SquarePeg Books

But then I researched the gatekeepers, and the rights abuses, and sheer improbabilities of getting picked up by a credible publisher.

After I hid under my bed for several days with a few choice stuffies, I started researching other ways that I could release my creative genius upon the world through self-publishing.

Which was quite daunting, as I uncovered huge pits of despair, tiny nuggets of hope, an occasional map (usually outdated, but take what you can get).

I would have to do my own marketing, which, as a no-name author, I would’ve had to anyway, with a big name publisher.

I would have to find or make my own art.

Find a distribution channel or three.

Get my own ISBN, SKU and LCCN codes.

Get my own copyright.

Format the book for epub.

Format differently to get it set for print.

I would have to learn a graphics program, a desktop publishing program; dig to find a reputable and widespread distribution network.

I would have to make mistakes, curse a lot, back up, do more research, change course, have a nervous breakdown, tell myself that baby steps are just fine, then try again.

I would have to take a shit-ton of notes–create my own style sheet, document the editting process notes, the epub format notes, the PDF template notes, software use notes (because the manuals and tutorials are not about the newest version).

I had to learn the difference between “margin” and “bleed.”

I had to compare what everyone says “makes a book look professional” to my own research– like new chapters ALWAYS need to start on the right facing page (they don’t–I checked a lot of old and current big name publishing house titles, and there’s no standard, just make it consistent to the book) or different POV’s MUST HAVE THEIR OWN CLEARLY MARKED SECTION (they don’t–that comes from a publishing house style sheet put together in the 1980’s to make the books under their label “distinctive”).

I only wanted to write.

But I also want to get my work out there.