HAVE A STORY? SELF-PUBLISH! by Jorge Enrique Ponce

Not a day goes by when I’m not taken aback by how much the self-publishing world has grown. What once used to be a publishing stigma, is now a series of success stories and, overall, a tale of writers’ empowerment. Not too long ago, perhaps ten years or so, self-publishing meant going to a vanity press and paying for hundreds of copies of your book that would (in most cases) end up stacked and untouched around your apartment. With no real opportunities to sell through Amazon.com, or through any respectable bookstore, self-publishing felt like a dead-end option. Although it remains to be a little looked down upon (due to ignorance), it has evolved greatly since the days of the vanity press. What most people don’t realize is that deciding to publish yourself (opposed to going through the standard publishing route) doesn’t mean your story will be less good than those packaged by a well-known publishing house. Yes, it’s true, typos and terrible covers still prevail in the self-publishing world, but… these are also prominent in the regular publishing world.

What you find in bookstores like Barnes & Nobles is just the tip of the iceberg from the publishing world. Those are the ‘success stories’. I’ve come across many novels which, although traditionally published (agent and all), have under two digit reviews on Amazon (or Goodreads), low sales ranks, and are not even stocked in Barnes & Nobles (just on their website). So ‘standard publishing’ does not guarantee your book will be the next Harry Potter, Hunger Games, or Divergent series. Those are a few exceptions. And just like there are standard publishing success stories, there are a handful of self-publishing success stories. I’m talking about writers who, although don’t have a banner advertising their book in B&N, have turned self-publishing into their primary source of income; writers who became best-sellers without the aid of a publishing house. Don’t believe me?

Romance writer H.M. Ward became New York Times #1 Best Selling Author and has sold over 4 million books since her debut book, Damaged, in 2011. YA novelist Amanda Hocking made the headlines in 2011, after making over $2 million publishing only e-books. She was selling an average of 9000 books PER day. There’s also E.L. James who self-published “50 Shades of Grey” before it was the “50 Shades of Grey” trilogy we all know. And let’s not forget Andy Weir, who first published “The Martian” as a free serial on his website, before turning it into a 99 cent Kindle book.

Now, there’s nothing wrong with having an agent. But thanks to the boom of social media, you don’t really need one. These are the times we live in: times of opportunity, where your story stands as much of a chance at being read, as one that follows the traditional path. In the end, it all comes down to personal preference. Some people enjoy the security that comes with having an agent linking them to a traditional publishing house and a PR department. Most self-published authors on the other hand, enjoy the freedom that comes with having complete control of their content, from the first draft to cover and ad creation. Although some covers can be disastrous (not every writer is tech savvy or has an eye for design), a lot have found a way to brand themselves and succeed. For starters, any self-published author who decides to distance themselves from social media, is shooting themselves in the foot. I get it; most of us writers are introverts by nature. But you need to make an effort. Social media is your window to the world. The channel you access to connect with potential fans and build a community that loves your work. This would’ve sounded like a fairytale years ago, but now with Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr, Goodreads, and Instagram, there’s nothing stopping you from creating an audience. Tackle them ALL (or at least the few you’re most comfortable with).

I’ve met many writers and screenwriters during my years living in Los Angeles, and they all had similar things to say. In most cases they were frustrated, either because their manuscript wasn’t getting any traction with agencies, or because their script was not getting any traction with studios (or production houses). Side note: One thing you must understand is… just because your manuscript is rejected by an agency, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your content is weak or unappealing. Most agencies respond to market needs provided by editors and publishers. If your manuscript just happens to fit somewhere in what the market is currently looking for, then it’s your lucky day. But more often than not, that’s not the case. This doesn’t mean you should try to figure out what the current market needs are and cater to them. More often than not, by the time you finish your manuscript the market will have already changed. Besides, don’t ever write to satisfy the market. Write something you actually want to write. If there’s a story resonating deep inside you, it will most likely strike a chord with many readers out there.

With that in mind, this is what I tell those frustrated writers and screenwriters: “have you considered self-publishing?” Truth be told, most haven’t; mainly because they either didn’t think it was possible, or because, just like many others, they thought it was something people looked down on — as in, ‘you were not good enough to get an agent’. Of course, that’s all bull. There’s an insulting belief that ‘anyone’ can self-publish. This is both true and false. Yes, anyone who sets their mind to it can self-publish. But if you ever hear those words leave someone’s lips, chances are that person has never dreamed of performing the daunting task of writing a book. They’ve probably never even met a (published or self-published) writer before. So ‘no’, ladies a gents; not ‘anyone’ can self-publish a book. Skills aside, it takes a ginormous amount of determination.

Once you tell these writers how the self-publishing world has grown, their eyes go wide in astonishment. There’s no reason why your story should sit on a shelf collecting dust. There really is no excuse. If you’re a screenwriting, you probably have more finished screenplays than you can count. The heavy lifting is already done. You wrote a story, dialogue, and a three-act-structure with climaxes and denouements. Now all you have to do is switch medium. Sure, easier said than done, but think of it as an exercise, after all you are a writer… so write! Plus you won’t be limited to parameters such as 120 pages max, or a certain budget. Turning a screenplay into a book will be the best way to get your juices flowing and perhaps even make a slightly better version of your screenplay. No one enjoys reading screenplays unfortunately (except for a few rare cats). But a book? Who doesn’t love to sit back and enjoy a good book?

So why not do it? What’s stopping you? Why hesitate? Do you really need a third party (like an agent or studio) to give you validation so you can share your story with the world? I hope not. Every writer knows that getting the first word on the page is the hardest. In this case, it’s taking that first step. Will your first book be perfect? Probably not. But you’ll learn. And then the second one will be even better. And then the third. And so on.

Get your story out there, share it with friends, build a community. If it resonates with them, be assured they will share it with their friends, and before you know it, your story will be transforming the lives of people you’ve never met. How powerful is that? You are the writer. That power is yours.

Want to know how to get started? Below you’ll find some helpful resources:

To publish:

• Createspace.com. There’s plenty of other services, but that’s the one I’m most familiar with. Createspace allows you to create a title, input an ISBN, then upload your formatted document, your cover, select your pricing, and your expanded market. All for $0. The great thing about Createspace, is that you don’t have to print stacks of your novel to sell. Amazon.com prints them on demand each time your book is purchased.

For editing and cover design:

• Createspace also offers editing services, formatting services, and cover design services for a fee.
• Reedsy.com has a vast catalog of professional cover designers and editors.
• You can always format your own book and e-book (it’s easy, there are endless tutorials online).
• Ask a photographer or graphic designer friend who you know will do a kick-ass job. I’m sure they will be super eager to help you.
• Or if you’re feeling creative and have a good eye for design, you can always design the cover yourself. Why not? The self-publishing world is your oyster.

For beta readers:

• Try AbsoluteWrite.com/forums if you want to do an ‘audience test’ before publishing.

So, my beloved writer, what are you waiting for? The tools are all out there and ready for the taking.

So… take… please.

…And give us your story.

Jorge Enrique Ponce is the writer and director of several films, including award-winning “#OMGIMTRENDING” and Dailymotion favorite, “Interview with a Zombie”. He was born in Lima, Peru and now resides in Los Angeles, CA. His new novel, “F*KTORY”, will be available on December 2015.

For more goodies track him down on Facebook (/Eyedrip), Instagram (Eyedrip), or at his website www.jorgeenriqueponce.com.

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