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How to Get Your Sci-Fi Novel Self-Published Online

by Michael Lazar PR Expert

Have 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.

 

Fictionate.Me

 

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.

 

Wattpad

 

One of the most popular platforms for authors.

 

·       Publish for free

·       Huge reach

·       Engage with your audience

·       Paid Stories program (must be invited)

 

Royal Road

 

·       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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About Michael Lazar Junior   PR Expert

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Joined APSense since, December 20th, 2016, From Phoenix, United States.

Created on Oct 21st 2021 15:11. Viewed 369 times.

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