Self Publishing Events Tips
Read these 3 Self Publishing Events Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Self Publishing tips and hundreds of other topics.
Enter Writing Contests to Promote Your Self-Published Book
So you’ve finally published your book and now you want some affirmation of your skills. Why not enter a contest for self-published authors? You have a chance to promote your book, get some positive feedback, and best of all, you might win!
When you submit a book to a self-publishing contest, there are a couple of important things to remember.
1. Make sure your book is edited well and error-free. These contests are very competitive. Don’t waste your money submitting a book that isn’t ready.
2. Be careful where you submit your manuscript. There are many contests out there – not all are legitimate. Contests sponsored by major, well-known organizations, major academic institutions and not-for-profits tend to be legitimate. Some states even have good self-publishing contests. If the contest requires huge fees, is offered by a marketing agency, or requires extensive personal information, back out.
3. Find the contest that's right for you and your book. Here are some great places to submit your work:
Writers Digest has a prestigious contest with many categories for self-published authors, though they specifically require hard copies. The best part of this contest is even if you don’t win, you’ll get a thorough reviewer evaluation.
The Next Generation Indie Book Awards are available for self-published authors to enter. This Not-For-Profit program has over 60 categories available, including e-book fiction and e-book nonfiction. To enter go to their website and review the rules carefully.
The Eric Hoffer Award honors “the independent spirit of small publishers,” including self-publishers. This organization encourages self-published authors to submit within two years of publication.
Remember, winning or even placing in these contests is great promotion for your book!
How to Find the Best Self-Publishing Education Online
The world of self-publishing has opened up opportunities for millions of writers all over the world. Since there is no publishing house gatekeeper, and the barriers to entry are low, almost anybody can get their book published in either electronic or printed formats. However, you might need a little bit of help to get started, so an online class or webinar might be helpful, convenient, and provide just the right information that you need to get your fiction or non-fiction book published.
Go Directly to Publishing Platforms
You can hardly think about self-publishing without thinking of the platforms and tools that Amazon provides with CreateSpace and Kindle Direct Publishing. You can use CreateSpace to publish physical books that can be printed on demand. KDP is for publishers who want to sell electronic versions of their books on Amazon.
Both of these platforms provide helpful online guides with all of the basic information that you will need to turn your document into a book, and you can access them for free. Of course, other self-publishing platforms also provide good online classes and guides, but Amazon is the busiest provider in this niche.
Writer's Market Publications
Writer's market guides like Writer's Digest help authors find a market for their books. In the past, that mostly consisted of listing publishers who were interested in publishing books and articles. However, Writer's Digest has expanded to include the booming self-publishing market. The company provides many different online classes for writers who want to know how to create and market their work.
How to Find the Best Self-Publishing Conventions
They say that to succeed in any endeavor that you must surround yourself with knowledgeable experts who are doing things that are similar to what you want to be doing and who can be helpful and encouraging while also providing constructive feedback.
You can meet these people and maintain lifelong friendships with those who are in the field you wish to go into by connecting with them at self-publishing and writing conferences. Here are some amazing self-publishing conferences that you will not want to miss out on.
London Author Fair
Held at The Hospital Club in Convent Garden London, the London Author Fair hosts over 400- authors from all over for workshops, seminars and one-on-one collaborator hubs.
Publishing for Digital Minds
Held at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster, this event will be important for those who are serious about harnessing technology and entering into the new world of digital publishing.
What Works? Education Conference
The What Works? conference in London will be a place for the great minds to get together and discuss how technology can best be implemented in innovative ways to help education become more effective.
PubSmart-Con
Held in Charleston, South Carolina, the PubSmart-Con will be a gathering of some of the greatest minds in the field, this event will help you stay on the forefront of the some of the most innovative practices and changes going on in the publishing world.
Grub Street's The Muse and the Marketplace Conference
This Boston-based conference goes on for three full days. Get ready for amazing seminars and sessions led by the best authors, editors and agents from around the country.
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| Candi Wingate |
