There was an interesting item in Dear Abby's column Saturday, July 5th that speaks volumes to all of us who are Indie Authors. The letter to Dear Abby was from a woman whose friend's husband had authored a book (after years of writing) and the friend (the author's wife) had edited. The friend (who wrote the letter to Abby) was given a copy of the book and asked to write a "glowing" review on Amazon.com. Her conundrum? The book was awful! Not only that, it was difficult getting past the spelling and grammatical errors (and this was after it had been edited). The friend wanted desperately to say something positive about the book but also did not want to lie. What was she to do? Abby's advice? Write something simple and to the point. If nothing else, you could say it was a "page turner."
It was a great response but it also demonstrates why Indie Authors have a difficult time earning respect in a field of very talented, professionally-represented writers. For those of us who are serious about our craft, we have made a commitment to: the reading public; our fellow authors; and ourselves before launching a book to offer the best product possible. Here are five suggestions::
- Have it professionally edited by someone who knows book editing.
- Have your book professionally formatted and hire an artist to design the cover.
Covers sell. - Ask your friends to read your book with the intention of receiving honest feedback
(story, grammar, everything). Explain that the copy they've received is what's
called an Author Review Copy and what they are doing is helping you publish a
polished product. - Ask a professional to review your work. Never swap reviews or coerce people into
liking your book. If friends want to write a review that's wonderful and gratefully
appreciated. - Always make a commitment to do your very best. Write the best story you know how.
Present the product in the best light possible. Surround yourself with professionals
that can help you achieve your dream of being a published author.
Jo Ann V. Glim is a 40 year veteran of freelance writing and author of the book "Begotten With Love." To learn more:
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