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bloom.<\/p>\n<\/p>(or How I Did It, a \u201c.doc\u201d-umentary)\n
Part 5\/?<\/p>\n
We\u2019re finally settled into our new home, which means additional tasks that suck time away from my writing and publishing, but I don\u2019t mind. I\u2019ve always loved weeding a garden, as long as the temps aren\u2019t soaring in the upper 80s or 90s. I have my straw hat (to protect my fair skin), my kneeling pad, my shears, and gardening gloves that I rarely wear. So far I\u2019ve planted a few gift flowers, but the rest will have to wait.<\/p>\n
In a way, my efforts toward indie publishing also feel like I\u2019m gardening. I\u2019ve planted some seeds, and I\u2019m working to keep them tended and ready to bloom.<\/p>\n
I\u2019d planned to start taking the Udemy classes I already purchased but never took (due to our move and all the related time-hogging tasks). While I did start one, I haven\u2019t gone back to it. (Rant mode on.) Note to anyone doing video presentations online: there are many of us out here who are hearing impaired. Computer-generated captions often lack any similarity to what you are actually saying, as do computer-generated transcripts. Check them yourself for accuracy before posting, if you can. That said, I may be moving on to another online course, since I can\u2019t make out what this guy is saying 75% of the time. (Rant mode off.)<\/p>\n
Since early May, I\u2019ve:<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u00a0 Read through archives on the ALLi Facebook list for information on registering copyright (reading these and other indie publisher archives will be an ongoing task);<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u00a0 Registered my account on the U.S. Copyright site; note\u2014this was convoluted, and even after several attempts, my login still fails the first time I click \u201clog in,\u201d every time. The second time, it works fine. I did learn that a copyright registration for a specific work requires that you upload the work (or mail in a copy), so I can\u2019t actually register the copyright until I have a final REALLY final (and this time I mean it) draft. Tip: the Copyright pages work best with Firefox.<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u00a0 Purchased a block of ISBNs through Bowkers.<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u00a0 Finished two or three full read-throughs (I lost count) on Enthe\u00f3phage to ensure it is ready to go.<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u00a0 Overhauled my website completely.<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u00a0 Set up a Facebook Author Page.<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u00a0 Set up a Mailchimp account with a landing page and a welcome message, then put the link on my website and posted it on FB and on Twitter. (Check the top menus here on my site to find where you can sign up and read the first three chapters free!)<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u00a0 Started lining up people to review Enthe\u00f3phage.<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u00a0 Tweaked my GoodReads profile.<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u00a0 Tweaked my first Phagey-related blog post; will upload it in the next few days.<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u00a0 Acquired a domain host for niveymarts.com and transferred the domain. Still waiting for it to be ready to develop.<\/p>\n
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\u2022 \u00a0 Saw my comments from my first two reviewer\u2019s \u2013 though until I have an author page on Goodreads or Amazon (can\u2019t do that until I have a book to list), there aren\u2019t many places they can post the reviews just yet. Keep reading to find out why I don\u2019t have those author pages set up.<\/p>\n
As an addendum to Part 4 (posted 5\/8\/22), it\u2019s worth noting that writers cannot register and apply for a Library of Congress number until the work is completed, and they have an assigned ISBN number. You can sign up for an account, but that\u2019s as far as you can go until the book is finalized. I was told the LoC doesn\u2019t usually list\/catalog books from self-published authors. I do intend to look into that further. I also can\u2019t yet register my copyright or assign ISBNs to my paperback and ebook formats until I have a completed, formatted book with cover.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, Duncan, my cover\/book designer, is dealing with a major crisis that has left his wife hospitalized in another city, so his energies are currently directed elsewhere, as they should be. So registering for my copyright and assigning my ISBNs won\u2019t happen for a while. I am hoping I won\u2019t have to delay my publication date, but the health and wellness of Duncan\u2019s family is certainly more important than an arbitrary projected release date. I\u2019ll keep everyone updated on that.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, I will use this time to best advantage in whatever way I can, whether that be taking additional Udemy classes (those with useful captions or transcripts), reviewing Kindlepreneur and ALLi documents, reading other works in my genre, or moving on to my other works in progress, I\u2019ll not be idle during this lull.<\/p>\n
Stay tuned and know I\u2019m wishing all the best to you in your self-publishing journey!<\/p>\n
**Please note that I am not a professional. Outside the writing part\u2014for which I have taken numerous classes and workshops, and for which I\u2019ve seen enormous improvement over the years, but which I am still learning\u2014I mostly have no idea what I\u2019m doing. I\u2019m reading everything I can get my hands on, looking at how others who have been successful have done it, and learning this process as I go. I don\u2019t want any reader of these posts to think I\u2019m teaching THE way to self-publish; there are as many ways to do this as there are writers on the path. I am only sharing how I have done it. Your mileage may vary.<\/p>\n
Photo credits:<\/p>\n
Watering Can \u2013 by Markus Spiske<\/a><\/p>\n