For those of us who frequent book signing events, the above comments from want-to-be authors are all too common. In fairness, every author has been in the same position at some point.

To put the whole issue of writing and self-publishing in perspective let me share with you the three questions which are posed to me on a regular basis. My responses may assist you in deliberating about moving forward with your own writing endeavours.

Question #1: "What is the best advice you can give someone who is writing their first book?"

Answer: "FINISH IT! Having a well-worn and almost completed manuscript in the bottom drawer of your desk does not anoint you as an author. Sending the obligatory two copies to the National Library does accord you the right to say you have authored a book, even if you haven't sold a single copy - yet."

Question #2: "If I write a business book will people buy it and what can I expect in the way of a return?"

Answer: Assuming you have something of value to say and you have a reasonable amount of ability to communicate in print, you could find authorship has many rewards. Unfortunately, most first-time authors don't make significant profits (if any) on retail sales. However, there can be major spin-off benefits in terms of expanding and enhancing your primary business venture."

Question #3: "How do I go about getting my book published?"

Answer: "If you want to see your first writing effort on the shelves of a bookstore, chances are you will need to consider self-publishing."

Advice about how to self-publish a book could fill a book. For now, here are a few tips to consider if you are contemplating writing and self-publishing a business book.

Disadvantages and advantages of self-publishing

The major drawback associated with self-publishing is the fact you will need to finance the process. The second disadvantage relates directly to the absence of technical expertise which is available when using a professional publisher. Perhaps a third minus might be the lack of a well known publisher's name on the cover of your book.

On the other side of the coin, there are numerous advantages. Having total control over the entire undertaking is a huge plus. You not only have the final say about the content and design but you also have the option of writing and marketing the book in such a way as to support your other business activities. Last but not least, self-publishing offers a potentially larger financial pay-back compared to the royalties you would receive from a traditional publisher.

Write about what you know

The foregoing comment has been around for so long it has achieved cliché status. But for the first time-book writer, it is true.

Get some input

This does not mean sending 10 photocopies of your manuscript to friends with a request for their opinions. Instead, send the table of contents and a chapter to those who can and will give you candid feedback. Send different chapters to different people so you can gather a cross-section of views.

Depending upon the feedback you have choices to consider. Ignore the advice if it is negative and publish anyway. If the reception was lukewarm, give up and abandon the publishing idea. Weigh the constructive criticism, make some modifications (if required) and forge ahead to turn your vision into a reality.

Realities of selling the book to a publishing house

Even in Canada's relatively small market, publishers receive thousands of manuscripts each year. A minute number are actually purchased. Being declined does not necessarily imply you have a poor quality product. More likely, it means your subject matter was not a fit with a publisher's current approach to the market or they may have already had your topic covered by another author.

There is no shame in self-publishing, particularly if your book is intended to support your other business endeavours. A well written and properly self-published book can be a very powerful marketing tool which will heighten awareness about you and your business.

Hire a professional editor

If you are self-publishing, don't try to edit your own work, even if you have many of the necessary skills. You need a fresh eye to catch your mistakes and to point out where the text requires clarification or modification.

Like hiring anyone, take the time to interview a few editors and determine which one will be the best fit. A good writer / editor relationship is essential because you need to be able to converse openly and honestly. Using a professional editor will enhance your work but remember, you have the final say on all matters.

Once you have chosen an editor, establish the ground rules regarding what they are to do. One route is simply to ask an editor to check the spelling, punctuation and grammar. An added step might be to have them make notes about poor flow or confusing passages.

Costs will vary depending upon what you want done. Getting a ball park figure for an editor's services is tough to do if they have not seen your work. Before you ask for a quote, let them scan the manuscript. The quote will be much more realistic if they have a sense of how well you write. By the way, you might just as well learn the shorthand editors use - i.e. the squiggles, dots and slashes. Most high quality dictionaries will include samples and definitions of proof-reader's marks.

Carefully research and interview potential printers

Selecting a printer is not simply a matter of finding the company with the lowest price. Your first step is to ask for some input from existing self-published authors. Their opinions will be invaluable in steering you totwo or three potential printers who have good reputations for quality, service and price.

Then talk to each of the short-listed printing companies. Determine exactly who will be personally handling your account. Believe me, you will want to be able to communicate with this person. Above all else, be honest and explain you are a novice. The printing industry thrives on using mind-boggling jargon and you will want to work with someone who has the patience to answer all your questions.

Clarify how the printer expects you to deliver the text and the cover. Specifically ask what software they use for formatting the content. You may not want to go to the expense of buying this software. If not, onealternative is to see if your editor can transfer the manuscript to the printer's preferred program. Another option is to determine if the printer will shoot negatives directly from your hard copy.

When it comes to the book cover, again understand what your printer requires from you and if need be, involve your cover designer with the appropriate person at the printing firm. If you don't take the time to clarify these issues at the outset, you could be in for a rude awakening and rapidly escalating costs.

Titles do make a difference

Put five authors in a room for three hours to discuss mistakes we have made relative to titles and you will have enough material for another book!

The primary thing to remember is the title must attract attention and appeal to the people who will eventually buy the book. In essence you are attempting to satisfy two types of buyers - the purchaser at the bookstore and the ultimate consumer. A good title should also identify the subject matter of the book.

Titles should not rebuff or demean readers unless there is a humorous angle which is clearly evident i.e. something like Word Processing for Idiots. Let me give you an example of a title which bordered on being negative. My first book was entitled From Fired.... ....To Hired. Catchy title, looked great on the cover but after the fact, I found some job seekers were reluctant to take the book to the check-out counter. Why? They were embarrassed and felt others might think they had recently been terminated.

Don't forget, you are going to live with the title of your book for a number of years. Also, give some thought to how it will complement your other business ventures. To take my previous example a step further, assume my primary business was delivering career change seminars. If I had selected the title Future Focus... The Guide to Career Change © instead of From Fired.... ....To Hired, it would have been much easier to attract a wider range of seminar participants.

Bounce your title ideas off a variety of people and get some gut reactions. Walk the aisles of your favourite bookstore to see what titles leap up and grab your attention. The right title will help sell books and while you may love your personal first choice, it may not be the most effective.

If the foregoing information has ignited or re-kindled your interest in writing and self-publishing a book, stop by the website next month for the conclusion of this article. We will discuss the importance of cover design, selecting a distributor, weighing the advantages of hiring a publicist and effectively launching your first book.

Click here to read Part 2 of Self-Publishing a Book... for Fun & Long Term Profit