. Most readers don’t care who published a book, they simply care about a good story. Author events are a great way to connect with the reading public.

When participating in an author showcase or book signing, it’s smart to think ahead.

Here are some prep tips:

Create a print book. If you haven’t already done it, I’d highly recommend making your book available in print. I wrote a blog post here at Fiction University outlining why I think print books are necessary in the digital age. Author events are one of the main reasons.

10 Tips for Shooting Your Own Cover Photo

By Julie Musil, @juliemusil

Part of the Indie Author Series

When Jeff Fielder created my cover for The Boy Who Loved Fire, he used stock images. When it came time to design the cover for my next release, The Summer of Crossing Lines, we hit a roadblock.

My protagonist infiltrates a theft ring and crosses moral lines. I envisioned a teen boy and girl...plus police tape. Try searching for that on stock photo sites, and you’ll see some strange images. Seriously. None of it worked for me. While my designer explored other options, I worked to create the image I saw in my head.

Marketing Strategy: The Next Book

By Julie Musil, @juliemusil

Part of the Indie Author Series

I released my book at the end of January. It was an exciting, busy time. Shortly after the release, I felt a flood of emotions: elation, anxiety, fear. My book was released! Hooray! Then I thought, now what?

I had two choices. 1) Market my book to death, or 2) Work on the next book.

Easy choice. I began working on my next book, which was on draft #9. I dove back into edits, using helpful craft books like Fire Up Your Fiction and The Word Loss Diet. I sent it off to my freelance editor. I connected with my cover designer and began that process.

Are Print Books Necessary in the Digital Age?

By Julie Musil, @juliemusil

Part of the Indie Author Series

When I decided to indie publish The Boy Who Loved Fire, I knew I’d create a print version. I adore print books, and many people I know still don’t own e-readers. Heck, I just got my own Kindle last year.

As more writers venture into the indie jungle, many may wonder Are print books necessary in the digital age?

Necessary? No. Worth it? Absolutely.

Here are several reasons why it’s worth your time and effort to create a print book:

Lessons Learned from Self-Publishing

By Julie Musil, @juliemusil

Part of the Indie Author Series

Wouldn’t it be grand if we could do things perfectly the first time? No bad first dates, no awkward photos, no bad hair days. The reality is, sometimes things work well the first time around—sometimes...not so much.

My YA novel, The Boy Who Loved Fire, recently made its way into the real world. *gulp* It’s now in the hands of readers, which is thrilling and terrifying at the same time. As I move on from this project to the next, I’m reflecting on what lessons I learned from the process. Today I’ll share with you two lists: what I did right, and what I could do better next time.