about me
I recently met with a new client, Martyn Claybrough. He is a wise and intuitive chap, known as The Soul Psychologist. He wants to write a book and so I explained to him the difference between modern self-publishing methods, using the Internet and Print-on-Demand and traditional publishing, using a publisher.
“Well, you could make ten times money by self-publishing,” I said. “You’ll earn 100% of the profit (known as net receipts), but you will be responsible for paying for all the editing and design and then you have to do all the marketing afterwards too. In short, this route will cost you more money up front, but has the potential to make you far more in the long run.”
Martyn just smiled at me and waited for me to go on.
“But if you go the traditional route, you are likely to make just 7% of net receipts. It can be a slow process, the industry is in a bit of a recession, but once you do have a publisher they will handle all the editing, design and the marketing for you. Though many publishers still expect you to do a lot of the marketing yourself anyway,” I paused. “This method won’t cost you any money, but may not earn you as much as you would make self-publishing.”
“Keep going,” said Martyn. “Self-publishing seems to make such sense, but I can tell you’re a bit hesitant about it. So, Jo, explain why I should still consider looking for a real publisher.”
“For the kudos,” I said. “You will get onto bookshop shelves. Traditional publishers have representatives ‘on the road’ and this means you can could get your book in front of more people. You may not make more money, but you should get more exposure. Traditional publishers do some PR for you. They will write a press release, run a press campaign.” As I said that my stomach did a somersault.
“Stop right there!” said Martyn, raising his hand.
My mouth dropped open.
“That is what you need to do. This is what you fear most. So do it.”
He was so right. I’d known this for a while. I knew that if was to offer the best service possible to my clients I needed to adapt my publishing business so that I could provide both the benefits of self-publishing and those of traditional. It was a tall order that needed a financial risk and a leap of faith. I had long wished I could find a way to publish authors so that they had no upfront costs, had the financial benefit of Print-On-Demand, enjoyed a decent PR campaign and got into bookshops too. That embarking on such a huge task was my biggest fear was no surprise.
After saying goodbye to Martyn, and with my heart still in my mouth, I picked up my iPhone and decided to look at the frivolous little app I once picked up for free and that gave horoscopes and tarot readings. I never looked at the tarot. I didn’t understand it and thought it was probably too scary. Another fear, right? That day, however, I chose to flip over one tarot card in the area of career. Lo and behold, up popped The Devil! Now that freaked me out even further. First Martyn had read my mind and then I had picked a card with a devil on it.
The next day I met with my friend Ingrid Schippers of The Portable Yoga Company and told her about my experience with Martyn and the tarot card.
“Ah,” she said. “The devil is actually a lucky card. It does not mean you have to make friends with him. It just means you need to go the dark side.”
“The dark side?” that sounds even worse, I replied, panicking slightly. Was I to start wearing a long cape and pacing the midnight streets?
“The dark side in you. It means you should face your fear and conquer it once and for all. It’s about giving in to your impulses and going for it. As for the Devil: In a positive sense it’s an indication you are ready to confront your dark side.”
Is that what all this was about, then? That I should get my fear of commitment to PR in a headlock and join the big boys? That I should bring what I consider to be the benefits of traditional publishing into the world of Print on Demand? And that I should be brave enough to invest in some of my clients myself, take a risk and not charge for my services? I’ve been indulging in excuses long enough. It is a big leap for me. But it is a leap that feels so right.
Every time I think about this my stomach churns. But you know, Ingrid was right, I was ready to confront this fear because I actually hired a Virtual Assistant to compile me some PR databases before the summer and have now built some valuable lists. So, you know, when I was subsequently offered the opportunity to join forces with an existing publisher and combine my current list of expat titles with his and start commissioning authors I took a deep breath and agreed.
I am now delighted to announce that I plan to publish about six expat books next year and am on the look out for authors with superb ideas. What’s more I am going to do that dreaded PR.
If that isn’t facing my fear and going to the dark side, I don’t know what is!
Is it time you faced your fear headlong and did something about it too?
