Adventures in Publishing on Amazon

Step ONE: By far the most important: START!

I started writing Souls Of War while I was non weight-bearing, after my leg fracture. (Never wear 4 year old Walmart flip flops in Wyoming on black ice covered metal porches while feeding feral cats...just a tip) I worked on it off and on for over two and a half years. My longest dry spell was over a year of nothing added. Working nights really saps your creative energy. That went on for over a year as well, with very little accomplished. Finally got back on day shift and got busy again.

Step Two: Go look at the Kindle Direct Publishing Website

I signed up for their emails over a year before I actually published. I barely skimmed through the home page of the site. I saved all the emails they sent me, thinking, "I'll look at those later." Recently, I was cleaning out my mailbox and started reading the emails from Amazon. After some clicking around, I ended up on the site for the first time since I'd signed up for the emails. I had been planning to go to a writer's conference in NYC. An expensive and, honestly, uncertain way to get published. As I read more and more on the Kindle Direct Publishing Site, I began to formulate a new plan. Really, kind of an old plan, that started to take on new life.

Step Three: If you haven't started...START WRITING!

I used Google Docs because it is free and works pretty well. It's secure. The only way you are going to lose your work is if there is an Apocalypse, and the entire internet crashes. At which time, preservation of your half finished novel, short story, collection of poems, or detailed how to book regarding proper jar opening techniques, is going to be the least of your worries. If you do have the cash lying around, it came factory loaded in your computer, or you want to lay out some dough to motivate yourself: Use Microsoft Word, Office 365.

Here's what I did. Once I got to a good stopping point for the first book, I tried uploading to Kindle Direct from Google Docs. I know there is a way to do it. But, I looked around a while and never saw anything that clearly explained how. And, oddly enough, repeatedly clicking the upload button on the Kindle Direct Publishing website does not work! Weird, I know... I decided the heck with it and got the 30 day free trial for Microsoft Word/Office. It was super easy to upload from Google Docs to that. Also, Microsoft caught some grammatical errors and spelling things that Google and I had missed. There are still some problems in the book. I would highly recommend professional proofreading, if you've got the cash to invest. And, I will be using Microsoft Office from now on. That is my first investment in my business.

Step Four: Nose Around On YouTube

There are Amazon tutorials and innumerable other people's tutorials about publishing to Kindle there. Stay away from the people who are trying to sell you anything. Their videos will waste your time. And, publishing to Amazon is free. Don't get fleeced...you are not a goat. Or, a sheep. Or, a lovely, soft cardigan.

Step Five: Edit, Edit, Edit.

Then, when you're done editing, edit some more. I could not count the times I have combed through this first completed novel. Also, you can't trust the previews shown to you by any of the programs. I previewed before uploading from Microsoft. I previewed before clicking that publishing button on the Kindle Direct website. Everything seemed good. But, when I see my book on my Kindle, the title page and dedication pages are skewed. There are also a few spelling things and such. Other than the first two pages, maybe a half dozen or so spots I need to fix. The good news is, you can go back and edit your book anytime you want. Amazon will just review it again before it is released in the storefront. If you want to invest upfront, I would hire a professional proofreader. I will be doing that at some point, as I can reinvest in the quality of the finished books.

Step Six: Go to Kindle Jump Start

It's all set up to walk you through everything. If you've used Microsoft Office, it should be a breeze. I'm just hitting the highlights for you in this blog.

Step Seven: Click That Upload Button!

JUST DO IT!! Just get there! Get to a good milestone in your work and go for it! Amazon likes for the Kindle books to come in somewhere between 100 and 200 pages. What I had planned to be one novel for the first book in The Path Of Twelve Saga, will now be three books. I will also release in paperback, after I've edited some more.

Step Eight: Design Your Cover!

Kindle Direct has all kinds of pictures and graphics you can use for free. Pick something. Pick your font and your colors and go for it. Again, you can change this at any time.

Step Nine: Price Your Book

The thing is, let's face it...we can't charge $9.99 for our titles...we're not Steven King, or Clive Cussler, for Pete's sake. People, generally, want a quick read that is entertaining, doesn't cost an arm and a leg, and isn't just like the last ten books they read. Set your price accordingly, especially if, like me, you do your own proofreading.

Step Ten: Click that PUBLISH Button!

Try not to freak completely out. Talk to the people who love you. When you disintegrate into ranting that your book is stupid and what were you thinking?? They are less likely to agree with you. At least, I was fortunate enough that no one said anything out loud.

Step Eleven: Tell Everyone

There are probably a lot of people who've listened to you talk about your book. Let them share your milestone. Goodness knows the people who were kind enough to listen to me drone on and on over the years deserve some closure!

This is longer than I planned. But, I hope it helps!