1. How to write a bestseller the first time with no practice or professional editing or cover design or spending any money whatsoever

2. The author & The brain surgeon
Jamie Foley

4. Writing books is fun, But Selling books is work
Writing books is fun, But Selling books is work. About 5-10 years of Hard work to get started as a business.
Wreck testimonial

5. MY FIRST
DRAFT :D

6. My first draft on Amazon :-/

7. Are you a hobbyist or a professional?
Wreck testimonial

8. Here’s how to make a real business out of your writing.
Wreck testimonial
Because I’m not going to tell a hobby writer how to have fun!

9. Fiction or non-fiction?
Wreck testimonial

10. My books :)

11. Thomas Nelson [Harper Collins]
Webmaster & digital marketing specialist
Live Events division in Plano, TX

12. Authors Golden keyes Parsons Angela castillo Beth wiseman Audrey wick R.J. Metcalf Laura Zimmerman

13. Years 1-5: Perfect your craft
Save up
Choose a genre
Write consistently
Analyze the pros
Read craft books
Attend conferences
Join a critique group
Edit & re-write

14. Write consistently.
“A writer who waits for ideal conditions under which to work will die without putting a word on paper.” – E.B. White “I write every morning.” – Ernest Hemingway “Writer’s block is having too much time on your hands. If you have a limited amount of time to write, you just sit down and do it. You might not write well every day, but you can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.” – Jodi Picoult

15. Years 1-5: Perfect your craft
Save up
Choose a genre
Write consistently
Analyze the pros
Read craft books
Attend conferences
Join a critique group
Edit & re-write

16. ME
MY FIRST MANUSCRIPT <3

17. YOUR AUNT SUZIE
DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR YOUR BOOK.

18. Developmental edits: $400-$700 Line edits: $1,000+
editors
Developmental edits: $400-$700 Line edits: $1,000+
Just Getting started?
Attend conferences and purchase critiques of your first few pages from bestselling authors.

19. BUT THE PUBLISHER I WANT HAS EDITORS ON STAFF!

20. Years 5-10: Get published Get a website Do social media
Decide: indie or traditional?
Traditional: Find an agent
Indie: Publish your book
Gather reviews
Market like a boss
Write a series

21. indie vs. Traditional publishing
You control everything. You pay for everything. You keep (almost) all the money. You’re a one-man show.
Publisher controls everything. Publisher pays for (almost) everything. Publisher takes most of the money. Publisher has a team of pros.

22. “[publishers] want to find aspiring authors who are good business people.” 
- NINA AMIR, WRITER’S DIGEST
Your book’s idea, its fit in the market, and its competition
Your author presence
Your bio & author photo
Website design, visits, and search page rank
Non-fiction: Social media engagement (not necessarily your amount of followers)
Non-fiction: list size, open rate, and engagement
Your promotion plan for release day and a year beyond
Your plans to write more books
The quality of your writing craft & editing

23. Self-publishing? Save up for:
A professional website & headshot: $1,000-$3,000
Professional editing from at least 2 different editors, or 1 professional editor and an army of beta readers
Professional cover design (YES, people do judge books by their covers): $300-$1,000
ISBN: $100 per book (or $250 for buying 10 in bulk)
Professional formatting
Paperback: $300-$700
Kindle: $100-$300
Other ebooks (EPUB): $100-$300
Promotional materials & author copies: $200-$300
Self-publishing Estimate: $3,500 - $8,000
Your
First
book
Traditional Estimate: $2,500 - $6,000

24. ThAT’S a lot of money!
You’re starting a new small business. All businesses require an initial investment to get started.

25. THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING A HOBBY WRITER.

26. Hobby writing is more fun!
We treat artists and musicians differently.
Just want your name on a book? Self-publish and don’t post to amazon. Give to friends and family.
No deadlines, no costs, no stress.

27. Let’s do this.

28. the plan? Go hybrid!
“The hybrid author is someone who has book deals with traditional presses, but also self-publishes, or publishes in some other nontraditional way.” – Huffington Post

29. Average annual income Self Traditional hybrid $500-$999 $3,000-$4,999
$7,500-$9,999

30. Well… that was depressing.

31. Marketing!
YAY :D

32. BUT MY PUBLISHER WILL DO ALL THE MARKETING FOR ME!
ANY PUBLISHED AUTHORS IN THE ROOM?

33. Traditionally published authors still:
Run small ads alongside their publisher’s marketing schedule
Attend events (book signings, festivals, library events, and conferences)
Sell their signed copies on the side
Connect with their fans ( newsletter, blogs, and/or social media)
Interview with blogs, radio, and TV

34. Years 5-10: Get published Get a website Do social media
Decide: indie or traditional?
Traditional: Find an agent
Indie: Publish your book
Gather reviews
Market like a boss
Write a series

35. Ask for reviews from: Beta readers (not family)
Book clubs & facebook groups
Goodreads giveaways
Amazon public giveaways
Bloggers

36. Years 5-10: Get published Get a website Do social media
Decide: indie or traditional?
Traditional: Find an agent
Indie: Publish your book
Gather reviews
Market like a boss
Write a series

37. #1 way to market your book:
Offer your book for free
On paid marketing websites
Who promote books to their audience (with either their website or an list).

38. WARNING: GRAPH INCOMING.
I am so, so sorry.
Sales numbers from a promo-testing period with a newly-released novel without later books in the series.

40. WARNING: controversial topic INCOMING.
I am super even more sorry.

41. Like a big online library, But when someone rents
90-day term
Allows 5 free promo days per term
No ebooks on other platforms
Pays about $0.005 per page read
Like a big online library,
But when someone rents
your book, You get paid.

43. Nook & Google play didn’t come close.
Totals
Free downloads: 4,414 Book sales: $319.85
Kindle Unlimited pages read: 55,735 Estimated KU profit: $278.68
Nook & Google play didn’t come close.

44. So what are these precious sites?
We needs them!

45. The king: bookbub
“BookBub [is] the cheapest on a per-sales giveaway basis.” – THOMAS UMSTATTD JR. OF ENCLAVE PUBLISHING
Spend $65-$475, get thousands of sales
20% of books accepted

46. The Queens

47. The princes

48. Other marketing strategies
speaking
local bookstores
The best way to sell non- fiction books
Be excellent to bookstore owners and they’ll give your book prime treatment.
Book signings
Libraries & churches
Join large events with multiple authors
Get involved and help! People will talk about you
bloggers
giveaways
Interviews
Review other authors
Amazon public or Goodreads
Be awesome to people.
Give freely.

49. Resources Author Media blog: www.authormedia.com/blog
marketing
Craft
Author Media blog:
Novel Marketing podcast:
Find active deal-landing agents at:
Christian Indie Authors Facebook: facebook.com/ChristianIndieAuthors
Writing Excuses podcast:
Scribophile critiques:
Realm Makers Conference:
ACFW Conference & groups:

51. Questions?

52. Jamiesfoley.com Want to hire me? Publishing advice Marketing strategy
Branding
Website design
Kindle formatting
Jamiesfoley.com

53. The last 5 first-editions of Viper
Sorvashti is a captive.
Jet is a soldier.
Both harness the primal power of aether.

54. Thank you! <3