Self-publishing might seem like an uphill battle, but with experience, it gets easier to get into on this sunny part of the world. There is no reason not to write. A few years ago, the only way to access your money after you sold e-books and your money was in your Paypal account was through a bank. It took eight days for it to process. Such a long time. Well, that’s changed now, thanks to Safaricom’s Mpesa. So, I thought I should post this little how-to today, coz I’m excited about it.
So, Simple how-to self-publish your e-book/book in Kenya:
- Write
your book. – I advocate fiction books because that is what I
primarily publish, but this works for non-fiction books too. Your
book must be entertaining, engaging, and in the case of non-fiction,
informative. Don’t cut corners. Find an editor, pay them, do
the work and get your book to perfection.
- Design
your cover – Great Covers are essential. Find a graphic
designer who can create a cover that will market your book in the best
possible way. Discover
more about genres, and how covers play a role in distinguishing
them. If you’re writing non-fiction books, make sure your cover
speaks to your audience, and the topic you are discussing.
- Write
a Blurb – When you go to the bookshop and are browsing books, you
pick one out, read the back, if you don’t like what it says, you return it
to the shelf. If you do like that small paragraph in the back, you
immediately head to the counter to pay for it. Hehehe…Now, take your
book that you’ve spent months writing, and come up with a great blurb to
entice your readers with one glance.
- If
you’re publishing this book as an e-book on Smashwords/Amazon’s KDP, you are good to
go. The next step is to log on to your account and start uploading
the files as specified by each site. Set your price, and hit
publish. Then start marketing your e-book like there is no tomorrow.
- Amazon
has yet to offer any easier ways of getting paid in Kenya. You still
get a check in your mailbox with these guys when your sales reach
$100. Smashwords is more lenient. They now pay out monthly to Paypal. And as I
said earlier, Safaricom’s Mpesa now has an easy way
for you to get your money through Paypal.
- If
you’re publishing your book as a physical book, get in touch with
the copyright
board, get
your ISBN, and make sure you have crossed your T’s with them.
Then consider your printing options. There are many different types
of printers in Nairobi. Some are efficient, others not so much. You
need to find your perfect fit, money-wise, and emotional-wise too.
- The rest is marketing and awareness. Don’t forget that your book is a product. Create a brand, embrace every reader who comes to you, and give them more with lots of love. Share your work, and if readers love it, they will pay for it.