I should have spent hours reading about self-publishing, but didn’t.
I published, for better or worse, twice in high school oblivious as to how to make a decent self-published novel. Unfortunately, self-publishing has somewhat of a bad connotation because people think they can be an instant bestseller by uploading their book to amazon. I thought that at first, but learned the truth.
Believe me, it’s much much harder to create a successful book than you can imagine.
If you’re a new writer prepare yourself for hours of brainstorming, even more typing away the tap of your keys for company and gallons of coffee. Oh, and likely at least a few bad reviews and days of doubt.
To avoid many pitfalls I later read numerous books on the subject. Here’s a short list of the those I found most useful that will aid any writer, not just those interested in YA.
1. 20 Master Plots:And How to Build Them
Available at: http://www.amazon.com/20-Master-Plots-Build-Them/dp/1599635372
2. The Plot Whisperer
Available at: http://www.amazon.com/The-Plot-Whisperer-Secrets-Structure/dp/1440525889
3. Plot Perfect
4. Any books in the genre that you write!
This last one is most important. Reading books similar to yours gives you an idea of what readers of your particular genre are looking for. It helps you see unique angles for your story and ways to handle difficult or controversial scenes you may be working on. I often read other books to see how they handle a situation that I have trouble relating to or am not sure if it’s too much for YA.
I hope these books help!
Writer in Sweatpants 