The Gunning Report
March 27, 2015



stephface Writers today need to stay flexible. Publishing a book is like practicing yoga. The primary thing that matters is what's happening on your own mat. Yes, you need to adhere to a structure, but you have to find your own edge and work from there. Your edge and the edge of the writer on the "next mat over" will be different.

Here's an example of what I mean. Two nonfiction writers prepare manuscripts. Both are self-publishing and have decided they want to do an ebook and a print-on-demand (POD) paperback. One wants to reach people in countries where none of the POD companies operates a printing press. Shipping physical books to readers in those countries is slower because books have to be imported. The disposable income of her target reader is also lower than in the United States. On her mat, we discover that the edge that needs to be pushed is the ebook edge.



The other writer wants to give books to professionals in his industry (prospective customers for his services) when he's at conferences. He wants to know the most effective way to structure his operations so that books will arrive ahead of him at each location where he  appears. His clients have plenty of disposable income. But in researching them, he discovers they prefer to read on their tablets. His edge is the ebook edge.

These writers may be in the same yoga class. But are their edges really the same? One needs a global ebook distribution solution that offers a well-priced EPUB formatted book. The other wants to start a conversation with potential customers and wants them to visit his website and become members of his community. Though they could afford any price point, he wants to give them his book for free, along with samples of his process that give them a positive experience.

As a publishing consultant, in addition to helping my clients prepare the contents of their books, my task is to brainstorm with them and help them to ascertain price, process, and purpose. Not only do we look at the operational questions, such as: Which printer/distributor is ideal in this scenario? We strive to anticipate the needs and desires of the audience so they can connect in the most advantageous way for all concerned.

Sometimes the first solution isn't the final solution. The flexibility quotient in modern publishing requires you to test your edge and then go beyond it. every day you learn something new about yourself and your readers.

That's why publishing today is a PRACTICE.

 

I'd like to invite you to an online event taking place this weekend, Abundance Symposium. When you register you'll have FREE ACCESS to my webinar "The Gratitude Solution: A Simple Plan to Increase Your Health and Well-Being," along with webinars on Life, Health, and Wealth-building Strategies from other powerful presenters. Share the link with you friends.   

 

Have a wonderful weekend :-) 

 


Stephanie Gunning