Self Publishing for Canadians updated

Self Publishing for Canadians has been updated as of October 8, 2022. My last update of the print and ebook versions was in May 2021. I try and updated once or twice a year.

This update includes info on the D2D/Smashwords merger, some updated Kobo Plus info and a few more definitions, as well as talk about BookTok.

The next update I have planned I want to address audio books (since I’ve done one and now have info to share lol). No timeline on when that will get done, but probably 2023.

I’ve added a few new links to the link page for the book as well, so if you have an older copy, there are some new book recs.

2021 in Writing

This is usually a post where I sum up what I accomplished writing during the year.

This is going to be a short post. Kidding (not really).

Self Publishing for Canadians

My biggest accomplishment this year was turning Self Publishing for Canadians into an audio book. It was a lot of learning, and I’m happy with the final product. I have decided not to do my fiction books at this time. I just don’t have the energy.

Sin City series

I have two books written years ago that are set in the ’70s (ten years post Bayou Bound), but there’s one that needs to come before, and I have a plot hole/issue I need to solve in it before I move forward since I’m sure it’ll cause rewrites if I don’t.

Sin City is co-written. MB Miller has written accompanying pieces and four characters (Ray, Jimmy, Adam and Carl) are her creations. Since Ray is the Big Bad, it’s hard for me to feel like I can write the series alone since I use her characters. MB Miller has been busy with other projects so this series hasn’t been worked on in years. I’d like to get back to it, but I just haven’t felt like focusing on it.

Billie and Diana series

This is also co written with MB Miller and pretty much stuck. We have a second book that is 3/4 done, but there’s a few changes I want to make with Billie’s character that I’m excited about. We each write one character so it’s a series that needs us both working on it at the same time, and I don’t see that happening, so I’m not sure when it’ll get done.

YA Series/Joy Morrison series

I did work on this series this year. I finished the first book.

I still need to write the second, but I need to figure out some stuff in books 3-6 before I can do that. But there was a little bit of progress on this project.

I’m thinking I’ll probably just call it the Joy Morrison series since she’s the main character and focus of all the books.

Other Projects

I had joked I wanted to write a traditional romance, but I’ve realized I really don’t like romance novels (I’m likely greyromantic, which probably explains it). I prefer it as a subplot, and I prefer realism with messy endings, messy people and things that don’t go over well in the romance community lol.

The pandemic has really killed my creativity this year. I haven’t crafted, haven’t written much new stuff (just edited), haven’t done any photography or anything. I feel kind of dead inside creatively. I’ve thought about giving it up completely, but I feel like I’ll still work on the Joy Morrison stuff because I do like what I have planned, I just don’t have the mojo to do it right now. But someday.

What I Learned Doing an Audio Book

I have never been able to get into audio books. I have a huge problem listening to narration and retaining information. I always did better in lectures when the notes followed the lecture closely. I just don’t seem to be able to comprehend audio books in the same way others can, so they have never been on my radar as a reading option.

But audio books are popular, so I elected to try ACX with my non fiction book, Self Publishing for Canadians.

Here are a few things I learned doing my first audio book.

1. There are two options for paying narrators.
   The first option is paying the narrator up front. The most sought-after narrators will prefer this method, but as it can cost a pretty penny ($100/hr or more), many authors can’t afford it and go with the royalty share option, where you split royalties with your narrator. This is what I elected to do.
   
2. I hate hearing my work read.
   I don’t know what it is, but I can’t stand hearing my work read aloud. It makes me so self conscious, and I wanted to edit everything again. I had to get past this because you’re required to listen and approve both a 15 minute sample and the full manuscript. Narrators will never match the internal voice in your head that reads your writing (especially if it’s fiction). You’ll hear emphasis put on a different word than you would have emphasized or something and it will really bother you. Okay, me. It bothered me lol. But as long as nothing was wrong or inaccurate about the reading from a technical standpoint, it’s all about different styles.
   
3. It’s difficult to choose a narrator.
   After submitting my script (a few snippets from different parts of the book), and opening up to auditions, I had to listen to the narrators and try and decide whose voice best suit my work. Honestly, it’s not an easy choice. You might like one person’s voice, but another’s inflection, you may not be able to decide between a male or female narrator, or you may not get enough auditions if your books don’t sell well or you’re brand new to publishing. It helps if you have a solid idea of the type of voice you want (stoic, funny, casual, formal etc) because it will shape the type of auditions you receive. You are allowed to describe what you’re looking for so narrators searching for projects can get a sense of the vibe you want in the reading. Take your time picking a narrator. Really listen to the samples and allow enough time for people to submit auditions.
   
