Guess I'm asking for a reality check or just to see what anyone has to add here. I knew a book of flash fiction by an unknown would not be much in demand. But I've sent it to a couple dozen decent small presses in the past year anyway, and gotten a couple of nibbles but no takers. I figure a year is long enough, time for Plan B.
So, I looked into a few micro presses, figuring they at least know more about it than I do. But I saw too many prices like $10 for a 100 page e-book and so on. Sure, I'd rather have a publisher's name on it than self-published, but not when they're charging so much that they're cutting off whatever audience I may have.
Next stop, Createspace. I think I have the cover done and I like it, from what's shown on the computer screen at least.
But formatting the manuscript is driving me nuts. And I don't really feel like learning all about it. I messaged Createspace to see how much it would cost to have them do it for me. Waiting on a reply. It's about 50,000 words.
The 100 flash stories have been critiqued by others and mostly all published in various litmags, e-zines, and anthologies. Plenty of other eyes on it besides just my own. So I guess I don't need to pay an editor as well?
All of the above is of course keeping in mind that this is more for the love than the money. Which means I also don't want to spend much. I mean, it was hard enough just to find decent affordable cover art. The one I bought was $37, but we'll see if it's enough DPI or PPI or whatever they're even talking about. The higher DPI one is $260, so I'm trying to see if this one will work. I'll post it for thoughts in a sec.
So, my question is, in my shoes, what would you recommend from here? Wait to hear from Createspace about how much they'll charge to format it? What do you think is a reasonable amount? I want it in both e-book and paperback.
Also, do you think I should give the e-book away for free at first? If so, for how long? I don't have a backlist, just thought if the cost is the issue then I'd rather have people read it than not read it.
Appreciate whatever anyone has to say on any of it. Thanks.
Edit: My in-progress cover is on my Twitter account, if anyone doesn't mind giving me their thoughts on it.
So, I looked into a few micro presses, figuring they at least know more about it than I do. But I saw too many prices like $10 for a 100 page e-book and so on. Sure, I'd rather have a publisher's name on it than self-published, but not when they're charging so much that they're cutting off whatever audience I may have.
Next stop, Createspace. I think I have the cover done and I like it, from what's shown on the computer screen at least.
But formatting the manuscript is driving me nuts. And I don't really feel like learning all about it. I messaged Createspace to see how much it would cost to have them do it for me. Waiting on a reply. It's about 50,000 words.
The 100 flash stories have been critiqued by others and mostly all published in various litmags, e-zines, and anthologies. Plenty of other eyes on it besides just my own. So I guess I don't need to pay an editor as well?
All of the above is of course keeping in mind that this is more for the love than the money. Which means I also don't want to spend much. I mean, it was hard enough just to find decent affordable cover art. The one I bought was $37, but we'll see if it's enough DPI or PPI or whatever they're even talking about. The higher DPI one is $260, so I'm trying to see if this one will work. I'll post it for thoughts in a sec.
So, my question is, in my shoes, what would you recommend from here? Wait to hear from Createspace about how much they'll charge to format it? What do you think is a reasonable amount? I want it in both e-book and paperback.
Also, do you think I should give the e-book away for free at first? If so, for how long? I don't have a backlist, just thought if the cost is the issue then I'd rather have people read it than not read it.
Appreciate whatever anyone has to say on any of it. Thanks.
Edit: My in-progress cover is on my Twitter account, if anyone doesn't mind giving me their thoughts on it.
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