It’s been said that having knowledge is only half the story of one’s success and that the other part involves the application of that knowledge. Sound familiar? Well, I believe it was Dale Carnegie who once said that “Knowledge isn’t power until it is applied.” I would wholeheartedly agree with this statement, which is why the words, “Applied knowledge is power” really resounded within me when I saw it handwritten on a beloved YouTuber’s chalkboard in one of her recent videos. What a timely reminder for yours truly… Wise Saying #7. I was immediately inspired by what this YouTuber was saying about applied knowledge. It’s easy to listen to someone who walks the walk as he or she talks the talk; and this particular YouTuber is a living example of how life is breathed into mere words. I regularly examine her roles as a wife, mother, teacher, author, inspirational leader, radio personality, singer, restaurant owner, and more (but I’ll stop with these impressive few), wondering how she does it all. I guess she refused to sit on the knowledge she acquired over the years and decided to act on all those valuable learning opportunities she experienced throughout her lifetime.
True enough, Wise Saying #7 has been recited by many people over the years, but it’s meaning is no less potent today than the first day it was uttered from the lips or written with the pen for others to contemplate. For that very reason, today’s book review of Ali Luke’s Publishing E-Books for Dummies is not my attempt to impress you with all of the great knowledge that I’m absorbing about self-publishing, but it’s my report of what I’ll be up to in the weeks to come. If you’d like a little insight as to what I’m learning from Ali, here’s a sample (not the comprehensive list by any means):
- the differences between the self-publishing and traditional publishing worlds
- the phenomenon of e-books and their prevalence in the publishing industry
- how to invite your existing audience to assist you with some of the creative aspects of your manuscript
- how to aim for bestseller status when writing fiction as well as non-fiction e-books
- the different e-book reader options available to consumers (Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble NOOK, Kobo, Sony)
- detailed instructions, hints, and tips on formatting the manuscript in Word
- how to inexpensively design a professional e-book cover even if you’re not a professional graphic designer
- reputable lists of go-to resources for traditional-turned-self-publishing authors that provide advice about self-publishing through their blogs and/or books
- tips for marketing an e-book (using an established website, blog, and/or social media)
- detailed instructions for setting up a website or blog through WordPress in order to provide a site for marketing your e-book.
- the importance of having a sales page (landing page) for your e-book on your site and all the necessary components for a successful sales page
- information on pricing strategies for your e-book and royalties received for sales, according to the different electronic bookstores out there (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple, Kobo, Smashwords)
- information on how to set up a Smashwords account so you can distribute your e-book to multiple online retailers
- detailed instructions for setting up a Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) account and for getting your e-book published through KDP
- the differences between the file formats that your manuscript can be converted to (MOBI, EPUB, and PDF) and which online retailers/e-book readers use which file formats
- information on PayPal, E-junkie, and other shopping carts as checkout options for payment on your site
- information on what ISBNs are, how they work, and where you can obtain them
I’ll go ahead and stop here for the sake of your eyeballs, but there’s so much more within the 296 pages devoted to my self-publishing education.
I absolutely love the “Dummies” series of books. They’re my instant go-tos for DIY projects that I’m attempting to tackle. I always find the step-by-step, walk-you-through-the-process type of instruction that I need as a novice in a particular subject area. And, Ali Luke’s Publishing E-Books for Dummies is an excellent addition to my “Dummies” collection. I appreciate the fact that little old me, who has no prior experience in self-publishing, can read a book like Ali’s and gain the confidence needed to implement her content. Truthfully, I felt a little overwhelmed when reading all of the pieces of the puzzle I’ll need to put together in order to get my book off and running. But, that’s to be expected and Ali makes the possibilities of this process seem completely doable. While reading her book, I found myself smiling at times, thinking about all the knowledge I will get to put into action. I think I’m feeling… what’s it called… empowered?
If you’re looking for the catalyst that will provide you with comprehensive know-how to be successful at self-publishing e-books, I suggest you check out Ali Luke’s Publishing E-Books for Dummies. It’s a worthwhile read. And, you better believe that the knowledge I’m receiving from her wisdom will be applied. “Applied knowledge is power”. Own it!
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