Let's Get Digital: How To Self-Publish, And Why You Should (Let's Get Publishing) [Kindle Edition]

David Gaughran (Author)

Book Description

*** 2012 WINNER - BEST NON-FICTION (DIY/SELF-HELP) - INDEPENDENT E-BOOK AWARDS ***

Based on Amazon Reader Reviews:

- TOP RATED IN "PUBLISHING & BOOKS"

- TOP RATED IN "AUTHORSHIP"

- TOP RATED IN "WRITING REFERENCE"

"You won't make any money from self-publishing."

MYTH!

The internet has revolutionized every business it has come into contact with, and publishing is no different.

For the first time, these changes are handing power back to the writer. It's up to YOU if you want to profit from them.

Let's Get Digital: How To Self-Publish, And Why You Should.

This guide contains over 60,000 words of essays, articles, and how-to guides, as well as contributions from 33 bestselling indie authors including J Carson Black, Bob Mayer, Victorine Lieske, Mark Edwards, and many more.

It covers everything from how the disruptive power of the internet has changed the publishing business forever to the opportunities this has created for writers. It gives you practical advice on editing, cover design, formatting, and pricing. And it reveals marketing tips from blogging and social networking right through to competitions, discounts, reviews, and giveaways.

If you are considering self-publishing, if you need to breathe life into your flagging sales, or if you want to understand why it's a great time to be a writer, Let's Get Digital: How To Self-Publish, And Why You Should will explain it all.

Praise for Let's Get Digital:

"Let's Get Digital is a must read for anyone considering self-publishing." -- JA Konrath, bestselling author of Trapped, Origin, and Whiskey Sour.

"Even with my background as an indie writer, I picked up several valuable tips...this is simply the best book about the ebook revolution that I have read." -- Michael Wallace, bestselling author of the Righteous series. 

"Credible and comprehensive. I'd recommend it to any writer who is considering self-publishing or anyone interested in the current state of publishing." -- Big Al's Books and Pals - 5 stars.

"It should be THE starting point for anyone considering self-publishing today. This book is a Pixel Pick, and should be considered required reading for any Indie author." -- Pixel of Ink.

The follow-up to Let's Get Digital is out now. Let's Get Visible: How To Get Noticed And Sell More Books is available from Amazon (cut-and-paste into your browser): amzn.to/LGVisible

Praise for Let's Get Visible:

"Let's Get Visible is the best tool I have discovered for a writer to push sales and visibility to the next level, and an indispensable addition to the library of any indie writer. If you're an indie writer and you're not buying this book, you simply aren't playing this game to win." -- Michael Wallace, bestselling author of The Righteous.

"Gaughran distills complex subject matter and explains it in a way that anybody can easily understand, and takes the guesswork out of promotion at Amazon. He removes the mysticism and gets you as close as anyone outside of Amazon will probably be to understanding how stuff works behind the curtain." -- David Wright, bestselling author of Yesterday's Gone.

"If you are a self-publisher looking to improve your ability to get eyeballs on your books, I can't recommend this title highly enough. The book contains many ideas I've used successfully and several I'm now excited to try." -- Cidney Swanson, bestselling author of Saving Mars.

"Let's Get Visible offers a precise understanding of Amazon's systems and a real strategy authors can use to improve performance. An invaluable resource." -- Jason Letts, bestselling author of Inevitable.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Let's Get Digital is a must read for anyone considering self-publishing." -- JA Konrath, bestselling author of Trapped, Origin, and Whiskey Sour.

"Even with my background as an indie writer, I picked up several valuable tips...this is simply the best book about the ebook revolution that I have read." -- Michael Wallace, bestselling author of the Righteous series. 

About the Author

Sign up to Dave's New Release Mailing List here: bit.ly/dgmlist (Simply cut-and-paste that address into your browser. Your email will never be shared and you will only be contacted when a new book is out.)

David Gaughran is an Irish writer, living in London, who spends most of his time travelling the world, collecting stories. He runs the publishing blog Let's Get Digital and the South American history site South Americana, and his work has been featured in the Huffington Post, the Sunday Times, and the Irish Times.

