Write your own book??

[mum4jenn]

Does anyone know of any reputable sites for writing anf publishing your own book on-line?
I have always wanted to write a book and I think I would like to write a children's book.

I found some sites by searching but I have no knowledge if these are good companies or not. Does anyone have any experience in dealing with these type places?

 

[golfgal]

Amazon has a self publishing area you can try that.

 

[Jennasis]

Come and join all of us writers on www.absolutewrite.com ! It's a great supportive forum with a membership who are a wealth of knowledge. I couldn't have written my first novel without them. It's not published, and currently I am shopping it around to agents.

 

[mum4jenn]

Come and join all of us writers on www.absolutewrite.com ! It's a great supportive forum with a membership who are a wealth of knowledge. I couldn't have written my first novel without them. It's not published, and currently I am shopping it around to agents.

I put that on my favorites...THANKS!!

 

[Diva of Dragons]

The Amazon one is createspace.com! I'm not sure everything they do but I know people who have self published through them and they love it!!

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

You've got a lot of options -- there's true self publishing (as a small publisher), print-on-demand, vanity press, ebooks...I'd figure out what you want and then narrow it down from there. Do you want to print just a couple for friends and family? Sell it to the world?

Identify your market, and then go from there. Also, by children's book, if you mean picture book, you'll need an illustrator (unless that's you!). Straight text (novel) is simpler, of course -- in terms of production, anyway!

There are some great books on the subject -- Peter Bowerman's "Well-Fed Self-Publisher" is a gem. Even if you're not going the full small publisher route, he's got a chapter in there about the options I mentioned above. Dan Poynter's "Self Publishing Manual" has info in there, too.

After writing and publishing six books with a traditional publisher, I'm currently working on a self-pub project (as a small publisher) and while it's completely overwhelming, it's been a great learning process, too!

Good luck!

 

[mum4jenn]

Thanks so much!!!

 

[browneyes106]

Last year a woman in one of my grad school classes told me she used lulu.com to self publish and she got a good deal.

 

[GothTink]

AbsoluteWrite is a great site! Also, if it's children's books you're interested in writing, please check out the blue boards: http://www.verlakay.com/boards/index.php

And might I suggest that you don't self-publish? A paycheck is an awfully nice thing...especially when connected to your dreams.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

I have to check out that site. I have written a book and am writing 2 more.
I am looking for an illustrator. I am hoping to find one who would work with my daughter on the illustrations.

 

[GothTink]

I have to check out that site. I have written a book and am writing 2 more.
I am looking for an illustrator. I am hoping to find one who would work with my daughter on the illustrations.

If you go the traditional publishing route, your publisher will choose and hire the illustrator for your book. Good luck!

 

[mum4jenn]

If you go the traditional publishing route, your publisher will choose and hire the illustrator for your book. Good luck!

Oh good! That is good to know.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

I am in pub, very seldomly can you pick illustrator.

 

[GothTink]

By the way, if anyone has any further questions on the road to publishing, I'm happy to help. I am a published author.

 

[Jennasis]

How long did you query before you got a bite? I started querying last month. To be honest I only sent out one, but I figured at least it was a start. I really like my query letter and after getting such great but conflicting advice from the squirrels over on the Query forum on AW, I finally went with my gut on the letter and sent what I felt was strongest. I haven't heard back...not even a form reject. I'd love a rejection. It would mean at least the guy read the letter. So I'm assuming having heard nothing in 4 weeks means he's not interested.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

By the way, if anyone has any further questions on the road to publishing, I'm happy to help. I am a published author.

I have only sent to one Agent. He showed some interest. I have some writers/pub/editors at my company read with good positive feedback.
The one agent took about a year to get back to me. Said he had issues, so I thought he was breaking up with me. Anyone who says they have issues ussually breaks up with me...

He was not uninterested just thought he couldn't get it sold. Had a couplle of his readers read it. And told me to fire my daughter.

Most people from co. asked me what group of kids I was writing it for. My
answer "psychotic kids" doesn't ussally fly. Problem is my company has nothing to do with childrtens/tween books so I am quite discouraged. I was thinking about trying amazon/other e fromats. Relly need to find illustrator if I go that route though.