Adam Croft

Despite the increasing popularity of many self-published authors, there is still something of a criticism levelled against many: namely, that books that are independently published aren’t always that good. This critique of lack of quality in self-published work is one we need to take seriously, especially for those of us who are keen to demonstrate that, actually, self-published work is often of a very high standard indeed.

This leads us to the question of what we can do to improve our work and make sure it’s of the highest possible standard before we hit the publish button. Here are 7 quality control checks for independent publishers.

• Careful, in-depth editing is a must. I’m sure this sounds obvious to most people, but diligent editing plays a large part in the quality of all books, self-published or not. Taking the time to get the story just right and every sentence perfected will pay dividends later.
• Several stages of proofreading. You’ll never catch every single mistake first time around, so several stages of proofreading will help to catch all of those little errors that can be so distracting to readers if the make it into the published version of a novel.
• Get someone else to read it before publication. Even if you aren’t going down the route of hiring a professional editor to go over your work, it’s worth getting someone with a critical eye to read it before you publish.
• Be careful with the formatting. Formatting an e-book is different to formatting a book for print – don’t just rely on your existing computer file and a bit of guesswork; researching formatting and taking the time to get it right is certainly worth it.
• Test how the book looks before publishing. If you’re going for the print option, get a sample of the book before you make it available to buy. If you’re going down the e-book route, make sure you test how the work will look on different e-readers and screens.
• See several different cover designs. Don’t just go with the first one you’re offered by your professional designer or tech-minded friend you’ve bribed into helping – a poor cover can put readers off, no matter how good the content inside might be.
• Take your time. No matter how eager you are to get on with the business of independent publishing, don’t rush the writing process. Taking your time to get your book as good as you can get it and understand publishing procedures will have a hugely beneficial impact on the quality of your book when you do eventually come to publish it.

When we talk about the benefits of independent publishing, we often focus on the control it gives to authors, and the way it helps to get many more books out there for people to read. But what about the impact it has on writing? Could independent publishing also help to improve our writing? I think it could. Here are some of the reasons why.

• It encourages diversity. When we’re not constrained by what we think publishers want from books, we can be more creative, which allows us to find our own niches.
• More people are having a go at writing. Before independent publishing started to take off, it’s not too hard to see how some people might have been put off from having a go at getting their work published. Now, many of the barriers to getting work out there have been removed, which is great for encouraging people to have a go – making writing much richer as a result.
• There’s a lot of competition out there. With so many books being self-published as well as traditionally published, there is a need to ensure that anything we put out there is as good as it can possibly be. The competition should encourage us all to become better writers.
• We can draw on professional talent. Even though independent publishing requires us to do a lot of the work ourselves, that doesn’t stop writers from drawing on other resources to help improve our work. Professional editors and proof-readers can help us to think about our work differently, making our novels better in the process.
• We’re entirely responsible for our own success. With independent publishing, you have no one to answer to but yourself. Your writing is what you make of it, and there is often no better incentive to improve than the fact that your success as a writer is entirely down to you.

What do you think? Has independent publishing helped to make you a better writer?

If you have ever self-published anything, you will undoubtedly be aware of the costs involved. There are costs that are mandatory and some that aren’t, and it’s worth being aware of them if you are thinking of going down the independent publishing route.

For example, as self-published books become more professional, one of the costs that many authors would say is mandatory is that of cover design. Most writers aren’t brilliant cover designers, and so buying in the services of someone who is brilliant at it is often inevitable.

Editing is another cost that, for many, is mandatory. Of course, you could decide to do it yourself, but there is a lot to be said for getting someone else to go over your work before it’s published. Whether it’s the cost of buying drinks for your writing group or friends in exchange for making suggestions on your work or the cost of a professional editor, this is one area where it’s worth the investment.

Depending on how you publish your work, there will also be certain unavoidable costs related to publishing it, such as print on demand services if you decide to go down the print route. Not all aspects of independent publishing have to cost money, though: you could pay for marketing, but equally you could make use of free options and do it yourself, for instance.

However, whatever you decide to pay for, there is one cost that you can’t get away from: time. Self-publishing takes time, and while it might not be a cost in the normal sense, it’s something that will need to be built into your publishing plan. First of all, it takes time to write a book – usually months, and sometimes years.

It takes time to edit, and to do your research about the industry, and to get the finished book just right before you publish it. It takes time to market the book, to do the administration related to publishing it and then to do it all again so you can get your next book out there. It’s an investment, and one to be taken as seriously as hiring the right editor or cover designer.

This is something we shouldn’t forget: self-publishing is wonderful, can be great fun and the rewards can be excellent, but it is also an investment. It’s something we need to commit to and be serious about to make it all worth it. What do you think?

Let’s assume that you’ve already self-published one book and now you’re trying to decide what to do next to build on your success. In some ways, this can be more difficult than publishing something for the first time. When you’re just starting out, you don’t have a base to work from so there’s nothing to live up to except your own expectations – but second time around, you’ll naturally want to improve what you’ve already achieved.

If you are currently looking to build on your self-publishing success, here are a few things you could try. As always, please do let me know what you think in the comments.

• Get another book out. It might sound obvious, and it might be a big ask when you’ve just finished publishing your first book, but one of the best ways to capitalise on your self-publishing success is to do it all again. Building a back catalogue – and a track record – is crucial if you’re hoping to make progress.
• Look for areas you could invest in. When they self-publish for the first time, many authors do most of it themselves. Doing it all again is a good time to start thinking about where outside support could help you – such as in editing or cover design to make your books more professional.
• Research what’s new. There’s always something new in self-publishing, whether it’s a new platform through which to publish your work or new types of deals and offers that you can use to help with your promotions. Make sure you keep on top of what’s happening so you can use new developments to build on what you’ve already done.
• Use your previous book. If you got lots of positive reviews for your first book, think how they could help you promote your next book. Is there a great quote that you could use for the cover, or something that people picked up on that they really liked?
• Know what your ultimate goal is. It’s much easier to know how to build on your existing success if you know what it is that you really want to achieve. Building an action plan is always easier with an end result in mind, so give the issue some thought before deciding on what you’re going to do next.

After yesterday’s look at reasons to self-publish your crime fiction, today let’s take a look at one of the biggest, most important reasons to do it.

It keeps the genre interesting.

In the world of traditional publishing, there can be something of a danger in publishers looking for the next big thing – it isn’t always the case, but often the ‘next big thing’ replicates something that has gone before. It doesn’t always add any originality or difference to the genre. It often just gives us something similar to what we’ve already got, dressed up a bit and repackaged.

Traditional publishers are often afraid to take a risk because they’re worried about reputations and profit margins and, while it makes sense on some levels to be cautious, on others it really doesn’t. You can’t find an author who is truly exciting, who readers love, without taking a risk from time to time.

This is where self-publishing comes in. If you’re self-publishing your crime fiction, you can afford to take a risk and write something different. Maybe the risk will pay off, maybe it won’t, but at least you will have tried and added something new to the genre in the process.

I’m sure we can all identify a raft of crime fiction clichés that are all too familiar. The detective with a messed-up personal life and a drink problem and a connection to the case he/she is currently trying to solve. Criminals with troubled childhoods. Formulaic police procedurals. In failing to take risks, we often end up with more of the same.

If you are thinking of self-publishing your crime fiction, make sure you do the genre justice. There is a time and a place for all those familiar things about crime novels, but there is also room to be bold and different. Don’t be afraid to make your detective a teenager bunking off from school rather than a traditional police detective if you think it will fit the story. Don’t be afraid to be unconventional.

What do you think?