Product Details

• File Size: 360 KB
• Print Length: 260 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Arriba Arriba Books (July 18, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005DC68NI
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,868 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #3 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Education & Reference > Writing, Research & Publishing Guides > Publishing & Books > Authorship
  • #5 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Self-Help > Creativity
  • #6 in Books > Education & Reference > Writing, Research & Publishing Guides > Publishing & Books > Authorship

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 64 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic intro for newbies to self-publishing July 19, 2011

By S. Pearson

Format:Kindle Edition

First off, I was given a copy of this book to review prior to it being available here on Amazon. I have been researching self-publishing for several months, am a regular over at the Kindleboards, JA Konrath's blog and the myriad Twitter feeds that daily tweet new links. It's a rollercoaster ride keeping up with everything on a daily basis, especially when it can change so much from one day to the next.

That said, I've read David Gaughran's LET'S GET DIGITAL and can safely say this book will give, in a nutshell, any newbies or those casually interested in what self-publishing can offer today an excellent introduction. This is not necessarily a how-to book on getting your book onto Amazon's Kindle, B&N Nook, Smashwords or the myriad other outlets available to buy/sell ebooks (or print novels available through sites like CreateSpace or Lightening Source). No, this is an introduction (and a very thorough and well-written one at that) to the self-publishing industry itself, complete with simple math comparing current royalty rates, as well as a number of real life situations with authors who found success beyond their wildest dreams. Mr. Gaughran compares traditional publishing with self publishing and manages to stay fair on both sides, but does point out how the business math works better (in some cases) when you do this yourself.

The first nearly two-thirds of the book is the nitty-gritty of the industry itself, how and why it works. Mr. Gaughran does a good job of making the sometimes confusing marketplace seem simple, as well as filling in a lot of blanks and answering a lot of questions most self-publishers (and those of us who intend to one day do it) face daily from other interested parties.... Most of it is not new to anyone who has done in-depth research on the subject; he names Konrath, Hocking, and Locke quite a bit but also mentions some people less known, such as Black, Rose and Lieske, people who make a very comfortable living doing what they love (writing). He also gives tips such as how to use social media (such as Twitter and its #hashtags) and networking (do you know what a blog tour is? You will by the end of the book) to market your releases.

The last part of the book is from authors themselves: people who have gone from nothing to not-quite-overnight sensations. Make no mistake: this route is difficult and will crush lesser men and women, but for those who perservere, who can remember to keep working through the bad reviews and perceived rejection of their stories, there is a bona fide business opportunity here. These stories serve as motivation and the hope for a light at the end of the tunnel.

Final verdict: the book is nothing new for someone who's keeping tabs on every marketing opportunity, every small change in the industry, every chance that presents itself. However, for those of you who are searching for a good guide on what to do and how to do it (and more importantly, WHY to do it), this book is an EXCELLENT source. I know a lot and was still surprised by what I found in here - reminders of ideas I'd forgotten (I really need to use Twitter #hashtags more often) and those who I still need reminding (like negative reviews are par for the course). Great book, great writing, great information on an industry that is still at the beginning of its boom. Read more ›

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars So you want to be an author? Read this first! July 19, 2011

By David Wright

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

David Gaughran is an up-and-coming writer whose two short story collections have garnered him critical acclaim, while his blog has become one of the go-to resources for self-publishing tips, news, and opinion. Now Gaughran has packaged his best self-publishing advice (along with lots of new material and the success stories of several other self-published authors) into a convenient, low-priced must-read book.

"Let's Get Digital" covers all the indie-publishing bases with practical advice based on Gaughran's own experience. You can tell Gaughran really enjoys the subject of self-publishing.

Gaughran talks about the recent wave of self-publishing success stories, Amazon's power, the importance of cover design and professional editing, formatting, writing, short stories, pricing, international differences, blogging, marketing, social media, reviews, giveaways, various e-publishing options, what to do when your sales stop, and contains several resources you should get familiar with.

While instructional, "Let's Get Digital" is also inspirational, sure to spur any newbie author forward in pursuit of their publishing dreams. While there are other books which focus more on some of the technical aspects (such as formatting and design), Gaughran does a fine job of covering the basics and pointing you towards some free resources to delve deeper if you need to.

