-
Self-Publishing Format Pros & Cons
Self-publishing format options are now starting to rival those of traditional publishers although the quality and availability of the products are still somewhat lacking. In this post, I will describe the book format options that are readily available to self-publishers and list the pros and cons of each. For the purposes of this article, I will consider the options offered through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) program. Why KDP when there are other alternatives out there? Two reasons: It is the platform that I use and Amazon is a massive marketplace for your books. Kindle eBook Although the format is proprietary, Amazon has sold somewhere between 25 and 100 million…
-
To Publish or Self-Publish, That is the Question
So, you’ve written a novel… Now, what do you do? I have to assume that your goal is to have it read, but how do you get it out to the masses? Do you blast your manuscript off to publishing houses or go the self-publishing route? In this post, I will go over the pros and cons of both options. Publisher A person or company that prepares and issues books, journals, music, or other works for sale. Self-Publisher A person (author) who publishes (a book) using their own resources. When you sign a deal with a publishing house, your work (other than some possible editing) is done. Your publisher will…
-
KDP Offers Case Laminate Hardcovers
In 2021, Amazon added case laminate hardcover book publishing through their Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) website. Previously, KDP only offered eBook and paperback formats. This new format addition is pretty amazing for self-published authors using KDP and you can now offer your readers a nice hardcover option for your books. I highly recommend using KDP if you are trying to self-publish and sell your works. As you would expect from Amazon, the tools are all-inclusive with a vast amount of resources to help you design, format, upload, and market your book on Amazon and beyond. It does take some time to get used to their process, which requires a lot…
-
Welcome to Maxwell’s Silver Quill…
Maxwell’s Silver Quill is a writer’s blog by David Maxwell, Amazon and Readers’ Favorite 5-star rated self-published author. In this active blog, I will be writing about my trials, tribulations, and triumphs in becoming a successful science-fiction and thriller novelist. My intent is to provide thoughtful and useful content to aspiring authors, avid readers, and struggling self-publishers. In addition to instruction videos and insightful articles, I will share detailed descriptions of my adventures in world travel as an author as well as snippets from my works and the occasional short story. By visiting my blog regularly you will learn the ins-and-outs of self-publishing (how to use Scrivener to create your…