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- You can get a cover made for $5 on http://www.Fiverr.com.
- You can write, organize, edit and format your book for Kindle, iBooks or PDF using a $45 program called Scrivener.
- You can publish your book to Kindle for free using Kindle Direct Publishing.
- You can buy a book that helps you see yourself as a writer - You Are A Writer by Jeff Goins.
- You can even take an on-line course (also by my friend Jeff Goins) that will teach you exactly what you need to get published. - TribeWriters.com
It’s no longer a matter of “if” you can get published. It’s only a matter of “when”. The when is totally dependent on you.
Writing takes discipline, vulnerability and guts. That’s the hard part.
My name is Andy Traub and I help people tell their stories in a way that maximizes their impact. If you'd like to create your own custom channel to reach the world then I can help. Just 
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I’ve used Fiverr for other things outside of designing a book cover. Good results all around. Any suggestions on designers to use on Fiverr?
Friend used this person and had a good result -> http://fiverr.com/jw12792/create-a-unique-ebook-cover
Thanks for the info Andy. I’ll keep that person handy!
Those are all very good tips! Thank you.
Thanks for having the guts to ship, Andy. The world is better for it.
One more step:
- HIRE a professional editor.
The most successful authors I know (who have written several best sellers with millions of books sold) ALWAYS use an editor to be certain they are publishing “WWR”" Words Worth Reading. As a public speaker and corporate keynoter I have seen and “tried” to read TOO MANY books that were vapid, empty, AND impossible to read. More than just bad spellink, awful punctuation, and NO grammmmatical sense they were devoid of valuable content.
I have just five books in print, so far, but with every one I first (before writing them) checked to see if book stores have anything like what I want to create. Then at various points I have good, long-time friends (truth tellers) read the manuscript to push me to make it the best THEY know I am capable of writing. AND, with my newest book—HATCH!—based on hundreds of brainstorming workshops I’ve given, I asked folks who have NEVER heard me speak or teach to be certain that the book worked on it’s own.
The evolution of “laptop publishing” suggested that ANYONE can be a graphic designer. We discovered THAT AIN’T TRUE. So, too all the “anyone can publish” tools are creating a lot of non-books (bad, unreadable.) But chances are, YOU (many of you) may indeed have good (even great) books “in you.” GO FOR IT. But beyond the great technical tools (in this blog, above) of “making the book real,” get assistance from a professional editor (you will have a GOOD, readble book and sell more!)
If you are afraid to have smart friends read your manuscript and give helpful feedback, you MIGHT NOT have a good book. IF you are UN certain, they can bolster your resolve and be an inspiration for improvement and completion.
As I tell every audience I speak to: “If you don’t do YOu, “you” doesn’t get done and the world is incomplete.” And often I will add, “But when you Do do you, you inspire ME!”
Andy-
The barriers between an author and publishing resources have come tumbling down.
However, the barriers between ones self and ones own discipline, vulnerability and guts will always be a challenge to overcome. That part will never be made easier by outside forces or technology.
I agree, its totally dependent on you, and, it is the hard part.
-Derek