All in all, "Let's Get Digital" is a fine addition to any self-published author's shelf, and great information and inspiration from an author you ought to be watching.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Critical Guide for Anyone Considering Self-Publishing! July 20, 2011

By L E Waters

Format:Kindle Edition

I've been anxiously awaiting David Gaughran's "Let's Get Digital" since following his extremely informative blog. This release couldn't have come at a better time since I'm about to launch my first self-publishing adventure. After reading a few other self-publishing how-tos and still feeling that I didn't get the whole picture, I was so relieved for Gaughran to fill in the gaping cracks.

As others have said, it's no surprise how helpful this guide is given how effective and successful his blog advice is, but I was surprised at the depth and detail Gaughran has furthered his blog discussions.

I especially enjoyed reading about the 33 self-publishing success stories, giving inspiration to all those self-publishers that are willing to do their research and complete all the necessary steps to produce quality novels that can hold up to traditionally published standards.

Although I wonder how much of David's self-promoting genius and writing talent can be taught, I will reread his guide over and over in the hopes of some marketing strategy osmosis.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Anyone can self-publish an ebook August 1, 2012

By margaret_yang

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

from book blogger Margaret Yang of the WritingSlices blog

David Gaughran makes an unusual choice in the introduction to LET'S GET DIGITAL. Most people would start by listing their credentials, but Gaughran admits he has none. He's not a best-selling author. He's not a digital superstar. He's a nobody. And that's a good thing. Because he wants you know something important. Anyone can publish an ebook.

LET'S GET DIGITAL is divided into three parts. The first is philosophy. Before we can understand the how, Gaughran says we need to understand the why. He starts by listing the reasons big publishers are in trouble and why print books are in a death spiral. He makes good points, but he also assumes that his readers have zero knowledge of the publishing industry. Most writers have spent years working (or trying to work) within that system and know it well, so this part won't be of much use. Besides, the audience for this book won't need convincing that they should self-publish. They'd just like to know how.

The second part is absolutely bursting with useful information. It covers the how-to of editing, covers, formatting, uploading to sales channels, and pricing. Throughout, Gaughran urges writers to produce nothing but their best, and shows them how to do just that. He also covers post-publication work like sales, marketing, and reviews. A lot of this is common sense and the information is widely available all over the internet. However, having it all in one convenient place feels like a gift.

Gaughran also discusses how to handle a sales slump. This is somewhat of a taboo subject among indie writers and Gaughran is courageous for tackling it.... His advice is mostly of the "keep calm and carry on" sort, but he also offers a few tricks to goose sales such as a revamped book description and extra promo work. However, the only thing a writer can really do is keep writing. Nothing boosts sales of a book like more books.

Part three is inspiration. Thirty-three successful authors tell their own publication stories in short essays. Every author took a slightly different path, but some common themes emerged. Self-publishing wasn't a lifelong dream for these authors. Many of them stumbled across the idea almost accidentally. Many authors also talked about the ease of self-publishing. Turning a finished manuscript into a book really isn't that hard. All of the contributors exceeded their own expectations. Most are doing phenomenally well, seemingly overnight. This last one might be a bit of a downer for people who don't immediately see big sales numbers, but they are called success stories for a reason.

The other thing that came up many times, from many authors, is the importance of other people. None of them succeeded alone. They all benefited from the strong indie community that has developed on the blogs, the Kindle boards, and Twitter. Writers have always helped writers by sharing what they know, and it's clear Gaughran has that same generous spirit. The introduction is correct. With the information and inspiration found in LET'S GET DIGITAL, anyone can publish an ebook. Read more ›

More About the Author

Sign up to Dave's New Release Mailing List here: bit.ly/dgmlist (Simply cut-and-paste that address into your browser. Your email will never be shared and you will only be contacted when a new book is out.)

David Gaughran is an Irish writer, living in London, who spends most of his time travelling the world, collecting stories.

He runs the publishing blog Let's Get Digital and the South American history site South Americana, has a regular column at Indie Reader, and his work has been featured in the Huffington Post, The Sunday Times, and the Irish Times.