Whether you choose to self-publish or go a more traditional route, you’ll most likely want to put your fiction books in ebook form. Amazon is the largest and best-known book-seller on the internet right now, making Kindle publishing an ideal platform for authors to get their books found by their ideal readers. Better yet: it offers a real way for self-published authors to make real money – and it costs you nothing but time if you do it all yourself. There’s no fee for you to publish and your creation is on a very popular, highly-trafficked website filled with buyers.
What could be better? In this post, I’m sharing the top five tips for Kindle publishing.
Tip #1: Understand the Long Term Commitment You’ll Be Making
Some people mistakenly believe they can write a quick book and stick it up on Amazon, walk away and it will magically help them earn cash for years to come. Sadly, unless you get lucky, it won’t work that way.
If you want to do this right, you have to realize that you need to be committed to first creating something that people want to read – and then, to promoting this creation.
If you’re self-publishing, you won’t have a publishing team or marketing advisors – it all rests on your shoulders. This tip is especially important when considering your topic choices. You don’t want to pick a topic you really have no interest in, just because you think it might make a lot of sales. You’ll be immersed in this topic for awhile, so it needs to be something you enjoy.
Tip #2 – Don’t Worry About Page Count
Some people get so hung up on page count that they find themselves stuck in the middle of their product creation. Here’s all you need to know about page count – Amazon allows it all!
You can have very short stories or extremely long ones. The key is to write what needs to be said. Don’t add a bunch of fluff and filler into the book just to stretch it out because you’ll bore your audience. And don’t scrimp on important details because you feel like it needs to be cut down in size.
Tip #3 – Have Someone Proofread Your Book
You don’t have to be a Pulitzer Prize winner, but if you don’t have a decent grasp of the English language, then it’s nice to have someone spiff up your spelling and grammar so that it doesn’t become an obstacle for your readers. Our site editor offers professional editing and proofreading services, or you can look at sites like Fiverr.com for lower-cost options.
Tip #4 – Get a Handle on Formatting
Some people are scared to death of formatting on Kindle. They’ve read comments on books with a lower star rating, based solely on the fact that the formatting was a nightmare. The truth is that it’s fairly simple, and with the recent release of the new Kindle publishing tool, even easier. Fiverr.com has several really great book formatters too.
Tip #5 – Don’t Try Gaming the System
Some unethical teachers are urging Kindle authors to buy reviews and fake positive feedback. This is so unnecessary – and if Amazon finds out you’re doing it, it will penalize you or even forbid you from continuing to use the platform. Just don’t do it! Instead, encourage dedicated readers to leave feedback, and you can certainly urge them to share their thoughts on whatever website you link them to in the back of the book, like a blog or Facebook Fan Page, for example.
Kindle is a wonderful opportunity for self-made authors to break into the publishing world. You no longer have to worry about securing an agent, getting accepted by a publisher, and adhering to rules others make up for your content. You get to put something out there that represents you – and it offers an endless opportunity.
