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Rosen Trevithick

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How Not to Self-Publish - The Totally Splendid Hotshot Author’s Survival Guide Kindle Edition

by Rosen Trevithick (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

3.9 31 ratings

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Rosen Trevithick has threatened to eat celebrities, produced a podcast in which she interviews herself and posed with a gummy triangle stuck to her face – all in the name of marketing. Yet she has somehow managed to shift over a quarter of a million books.

A keen advocate of ‘What works for one probably won't work for the thousands who try to replicate it’, Rosen recommends finding your own path, with a focus on learning from mistakes rather than success stories.

Penned using a combination of her own catastrophic blunders interspersed with wry observations, How Not to Self-Publish provides a light-hearted, informative and sometimes surreal look at selling books in the modern world.

Cover illustration by Katie W. Stewart.

Print length

174 pages
Language

English
Sticky notes

On Kindle Scribe
Publication date

August 6, 2014
File size

1020 KB
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Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00MHTW07S
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Trevithick Press; 1.0.1 edition (August 6, 2014)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 6, 2014
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1020 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 174 pages

Customer Reviews:
3.9 31 ratings

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Rosen Trevithick

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Rosen is a bestselling author, who writes fiction for children and adults.

She was born in Cornwall and grew up on Restronguet Creek. She studied Experimental Psychology at St Catherine's College, Oxford, before moving back to the West Country. She now lives on the south coast of Devon with two imaginary cats, fantasising about getting a real one.

In 2011 Rosen was an aspiring author. Writing was a hobby. The following January sales of her books on Kindle took off, and by October she has sold 27,000 copies and her total download count exceeds 220,000. She now has three books in print: Pompomberry House, Seesaw and The Troll Trap, as well as many digital titles.

Rosen writes in a variety of genres with a strong leaning towards comedy. She has also dabbled with psychological fiction and mystery writing.

She loves wild swimming, mountain biking, interesting boots, quiffs, 'sampling' chocolate and cooking tasty treats. She dislikes house spiders, doing laundry and people putting costumes on their cats.

Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5

31 global ratings

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Lynn Thompson

Wish I would have come across this book sooner

Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2015

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I have to give this book 5 stars just for the laugh out loud/ snarky/ common sense humor on committing to be a professional self published author.

Wish I would have come across this book sooner-must read for self published authors.

"You decide to use a photo of a brick instead of a cover...

Signs of a problem: 30 insipid photo's of a brick on your smartphone camera roll.

The symptoms: Chronic laziness, delusions of grandeur.

You don't know how to use photoshop and hey, it's the age of self publishing diversity...."

Most self publishing books I've read stay on the serious side of the issue do this- don't do that, but don't give examples on what could go wrong if an author chooses to do the don't do that. Rosen gives great examples of what could go wrong when authors tread down the wrong path with their books, book promoting, ect... Plus she gives great advice on how to deal with bad reviews, other competitive authors, copyright infringement and the many roadblocks authors may encounter on their way to fame. Rosen also explains the difference between self publishing -vs- traditional publishers.

Within the humorous examples of using common sense as a self published author Rosen gives great clear advice with a bit of funny added into the mix on some of the right ways to self publish, including how covers should look, author photo's, promoting, what's considered spam and of course how not to get your laptop eaten by a crocodile. Along with some of the silly mistakes authors can make without thinking and the right knowledge.

Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2015

Verified Purchase

This book is obviously satire, but that doesn't mean it isn't helpful. Although I think I would the crocodile for my hard drive.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Michelle Parkins

Truly funny and well worth the time

Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2015

Verified Purchase

I laughed out loud a lot!
The problem is that I was out of town on business and eating in a hotel restaurant all by myself trying not to look like a complete dork night after night. Chortling softly is okay...laughing out loud often seems a little odd, but it was worth the strange looks.

Great book if you want insight into the rocky road of being an indie author or if you're planning to take this journey too. One thing I do agree with is that every author, whether self published or published by a big company needs to hold their books to the highest standard. There is no excuse for sloppy editing, grammatical errors or spelling mistakes. The reader doesn't care how the book got onto their kindle but they do care if you waste their time. So many books, so few hours!

It was also quite an eye opener for me that writers read their reviews...not sure why, but I guess I didn't think they had the time. If I give a bad review in future I'll give constructive critisim. Usually it's the lack of editing that drives me insane, but I'll be more specific. Thanks for that tip!

One person found this helpful

Helpful

PS Wilson

Must read for Indie writers

Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2015

Verified Purchase

Good advice.Fun to read. Makes you think.

Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2015

Verified Purchase

A complete waste of words and time. It teaches only the most obvious things. And its tone is trashy.

Helpful

Alex Roddie

An effective blend of comedy and genuinely useful guidance

Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2014

The world of books has been rocked by revolution over the last few years, and at the forefront of this wave of change is the self-publishing movement. Self-publishing has been around for as long as books have existed, of course, but the invention of the Kindle in 2007 started the indie scene as we know it today. For the first time in history, self-published authors have the potential to earn as much as those who have signed a book deal with a publishing house.

Rosen Trevithick is an accomplished and prolific indie. She writes in a variety of genres, but is chiefly known for her comic novels. In "How Not To Self-Publish", Rosen applies her talent for comedy to the process of self-publishing.

The book is both very funny and full of wisdom. It will, perhaps, be best enjoyed by those who have already published their own work — there are references here you might only get if you’re already an indie — but those considering taking the plunge will find a huge range of practical advice.

Because the advice is conveyed through humour, it avoids feeling preachy or condescending at any point. The obvious subjects are discussed: how to avoid creating a terrible cover, how to cope with bad reviews, and how to build your reputation — to name but a few. The book also touches on less obvious topics that only an experienced indie might consider (for example, creating and maintaining an author persona).

She has much to say on the subject of editing, too. Indies have a (sometimes unfair) reputation for skipping the editing stage, perhaps mindful of the expense. Conventional advice is to employ an editor at all costs, but some writers may simply be unable to afford an editor at first. Once again this book offers advice I can completely endorse:

“Do not kidnap an editor and demand a proofread. Sarcastic remarks from reviewers are hurtful but so is being jailed.”

I think her attitude towards professionalism in indie publishing is commendable, and this is one of the themes which runs through every page of the book:

“Never take the attitude that you’re an indie, so accuracy doesn’t matter. If you want to be taken seriously as a totally splendid hotshot author then you need to behave like one, and totally splendid hotshot authors strive for perfection.”

What about reviews?

“… it’s best to steer clear of any review scheme in which money changes hands.”

This is valuable advice for new writers, some of whom may not be aware that paying for reviews is unethical.

The comedy is well-tuned and frequently ironic. I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. Writers who have already been guilty of the presented scenarios may be tempted to take offence, but honestly, it’s all so good-natured that only a curmudgeon would fail to smile.

Overall, "How Not To Self-Publish" offers an effective blend of comedy and genuinely useful guidance for indies. Even seasoned writers will find plenty to enjoy here, and will almost certainly learn a thing or two. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone considering taking the leap into the world of self-publishing.

6 people found this helpful

Helpful

Joo

Not just for authors

Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2016

First off, I'm not and will never be an author. Second off, this is a very funny book that is not just for authors.

Yes, this is a very instructive book for would-be self-publishers, but it's a lot more about what not to do and how not to offend readers.

The book is set out into mini chapters based on potential scenarios, such as "A Reader Notices a Typo", "Your Wallet Hears Erotica Calling", "Your Quote About Dog Turds Goes Viral" and "Another Author Plagiarises Your Zombie Heptathlon". There then follows guidance on how to manage these scenarios.

Since the book is set out in mini chapters it is easy to just read one or two when you have a few minutes. I read this book in 3 goes as it was "just one more", "OK just another". I found it to be very light and funny and quite adult in places.

If you've liked any of this author's more comedic stories, you'll like this, even if you are like me and prefer reading to writing.

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Alex Roddie

An effective blend of comedy and genuinely useful guidance

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 12, 2014

Verified Purchase

The world of books has been rocked by revolution over the last few years, and at the forefront of this wave of change is the self-publishing movement. Self-publishing has been around for as long as books have existed, of course, but the invention of the Kindle in 2007 started the indie scene as we know it today. For the first time in history, self-published authors have the potential to earn as much as those who have signed a book deal with a publishing house.

Rosen Trevithick is an accomplished and prolific indie. She writes in a variety of genres, but is chiefly known for her comic novels. In "How Not To Self-Publish", Rosen applies her talent for comedy to the process of self-publishing.

The book is both very funny and full of wisdom. It will, perhaps, be best enjoyed by those who have already published their own work — there are references here you might only get if you’re already an indie — but those considering taking the plunge will find a huge range of practical advice.

Because the advice is conveyed through humour, it avoids feeling preachy or condescending at any point. The obvious subjects are discussed: how to avoid creating a terrible cover, how to cope with bad reviews, and how to build your reputation — to name but a few. The book also touches on less obvious topics that only an experienced indie might consider (for example, creating and maintaining an author persona).

