Self-publishing at last

After two years of submitting a MS and getting similar responses from agents, like "good, but not for us," I've decided to self-publish. When I first started coming to AW, self-publishing was akin to vanity publishing. It's been liberating and fascinating to watch the market change so rapidly. After a lot of consideration (and, let's be honest, frustration) I've finally decided that, yes, self-publishing is for me. And it feels good.

I will be publishing a YA Fantasy novel. My goal is to have it available by my birthday, April 26th. I've edited it upwards of thirty times, and right now it's in the hands of two friends. One is a graphic designer who's agreed to design my cover. The other has an English degree with a concentration in creative writing, and is incredibly critical. She doesn't pull any punches, which is exactly what I need. I'd also like to fish around AW to see if anyone is willing to beta for me. I know I need a professional editor as well, but I don't want to shell out any money until I've had it beta'd.

I wish I could have my friend professionally edit it, but I've lurked around AW enough to know that I should have someone who's trained as an editor do that.

Anyway, I know I'm starting this self-publishing diary early, but I think that'll be best for me. I want to keep track of my planning from the very beginning. I've looked into marketing a lot, and have an initial plan in place:

- An author twitter account. I'll post occasionally about my novel, but I won't get spammy. I'd rather communicate with followers and post interesting anecdotes and events in my daily life.
- A website. My boyfriend has a lot of experience in this area, and is helping me create a simple but informative page.
- A Goodreads author account. I haven't participated much on Goodreads yet, but from what I've seen, I really like the site. I want to be an active participant and also offer occasional book giveaways.
- A Facebook page. I haven't started creating this yet, as I'm afraid my friends and family will think I'm vain for making an author page before I publish!
- A detailed Amazon author page that links to my website, Twitter, Facebook page, and Goodreads account.
- A book blog tour. I don't mind spending money on this as long as I do my research and make sure I stick with reputable touring companies. Still, I'd like to keep my initial tour under $50.
- KEEP UP WITH MY AW ACCOUNT AND THIS THREAD. I am SUCH a lurker. I am on this site several times a week (at least,) but I hardly even log in anymore. I know this doesn't have much to do with advertising, but I need to be a more active participant. Actually participating on AW really helps my motivation with writing, so I can only imagine it'll do the same with publishing.
-Continue working on the sequel to this MS. This is probably the most important part to me.

I know there isn't a lot I can do as far as advertising before the novel comes out, but I want to do as much as I can now. I want to be prepared to have the best launch I can.

Thanks, Sio! I've actually been following your self-publishing thread for a while now. Your local sales especially are really impressive! As far as my novel is concerned, this is the fourth I've written. I wrote 50,000 words of it in a frenzy for NaNoWriMo 2011, and finished the next 30,000 over the next few months. I edited it several times and tried to publish it traditionally. I've picked it up and put it down so many times. I tried so hard to trunk it, but unlike the other three novels I've written, I've just never been able to file it away. This just feels like the one I should publish.

Thanks, everybody!