Kawasaki’s book, APE, that was published last year continues to draw favorable response. I am the perfect candidate to read “APE,” Guy Kawasaki’s new book because I am looking to write a book and I know I will need to self publish. From page one I pay close attention to the book’s message. So these are my initial thoughts on a book I believe I will return to often as Kawasaki states he does with his beloved Chicago Manual of Style.
Given some of the hang-ups and inexperience of non-published writers, it is interesting that Kawasaki begins by asking the question, “When was the last time you decided to read a book because of who published it.” My truthful answer is that few of us read books based on who published it. This kind of questioning is at the heart of APE and drives the book’s discussion. It is signature storytelling a la Guy Kawasaki —direct and to-the-point in a way that a reader cannot help but appreciate.
In all areas of life, there are no shortages of experts who are prepared to tell us ‘what’ to do but few are willing to tell us‘how’ to do. Guy was motivated to write this book because he, of all people, was having trouble self-publishing his last book. He decided that he would write a book and explain how to get this done successfully.
Kawasaki outlines the most notorious publishing myths to burst the reader’s bubble about what publishing is and is not. Even though I am one of those people who likes the heft, smell, and feel of a book, by the time I finished reading APE, I was ready to jump ship to ebooks.
Guy outlines the advantages/disadvantages of publishing and makes a compelling argument for artisanal publishing based upon his projections of an analysis of 2011 publishing sales data. He concluded that ebooks had been the most popular format for adult fiction in 2011. This was not to say that ebooks outsold printed books. But it was to help writers appreciate that the ebook trend is growing and that the proper elements for artisanal publishing are currently present.
So this book gives the reader a step-by-step process to move from writing to publishing. Not only does APE outline a process for writing a book, it tells how to finance one’s book using crowdsourcing methods such as indiegogo and platforms I’d never heard of before. Then he tells us how to make money on our books. He uses motivating case studies. Thematically his focus never waivers from helping us understand how to get this done. He moves through the specifics of how to turn a manuscript into a book and the practical aspects thereafter, such as channels of distribution and how to estimate royalty payments across multiple platforms. Then the summaries at each chapter’s end capture the essence of each chapter.
This was a valuable book for me. Without a doubt I will use it to move through my journey of writing my book remembering Kawasaki words: that getting one’s book written and self-published is about starting, continuing finishing. Could it be more clear than this?
Stacie Vander Pol says
Thanks for posting this article. Anything that supports self-publishers is something I can get behind.
As far as his book goes, I feel a little less than impressed. The topic has been covered by so many authors that it doesn’t feel like anything new was brought to the table. As a career self-published writer, I’ve had great luck publishing with CreateSpace and Lightning Source, depending on the kind of material. But for anyone new to publishing, I really recommend CreateSpace. It’s free, and Amazon owns the company, so they support those books well.
Years ago, I published a book that examined all the self-publishing companies at the time. CreateSpace was by far the most appealing, but few people knew of it; today I see that it’s now the most popular self-publishing company, and for good reason.
Kawasaki’s $4000 price tag for self-publishing isn’t realistic for people and is probably not a good financial investment in a brand new book. First of all, there are websites with cover design options for less than a hundred dollars; and the most effective ways to market your book should be nearly free. If you’re willing to put in the work — and it’s a ton of work — you can be successful self-publishing.
Thanks again for this article.
Stacie Vander Pol
http://www.coverdesignstudio.com
Patricia A Patton says
I could not decide whether this was spam or a true response. Decided to approve and reply because I think you thought about about your answer. Thank you for your comment. People may be interested in visiting your site.
Janice Temple says
Patricia Thanks for sharing this review on “How To Self Publish” by Guy Kawasaki’s. This sounds like a great resource on how to get it done and make some money. When I am ready to publish an ebook I will use this book as a reference.
Janice “Skychitravels”
The Skychi Travel Guide
http://www.skychitravels.com
boomrwiz says
Thanks for visiting Boomerwizdom and for leaving a comment. I sincerely enjoyed Kawasaki’s book and I too will follow his suggestions.
Judy Lee Dunn says
Patricia,
So glad I say your reference to this post on the GenFab Facebook group. I am writing my review today, so was interested in what you had to say. I have read a lot of books on publishing, from authors to agents to editors, and rarely have I see such a clearly laid out book on self-publishing as this. And all with a touch of humor. One point he makes, that gets kind of skipped over in many books, is the importance of copy editing. It is just so crucial, especially when one is going the self-pub route. Really enjoyed your review. Thanks.
boomrwiz says
Oh hi Judy. I think Guy’s love for the Chicago Manual of Style is a clear indication that he would be preoccupied with grammar, style, syntax etc. AND of importance to prospective readers. Writers who self-publish need to remember this. Sometimes, as I am sure you may agree, poorly written information will push me away even if the substance is worthy of reading. Thank you so much for checking the review out and for leaving a comment.
Sienna Jae Fein says
Guy rocks, not merely because he keeps his finger on the pulse of our rapidly-innovating culture, but because he is unselfish; he shares his insights freely. You’ve inspired me with this great summary of his book.