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Has anyone tried selfpublishing a novel?

(75 Posts)
Alie2Oxon Sat 24-Jan-26 13:59:24

I'm investigating this and don't know where to go...preferably a company that can do everything...
Would like to know anyone else's experiences.

JamesandJon33 Wed 04-Feb-26 04:58:40

I hope someone other than yourself proof read your text Alie .
One knows one’s writing so well it is so very easy to miss something. I have been told several times to get a text proofread by a person that has never even glanced at it before.
Hopefully you have done that. I am going to a book reading this evening , by someone who has self published. It will be interesting to hear what her thoughts are.
Good luck with it all…. Soon you will have your book in your hand. A marvellous feeling

Alie2Oxon Thu 05-Feb-26 17:04:51

Proofreading shared - thought I already explained that my sister is a retired Prof and used to proofreading researchers articles!

Yes, I will tell how things go. so far I know that attachments I probably sent to the wrong person, have been passed on. I've had cheerful emails from the Copy/Editor.
I know it's not their business to review it!

JamesandJon33 Thu 05-Feb-26 20:12:48

Good luck * Alie*

Alie2Oxon Sat 07-Feb-26 13:01:46

I have now been sent printed sample pages (1 - 10) with a choice of 3 fonts and at the size they will be in the book. I've acknowledged receipt and I'm considering them over the weekend.
I've decided on the font (the largest and clearest) and I'm working on suggestions for slight alterations - like getting my protagonist's name onto the first page! and shifting other paragraphs towards the start a bit.
I know I will get to a point where will be no more alterations accepted, as they need to get on with production...need to make decisions now.
By the way, I don't pay until afterwards!

JamesandJon33 Sat 07-Feb-26 14:15:43

How exciting. Onward and upwardAlie

Silverlady333 Sun 08-Feb-26 13:07:18

My sister self published on Amazon. However most people like to buy the kindle edition and not the hard back or paperback, she too has had to do self promotion. More recently a publishing company approached her but they wanted her to write another book and I believe, have exclusive rights. I am not sure how she is progressing with the 3rd book as there have been a lot of family events this past year for her.

Silverlady333 Sun 08-Feb-26 13:20:35

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Alie2Oxon Mon 09-Feb-26 13:43:33

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JamesandJon33 Mon 09-Feb-26 16:44:11

Are we advertising our books now? If so I have three.

Alie2Oxon Sat 14-Feb-26 20:44:43

Oh dear. I think that was a bit of a thread stopper. How about we name the books and don't describe? I was thinking of putting a blurb up but now I won't.

I and the CopyEditor there, are having some difficulty with the conversion of the text from Times New Roman to a font called Minion Pro, which I haven't got.

Also because I'm still using a rather old version of Word.
I've just been going through the whole thing again to eliminate bits of dialogue which have somehow slipped to the end of the line before. Why?
I've no idea.
I'm just hoping I've got it right now.

And does everybody but me know what a dinkus is?

JamesandJon33 Sun 15-Feb-26 16:43:41

We aren’t allowed to advertise. If I put the names of my books up, one click on Amazon and you would know who I was, and indeed all about me. No thank you

JamesandJon33 Sun 15-Feb-26 16:47:40

I know about a dinkus now. Told off by proofreader in mt first book as I used, 4 or sometimes 5 dots. Only three allowed apparently…you live and learn

JamesandJon33 Tue 17-Feb-26 16:41:32

Just a quick question to any author on here. Does anyone have a recommendation for Enhanced Services. I was with Nielsen’s but they have stopped taking individual authors.

Alie2Oxon Sun 22-Feb-26 13:56:18

JamesandJon33 - could you explain about Nielson's?

I'm now working on the First Proof on paper, 300 odd pages.
It's become suddenly a lot more readable, though, I don't know quite what they've done...
I've had to find out about the correction symbols!

JamesandJon33 Sun 22-Feb-26 18:27:34

Neilsens add the extras to your online presence. Blurb, bio and synopsis. Individual authors could sign directly with them. They , for a yearly fee, added all the extra stuff. Only Amazon does that free. However Neilsens has now changed their policy. The author’ s publisher must join their list. Mine hasn’t, so I am looking for other options.
Hope that is helpful

Alie2Oxon Mon 02-Mar-26 12:03:49

First proof has gone to be posted back by my neighbour.
Sine YPS has sent me some pages from Nielson's, I suppose they are on t heir list, but I need talk to them because I don't understand what to put on the form.

However I have something a little more urgent here: my boiler has stopped working today!

Cossy Mon 02-Mar-26 12:11:13

Alie2Oxon

First proof has gone to be posted back by my neighbour.
Sine YPS has sent me some pages from Nielson's, I suppose they are on t heir list, but I need talk to them because I don't understand what to put on the form.

However I have something a little more urgent here: my boiler has stopped working today!

I think that is all very exciting (not the boiler)

Please keep us updated, good luck, including the boiler!

Cossy Mon 02-Mar-26 12:12:21

Message deleted by Gransnet.Quotes a deleted post.

Alie2Oxon Mon 02-Mar-26 15:55:33

I seem to have put a post in twice, sorry.
Talking about the boiler on an AIBU thread!

Re the book - I have draft front and back covers to go - but I discovered the boiler problem at 10.30 last night and consequently did not sleep much.
So my plan for tonight is to catch up and be able to make better decisions tomorrow....

JamesandJon33 Mon 02-Mar-26 15:59:00

Have you designed your own covers Alie2?

Alie2Oxon Mon 02-Mar-26 16:05:37

Yes. I used Microsoft Publisher, as I have it on my computer... I'm hoping the other end can deal with this. It won't do everything I want though.
I can't get the title font the right size. Nothing between 48point and 72!

Some free bits of graphics from online, and a fancy graded background, same program.
I think as a glossy cover it should be eye-catching.

JamesandJon33 Mon 02-Mar-26 16:10:02

I’ve designed two of mine.

Alie2Oxon Thu 05-Mar-26 02:18:57

How on earth do you decide what price to put on a book?

JamesandJon33 Thu 05-Mar-26 03:05:12

Your publisher usually decides that.