Too Good to Be True
You could be published in the next hour!
I was one of those writers who wrote incessantly. I had an entire world in my imagination. I loved my characters, and my plots. Someday I would write something so amazing that no one could put it down. Someday I would be a famous author. Someday I would submit a manuscript to a publisher. Someday I would be published.
After all, writing is a game and not everyone wins, I thought. Only the lucky ones get to present their “baby” to the world in book form. I imagined the editors sifting through wannabe writers’ manuscripts, and then tossing them into cold bins with the words "reject" across the front cover. It’s tough out there for faceless names. There are countless story drafts. They have to pass through the editors, and even then you must re-construct your story to fit in their marketing box.
I visited Harvest House Publishing Company two years ago. The tour was fascinating. A huge team was ready to edit, re-read and rework the chosen manuscript, a trendy cover designed, and then marketed hot of the press. But all of this took time. Months, years even.
Right then I didn’t care about fame or money. All I wanted was a book on my shelf that I had written, and that would encourage other people. The title “a published author” was so coveted, and yet so far away in my future.
That’s why I couldn’t believe my uncle Arlen when he said that there was a ridiculously easy way to get published.
He introduced me to createspace.com where he has recently published his own books.
I didn’t buy it. It was too good to be true.
I mean come on, you can’t just sit down in front of the laptop, click the screen a few times and then call yourself a published author. No way. What a joke.
Always a little impulsive, I decided to try it anyways. I typed up the website, he helped me go through the steps . . . and ta-da! Just a few days later I was holding the shiny cover of my very first book. I was ecstatic!
You could be published by tonight.
I only had to pay about ten dollars, shipping included, to have Ruth’s Challenge – my first novel — sitting on my bookshelf. The best part was I got to choose the page color and size, and even put my own picture on the cover.
After you order your proof, you simply have to click a button and your story will be available on Amazon. Createspace lets you focus on the inside of your book and marketing, and they do the manufacturing and shipping. Your book will be in-stock, and printed on demand when someone buys it. If you don’t want to sell your work, no problem! Just order how ever many copies you want, and don’t worry about taking the last step.
I walked into my grandma’s house on Easter Sunday 2009 just an average, common writer. I walked out with my own proof book in the mail to my house.
If you have had a similar experience, or would like to try self-publishing, we'd love to hear about it! Drop us a note in the contact form below.
Thank you createspace for making a girl’s writing dream come true!