She has much to say on the subject of editing, too. Indies have a (sometimes unfair) reputation for skipping the editing stage, perhaps mindful of the expense. Conventional advice is to employ an editor at all costs, but some writers may simply be unable to afford an editor at first. Once again this book offers advice I can completely endorse:

“Do not kidnap an editor and demand a proofread. Sarcastic remarks from reviewers are hurtful but so is being jailed.”

I think her attitude towards professionalism in indie publishing is commendable, and this is one of the themes which runs through every page of the book:

“Never take the attitude that you’re an indie, so accuracy doesn’t matter. If you want to be taken seriously as a totally splendid hotshot author then you need to behave like one, and totally splendid hotshot authors strive for perfection.”

What about reviews?

“… it’s best to steer clear of any review scheme in which money changes hands.”

This is valuable advice for new writers, some of whom may not be aware that paying for reviews is unethical.

The comedy is well-tuned and frequently ironic. I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. Writers who have already been guilty of the presented scenarios may be tempted to take offence, but honestly, it’s all so good-natured that only a curmudgeon would fail to smile.

Overall, "How Not To Self-Publish" offers an effective blend of comedy and genuinely useful guidance for indies. Even seasoned writers will find plenty to enjoy here, and will almost certainly learn a thing or two. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone considering taking the leap into the world of self-publishing.

4 people found this helpful

Techno Hippy

Funny and insightful

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 29, 2014

Verified Purchase

I've enjoyed both the author's children's and adult books and in particular the humour she injects into them. I've found humour can be hit and miss in books and she's one of the few authors who nails it for me. As well as her writing she is also very active in the indie author community supporting other authors. What we have here is a departure from her usual books and is a guide to becoming a totally splendid hotshot author.

This isn't a how to guide in the traditional sense. The book comprises of a series of loosely themed anecdotes and what if scenarios that new authors (especially those who are self published) often encounter. The humour makes this an easy read and a fun one even if you aren't an author. There's some crazy stories in here but there's also some useful tips, so while it might not be a guide in the usual sense I would recommend it to authors old and new. Even with the crazier stories there's an element of issues that all authors will encounter at some stage.

As I say it's also a fun read even if you aren't an author and everyone should know what to do if their laptop is eaten by a crocodile!

One person found this helpful

Andrew Lawston

How NOT to write a book what I liked. Or something. This title doesn't quite work. I'm so tired.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 15, 2014

Verified Purchase

Having masterminded over quarter of a million downloads of her books, prolific indie author Rosen Trevithick knows a thing or two about self-publishing. Including, as she admits with disarming frankness, how NOT to do it.

This fun guide to the self-publishing quagmire contains advice, humorously presented, on just about any element of the publication process you care to mention. It's a particularly great guide in that it caters to all levels of experience, right down to reassuring the first-time writer that they don't REALLY need to splash out hundreds of squids on editing and design if they really can't afford it. Trevithick, from experience, knows that overnight success is unlikely to happen with any indie writer's first book, and manages expectations.

Later chapters deal with aspects of being a writer that many guides don't tend to cover, up to and including everything you ever wanted to know about writers' sex lives but were too afraid to ask.

The language is lively, the humour is funny, and the advice is clear. Rosen Trevithick can't promise you a quarter of a million downloads, but follow her tips on the pitfalls to avoid and you should manage to clear a quarter of a dozen pretty easily.

3 people found this helpful

Joo

Not just for authors

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 11, 2016

Verified Purchase

First off, I'm not and will never be an author. Second off, this is a very funny book that is not just for authors.

Yes, this is a very instructive book for would-be self-publishers, but it's a lot more about what not to do and how not to offend readers.

The book is set out into mini chapters based on potential scenarios, such as "A Reader Notices a Typo", "Your Wallet Hears Erotica Calling", "Your Quote About Dog Turds Goes Viral" and "Another Author Plagiarises Your Zombie Heptathlon". There then follows guidance on how to manage these scenarios.

Since the book is set out in mini chapters it is easy to just read one or two when you have a few minutes. I read this book in 3 goes as it was "just one more", "OK just another". I found it to be very light and funny and quite adult in places.

If you've liked any of this author's more comedic stories, you'll like this, even if you are like me and prefer reading to writing.

One person found this helpful

Our Tone

Disappointed

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 22, 2014

Verified Purchase

Disappointed with this. Not quite what I was expecting. I didn't actually learn anything from it, which is a shame. But different course for different horses

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How Not to Self-Publish - The Totally Splendid Hotshot Author’s Survival Guide Kindle Edition

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