4. It’s hard to estimate how long it will take.
   My book is 25,000 words. I had no idea how long that would take to record and edit. I had the offer accepted August 23rd, the first fifteen minute check on September 14th and the final files by October 31st, but I had to set the time for the two due dates, and I just guessed. Everything was done on time, but I have no idea if I gave too much time, not enough time, or just right. For a 120K novel, I am still not sure how long that would take. So communicating more with the narrator is something I have to do moving forward.
   
5. Non fiction has challenges fiction doesn’t.
   I used my book as the script, so the audio book is literally the book narrated. It made me realize my non fiction book isn’t organized in a way that reads easily. If I ever write another non fic book, I would definitely look ahead to narration and make sure things like chapter breaks, section heads, lists etc were set out much more clearly.
   
6. Fiction has challenges non fiction doesn’t.
   The biggest would be dialogue and making sure the narrator you choose is good at differentiating the characters. Another challenge is word count – a fiction book is going to be a lot longer than non fiction and may take longer for the narrator to record.
   
7. Make sure you give your narrator any notes you have.
   From pronunciations of foreign words, names, sci-fi/fantasy locations/people etc, make sure you give your narrator some notes on how things should be said. I didn’t do this, and in one instance I realized a picky author might have a preference – the word Nanowrimo. Some people say nano-WRY-mo and others prefer nano-WREE-mo. To me, personally, it doesn’t matter. But if you’re firmly in the “WRY” camp, that’s something you may have to give your narrator a heads up about.

Overall I’m really happy with my ACX experience. I am considering doing my Sin City books in audiobook format at some point. I’m debating between a male or female narrator before I make the decision to go ahead, and it’s proving hard to come to a decision.

If you want to buy an audiobook copy of Self Publishing for Canadians, you can do so at Amazon, Audible and iTunes.

Self Publishing for Canadians is now an audiobook

If you are a reader who commutes a lot, audiobooks might be your jam. I have personally never been able to get into them (I can’t retain spoken info as well as written), but I’d had people asking, and here it is – Self Publishing for Canadians is now available in audiobook format on Audible, Amazon and as soon as they update, iTunes!

Self Publishing for Canadians

Narrated by Natalija Pavic, the book covers the basics of getting started in self publishing, especially if you’re a Canadian resident. Taxes, ISBNs, lingo, best practices and more, this book will help you get started on your journey to see your book in print, on an ereader or playing on someone’s Bluetooth.

If you’d like to review the book, please contact me on Twitter for a review code.

New Book – Self Publishing For Canadians

I know, I said publishing four books this year practically killed me, but here I am with a fifth. Self Publishing for Canadians grew out of a huge blog post here. There was so much information to share on self publishing, especially in regards to Canadian-specific information.

The ebook is available on Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble and all major online outlets. The great news? It’s only 99 cents! (You can also get a paperback for $6.99 USD)

If you’re a Canadian that’s always wanted to self publish, this book is a great guide to get you started. It was an Amazon Canada Bestseller in Authorship in December 2018 and November 2019.

Protected: Self Publishing For Canadians – The Editing List

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Protected: Self Publishing For Canadians – Book Recommendations

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Self Publishing for Canadians

One blog post couldn’t capture all of the information to share about self publishing and how it’s different for Canadians. My new ebook, Self Publishing For Canadians (published Nov 5, 2018 and updated most recently in late November 2019) is only 99 cents at Amazon, Kobo, Apple, Barnes and Noble and many more outlets. Click the link above or the buy link below.

Here’s what you’ll get:

• The steps of publishing a book (both print and ebook) including notes on everything you’ll need for publishing your book from start to finish.
• Creating an author persona – everything from websites to social media to your mailing list.
• Specific issues that Canadians face when publishing on U.S. platforms like Withholding Taxes, ISBNs, Canadian taxes, copyright, GST and more.
• Information about the most common publishing platforms, from going direct at Amazon, Apple and Kobo to aggregators like Draft2Digital and Smashwords and many others.
• Information on each platform includes what they publish, how you get paid, pricing structures, issues you may face, file types they accept and what promotions they offer.
• Getting in brick and mortar stores.
• Places to avoid publishing and losing money you don’t need to.
• Information on how to price your books.
• Promotion info, from mailing list builders to discount book newsletters, box sets to book trailers.
• A dictionary of terms so you can know all the insider lingo, from cockygate to reverse harem,  the 30 day cliff to a loss leader. Learn what HFN, HEA, KENP, NCX, ACX and PNR mean.
• Book recommendations for specific aspects of publishing.

If you’re a Canadian who has always wanted to write and self publish, this book will give you a great overview of the industry and get your career off on the right foot.

The book is also available in paperback via Amazon!