Some money-saving tips for self-publishing

Self-publishing can be expensive, but there are ways to save significant amounts of money. I've just self-published Breathless, a fantasy/romance novel (with vampires as secondary characters, because vampires sell). I networked all my friends and found an editor and a cover designer who both agreed to help me for much less than their normal rate. Both got credits listed on the cover jacket and inside the book. And one of my neighbors did my website for free.

I did "legwork" for all of them, to cut down on how much time they spent on my project. I searched online for inexpensive stock photos that the cover designer could use to create what I'm sure you'll agree is a very fine cover. The same for the website. I searched for a free WordPress template that my neighbor could use, thus cutting down on his work considerably.

I also agreed to pay the cover designer a small percentage of each book sold. She is a successful graphic designer, but had never done a book cover, so now she can add that to her portfolio, which she is quite happy about.

All in all, a good deal for everyone. With a little searching and planning, you can make self-publishing a bit more affordable than it might be at first glance. So don't forget to network BEFORE your book is ready for sale! To see how good the website looks, as well as more cover graphics, check out Breathless at http://www.scottprussingpublishing.com