How to Get Your Sci-Fi Novel Self-Published Online
by Michael Lazar PR ExpertHave you thought about writing your own sci-fi novel?
If you’re an avid sci-fi fan, you
may have already written your own intergalactic adventure, and now you’re
wondering how to get your sci-fi novel self-published
online. Never fear, budding authors!
Let’s dive into the details of how to get your novel self-published online.
Read and study other sci-fi novels
If you’re choosing to write sci-fi, odds are it’s already your favorite genre. So go for a bookshelf
deep dive and reread
your favorites and really focus on what it is you love about their storytelling.
Click here
to read more about great sci-fi authors to read to improve your writing.
Research
Out of all the genres to
write, sci-fi is one genre that can require a heavy amount of research.
Even though sci-fi is fiction,
readers still expect a certain level of scientific fact and realism.
Here are a few sites to get you
started that I use frequently:
Fantasy Name Generator:
This is THE site if you want to start creating believable characters, planets,
colonies, species, etc.
Roll
For Fantasy: This site (the sister of Fantasy
Name Generator) allows you to create visual mock-ups for anything you can
imagine (including spaceships!)
Worlds Without End:
This site has a wealth of information on literary subgenres, including sci-fi
subgenres like silkpunk and cyberpunk.
Outline
Science fiction requires attention to detail and
can be rather in-depth. So, before you jump in and start writing take the time
to write a general outline.
If you don’t feel you
need to take the time to plan, you’re not alone. But like traveling, it’s
important to know where you’re going, so you’ll need a roadmap. Your outline
isn’t set in stone, and you can change it if your story starts to evolve into
something different.
Click here and here for some helpful articles on outlining, including
some free outline templates!
Edit
Now that you’ve written
your novel, it’s time for the hard part. What’s harder than writing a novel,
you may ask? Editing it. Many self-published authors
shoot themselves in the foot when they’re so eager to publish they don’t take
the time to get someone to edit their work.
Before you edit anything,
put your manuscript away for a couple of weeks.
Stephen King even recommends six weeks. This puts time and distance between you
and your manuscript so you can read it again with fresh eyes.
If you don’t have the
money to hire an editor, you can find writer or reader friends to read and give
you feedback. You can also find a critique partner on Critique Partner Matchup or CritiqueMatch
to help you.
Entice your readers
With a beautiful,
eye-catching cover and unique title, you’ll have readers clamoring to click on
your book to see what’s it’s about.
Upwork and Fiverr are two
popular sites for hiring book cover artists (if you can afford it), and
Instagram and other social media sites have tons of artists open for
commissions. Strapped for cash? Free sites to design your own
professional-quality book covers do exist. Canva’s Book Cover Maker and Visme are a couple of good sites.
The next step to entice
your readers is to write a synopsis. Your book will be dead on arrival if your
synopsis doesn’t creatively explain what your book is about. Stumped? Here are some tips on how to write a
great synopsis.
Choose a platform
When you have a polished manuscript
free of errors, a great cover, and synopsis, you’re ready to choose your self-publishing
platform.
A newer kid on the block,
Fictionate.Me is a great platform for speculative fiction.
· Publish for free
· Engage with your readers
· Keep 100% of royalties
· Create audiobooks
· Publish complete manuscripts or chapter by chapter.
One of the most popular platforms
for authors.
· Publish for free
· Huge reach
· Engage with your audience
· Paid Stories program (must be invited)
· Publish for free
· Publish chapter by chapter
· Can earn royalties (from reader donations only)
· Engage with your readers
Create an online presence
Deciding on a social
media platform is also a personal choice. I personally prefer Instagram, while
my colleague Jillian (who has self-published her own sci-fi novel!) prefers Twitter. Facebook is
also a viable choice for aspiring writers, especially if you like to engage
with writing groups or want to start your own. Once you gain some ground, you
can create your own author website.
I hope this article helps
guide you along the path of self-publishing your sci-fi novel. Check out more
helpful articles and writing tips on our blog!
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Created on Oct 21st 2021 15:11. Viewed 369 times.