Today I’m gonna talk about this thing called “bareknuckle books”. Sounds tough, right? Well, it kinda is, but not in the way you might think.
So, I started digging into this whole self-publishing world a while back. I had this idea for a book, a real page-turner, or so I thought. I spent months writing, editing, and polishing it until I was sure it was perfect. But then came the hard part – getting it out there.
I looked into traditional publishing, but man, it’s a maze! You need an agent, and then the agent has to find a publisher, and then… well, it’s a long shot. Plus, you lose a lot of control. Not my style.
That’s when I stumbled upon this “bareknuckle books” concept. Basically, it’s about self-publishing, but with an edge. It’s about taking control of the whole process, from writing to marketing to selling. It’s about being scrappy and resourceful.
First, I needed to get my book formatted properly. There are a bunch of services that do it for you, but I’m a bit of a DIY guy. So I learned how to use some free software and did it myself. Took some time, but hey, I saved a few bucks.
The Cover
Then came the cover design. This is huge, right? You gotta grab people’s attention. Again, I tried to do it myself, but my artistic skills are, shall we say, limited. So I ended up hiring a freelance designer. Best decision ever. The cover looked awesome!
Getting It Out There
Next, I had to figure out where to sell my book. There are a lot of options, the big one obviously. I researched all of them, compared their fees and royalties, and made my choice. I went with one that’s more friendly to indie authors, even though they’re smaller.
Marketing
Then came the real “bareknuckle” part – marketing. This is where you gotta hustle. I set up a simple website, got on social media, and started connecting with readers. I joined online forums, offered free chapters, and basically did everything I could to get the word out. It was a grind, but it was fun too.
And you know what? It worked! Slowly but surely, people started buying my book. I’m not gonna lie, it wasn’t an overnight success. But seeing those first few sales come in, knowing that people were actually reading my words, that was an amazing feeling.
- Write the book. Obvious, I know.
- Edit the heck out of it. Get feedback from others.
- Format it for e-readers and print.
- Design a killer cover.
- Choose a platform to sell on.
- Market like crazy!
- Keep at it. Don’t give up!
So, that’s my “bareknuckle books” story. It’s not easy, but it’s definitely rewarding. If you’ve got a book inside you, and you’re not afraid of a little hard work, give it a shot! You might surprise yourself.
