Let's Get Digital: How To Self-Publish, And Why You Should [Format Kindle]

First off, I was given a copy of this book to review prior to it being available here on Amazon. I have been researching self-publishing for several months, am a regular over at the Kindleboards, JA Konrath's blog and the myriad Twitter feeds that daily tweet new links. It's a rollercoaster ride keeping up with everything on a daily basis, especially when it can change so much from one day to the next.

That said, I've read David Gaughran's LET'S GET DIGITAL and can safely say this book will give, in a nutshell, any newbies or those casually interested in what self-publishing can offer today an excellent introduction. This is not necessarily a how-to book on getting your book onto Amazon's Kindle, B&N Nook, Smashwords or the myriad other outlets available to buy/sell ebooks (or print novels available through sites like CreateSpace or Lightening Source). No, this is an introduction (and a very thorough and well-written one at that) to the self-publishing industry itself, complete with simple math comparing current royalty rates, as well as a number of real life situations with authors who found success beyond their wildest dreams. Mr. Gaughran compares traditional publishing with self publishing and manages to stay fair on both sides, but does point out how the business math works better (in some cases) when you do this yourself.

The first nearly two-thirds of the book is the nitty-gritty of the industry itself, how and why it works. Mr. Gaughran does a good job of making the sometimes confusing marketplace seem simple, as well as filling in a lot of blanks and answering a lot of questions most self-publishers (and those of us who intend to one day do it) face daily from other interested parties. Most of it is not new to anyone who has done in-depth research on the subject; he names Konrath, Hocking, and Locke quite a bit but also mentions some people less known, such as Black, Rose and Lieske, people who make a very comfortable living doing what they love (writing). He also gives tips such as how to use social media (such as Twitter and its #hashtags) and networking (do you know what a blog tour is? You will by the end of the book) to market your releases.

The last part of the book is from authors themselves: people who have gone from nothing to not-quite-overnight sensations. Make no mistake: this route is difficult and will crush lesser men and women, but for those who perservere, who can remember to keep working through the bad reviews and perceived rejection of their stories, there is a bona fide business opportunity here. These stories serve as motivation and the hope for a light at the end of the tunnel.

Final verdict: the book is nothing new for someone who's keeping tabs on every marketing opportunity, every small change in the industry, every chance that presents itself. However, for those of you who are searching for a good guide on what to do and how to do it (and more importantly, WHY to do it), this book is an EXCELLENT source. I know a lot and was still surprised by what I found in here - reminders of ideas I'd forgotten (I really need to use Twitter #hashtags more often) and those who I still need reminding (like negative reviews are par for the course). Great book, great writing, great information on an industry that is still at the beginning of its boom.

David Gaughran is an up-and-coming writer whose two short story collections have garnered him critical acclaim, while his blog has become one of the go-to resources for self-publishing tips, news, and opinion. Now Gaughran has packaged his best self-publishing advice (along with lots of new material and the success stories of several other self-published authors) into a convenient, low-priced must-read book.

"Let's Get Digital" covers all the indie-publishing bases with practical advice based on Gaughran's own experience. You can tell Gaughran really enjoys the subject of self-publishing.

Gaughran talks about the recent wave of self-publishing success stories, Amazon's power, the importance of cover design and professional editing, formatting, writing, short stories, pricing, international differences, blogging, marketing, social media, reviews, giveaways, various e-publishing options, what to do when your sales stop, and contains several resources you should get familiar with.

While instructional, "Let's Get Digital" is also inspirational, sure to spur any newbie author forward in pursuit of their publishing dreams. While there are other books which focus more on some of the technical aspects (such as formatting and design), Gaughran does a fine job of covering the basics and pointing you towards some free resources to delve deeper if you need to.

All in all, "Let's Get Digital" is a fine addition to any self-published author's shelf, and great information and inspiration from an author you ought to be watching.

I've been anxiously awaiting David Gaughran's "Let's Get Digital" since following his extremely informative blog. This release couldn't have come at a better time since I'm about to launch my first self-publishing adventure. After reading a few other self-publishing how-tos and still feeling that I didn't get the whole picture, I was so relieved for Gaughran to fill in the gaping cracks.

As others have said, it's no surprise how helpful this guide is given how effective and successful his blog advice is, but I was surprised at the depth and detail Gaughran has furthered his blog discussions.

I especially enjoyed reading about the 33 self-publishing success stories, giving inspiration to all those self-publishers that are willing to do their research and complete all the necessary steps to produce quality novels that can hold up to traditionally published standards.

Although I wonder how much of David's self-promoting genius and writing talent can be taught, I will reread his guide over and over in the hopes of some marketing strategy osmosis.