What an Author at Self Publishing wishes they had known before entering the publishing industry
Erik wishes someone had emphasized the "things that you either know or you don't" aspect of self-publishing, like understanding KDP Select or expanded distribution options. Having a clear checklist of these crucial "know or don't know" elements would have saved a lot of unnecessary struggle in navigating the industry.
Self-Publishing, Distribution, Industry Knowledge, Actionable Tips, Real-World Examples
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Erik Seversen
Author, Business Owner
Innovative Educational Services; Thin Leaf Press; Self-Publishing Center
UCLA
Anthropology, University of Virginia, MA
Anthropology, Sociology
Consulting & Related Professional Services, Education
Consulting
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient
Video Highlights
1. Importance of knowing specific platform requirements: Understanding the ins and outs of platforms like KDP Select and Ingram is crucial for success. Knowing these details can save time and effort.
2. The industry has clear-cut knowledge requirements: There are aspects of the industry that are not open to interpretation; you either know them or you don't. Recognizing this early is important.
3. Proactive learning is key: Having a prepared list of essential knowledge points before entering the industry can significantly reduce the learning curve and prevent unnecessary struggles.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone had told you before you entered the industry?
There are things that you either know or you don't know. For example, if you're uploading a book to KDP Select, KDP, which is the distributor for Amazon, there's a question: "Do you want to be part of KDP Select?" You either know or you don't.
This also applies to expanded distribution. So there are things that you either know or you don't; there's no gray area. Having a list of what those things were and then just going for it would have saved a lot of time trying to figure things out.