Seeing that I just saw G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, the phrase “knowing is half the battle” is ringing loud & clear in my head. So its more than appropriate timing to have award-winning author, Saundra E. Harris, talk about her process of becoming a successful self-published author. What stood out the most for me in her article was the amount of research Saundra undertook in PREPARING to become an author. Her knowledge of the industry laid the ground work for a successful career and the release of The After Party.
I hope you all enjoy Saundra’s contribution to The WritersBloc. She has great insight for all of you aspiring authors working diligently towards making your dream a reality.
Why I Self Published by Saundra E. Harris
I have always been an avid reader and an incurable romantic. I have belonged to the Silhouette book club since the age of 15 when my mother purchased my sister and me the young adult romances. It was nothing for me to read two books in a week, and then sit impatiently waiting for the next installment of books. As I grew older, I included the Harlequin books and interspersed a couple of other authors that gave me the outlet of fantasizing about “happily every after”. It’s funny as I reflect on that now, because now writing is as much a part of me as reading is. I still read my Silhouette and Harlequin books, and I’m even more encouraged because they have authors and characters that look like me. And still, I never knew how cathartic writing was until 2000.
After the break up of a long term relationship and the stories that I regaled my sisters and girlfriends with about my life with ‘him’, one of them dared me to put it on paper. So I did, and I came up with seven chapters. I immediately emailed the chapters to her, who in turn, printed them out and made copies for everyone in her office. Needless to say I was appalled and upset because it was private and for her eyes only, but then I started getting emails from her co-workers asking me what would happen next and then I knew I had something.
Not knowing anything about the literary business, I trolled the Internet and found a ‘boot camp’ for authors in DC. It was an 8 week session (maybe it was 6, it has been 9 years), each session lasting about 4 hours one night a week. It gave me the basic fundamentals of the industry, terms, and the process, the role and importance of the Library of Congress. Guest speakers from various genre’s of publishing and self-published authors who created a buzz for their books and were able to secure a book deal with a mainstream/traditional publishing house, would share their stories and insight with the group. We also met graphic designers, book layout technicians, editors of all sorts and marketing professionals.
It was during this course that I decided that being the control freak that I am, I would self publish and I would also use a Print On Demand publisher for three reasons:
- control of my product by being my own publisher
- print books as needed when I need them
- not sitting on hundreds/thousands of books trying to sell them
In addition to the boot camp, I also read two very good resources on self publishing and I highly recommend them: Dan Poynter’s Self Publishing Manual and Marilyn and Tom Ross The Complete Guide To Self Publishing. These books offer a wealth of information and insight into the publishing industry. After reading those books, I then did research or my home work. I trolled the internet and book stores for writing similar to mine. I studied book cover designs, the layout of the interior, the font, spacing, titling. I opened the book and read who the book designer was, the editor(s), the marketing representatives, I read the copy right page of just about every book similar to mine to decide what would make my book stand out from the rest.
As an aspiring author/writer I joined local, national, and internet groups that consisted of editors, authors, and readers. I joined and eventually became a two term Vice President for the Black Writers Guild in Baltimore. I surrounded myself [with] like minded individuals. There is so much to learn about the literary process that for some it can be overwhelming. Yet I learned the basics:
- The business of writing
- Honing your manuscript
- How to self publish
- Copy right law
- Editing
- Graphic design
- Marketing and promoting
- Literary Terms
- Printing – Traditional vs. Vanity Press vs. Small Press vs. POD
Once my boot camp was complete, I knew that I wanted to write a book about women, for women and how to be uplifted and empowered when it comes to dating, love, sex, and relationships. I was adamant in not wanting to go the street fiction route, which was just beginning to explode literally. The main reason is that genre is not my point of reference and I knew I could not do it just. However, I knew that I still needed to research and network, which I did by attending one of the largest book events in the nation – Book Expo America. I highly recommend this event to all writers, published and non-published as it has informative workshops and offers great networking potential with the industry insiders and professionals in publishing.
Once my novel was complete, I sent it out for reviews. Boy was it hard hearing my first negative review about my book, after all, books are like our children and it was like they had kicked my child to the curb. Then I got over it and realized that a review is one person’s opinion…yet in 2005 I received the Reviewers Choice award for THE PARTY, by Romantic Times Magazine for Best African American Romance by a First Time Novelist…and with that I have never looked back. The significance of that award is that my work was recognized by a multicultural panel and that most of their readers are Caucasian. That was important to me because I wanted my books to be available and open to all markets and not just black women.
I don’t view myself as the traditional author. I don’t write anything that I don’t feel good about writing and I don’t write anything that I wouldn’t want to read. It may sound selfish and to some strange, but I don’t write anything down in a journal. I don’t record my thoughts on a DVR. I get a feeling and an idea about something and I just start typing it into my PC…and that’s when I know it’s from the heart.
So to all aspiring writers I say write what you know and write what you love, and please do your research as all of the information you seek is just a click away.
Good Luck!
Saundra. E. Harris aka SassyScribe
Saundra E. Harris, is the author of THE PARTY, which received the Romantic Times Magazine BOOKreview 2005 Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best African American Novel and her newest release THE AFTER PARTY.
She holds a Bachelors degree in Business Management and plans to pursue a Masters. Additionally, she is the President of SHE Media Group the parent company whose holdings include Saphari Books, Inc.™, an independent small press, and WSER Sassy Entertainment Radio™, a weekly Internet radio show, focusing on bridging the communication gap between the sexes. Currently she is at work on her third and fourth novels, due to be released in 2010 and 2011, respectively.
In addition to her writing endeavors, Ms. Harris’ alter ego, SassyScribe has several online sites rendering social commentary on love, life, sex, & relationships… www.xcapadesofthegirlz.blogspot.com, www.asksassyscribe.blogspot.com, www.blogtalkradio.com/sassyentertainment, and www.myspace.com/sassyscribe. Ms. Harris aka SassyScribe is available for panel discussions, readings, and book signings.
