You have written your memoir and you sense that independent publication is your best route. Now you ask, “Where can I find the information I need to make a best decision about how to self-publish a memoir? How does my manuscript go from computer document to a hard-copy book?”
Holding your book in hand is a natural outcome of writing a memoir. How could you possibly be faulted for wanting a hard copy of your story—a hard copy to admire, to pass out to family and friends, to sell to an appreciative audience?
At the same time, you realize that your memoir is not likely to sell in the tens of thousands. It is a good book and it will appeal to its audience, but you have no illusions about the tens of thousands of copies going out into the world.
To self-publish a memoir is probably your best option
But, you’ve never published before and you are a bit diffident about undertaking such a big project.
When you choose to self-publish, you are the publishing company. A good analogy is to think of yourself as the general contractor. We are your book packagers. We have done every step of the process, and we can take your hand and lead you to a successful completion.
Before you contemplate self-publishing a memoir, you should have it professionally edited and proofread.
The first part of the process of transition from manuscript to book is called “pre-publication” and the second step is “printing.” The whole process adds up to “publication.” The book publication information below—drawn form our years of working with writers, probably very much like you, to publish independently—will help you with your own process of self-publishing a memoir.
When you can ask us to be your publication desk, you can be assured that you will receive a quality book you will be proud of.
Book production info for your self-publication start
Read the articles below. Almost to a one, they point to the self-publication route.
We think the book publication information they offer will convince you to take your memoir from manuscript stage to printed book—via the self-publication process. Then…
If you want help in the process beyond this “mini-course” of posts on how to self-publish a memoir—either for parts or for the whole, we can assist you in any way that works for you. Call us at 207-353-5454 or email us at [email protected] and schedule a free consultation for the assistance that will best meet your needs. And…
Keep writing. No book publication happens until you have a book to publish.
You Can “Package” Your Books into Bundles.
It’s fair to assume that most and perhaps all the readers of this blog post are writers. We may not like marketing but we recognize its importance. In this post, I want to write to you about the importance of bundling in your marketing efforts. You—and I—ought to be always asking ourselves about how to […]
9 Tips for Self-Publishing a Memoir Successfully
If you believe you have the skills and stamina to undertake handling the publication process yourself, read on. The following will help you to succeed… (more…)
Many disparities between women in early Canada and in New England
[Jeanne Mance, founder of the first hospital in Montréal (the Hôtel-Dieu) and a key figure among the women in early Canada.] We want to believe that European settlement of North America was identical, but it wasn’t. The French and the English colonies established different patterns. The women in early Canada had a more public presence. […]
Have You ever Written an Advance Review?
Write an Advance Review of Here to Stay/Lives in 17th Century Canada. Thanks for stopping by! I need you help. Here to Stay/Lives in 17th Century Canada is about to launch into the world. Your advance review of Here to Stay will be an important element of its success. What is an advance review of […]
Showing up for my memoir– again!
DL: This is a reprint of a post that appeared in September of 2022. It strikes me as pertinent for many readers of The Lifewriter’s Digest. The final publication of French Boy took another year. I republish this both to present a proven process and to own that I have my challenges, too. I’m not […]
Better Self-Editing: 3 Easy Techniques
Writing can be a long and tedious task after the initial rush of creativity and enthusiasm. Once the glow fades, Pegasus drops the once-enchanted writer from the skies and—horrors—the writer now has to mount a pack mule to trudge the slopes of rewriting. (more…)
Self-Publishing Means Extroversion!
DL: This post was published in 2022. French Boy/A 1950s Franco-American Childhood has been out in the world for two years. In 2025, I am about to publish Here To Stay/Life in 17th Century Canada. The same introversion/extraversion struggle is about to play itself out again. ___ I am committed to independent publishing—even if self-publishing, […]
How I Launched Myself Publicly in the Creative Life: I Publish a Book
“Is it possible to support myself in the creative life?” you ask.One day in 1988, I stood in front of a door, on the other side of which was a group of Foster Grandparents. I had in hand a copy of my recent collection of autobiographical short stories What Became of Them and Other Stories […]
Photos in Your Memoir Layout
While it may seem obvious, it bears repeating that where you place photos in your memoir book layout will influence how readers appreciate your story. The only way I can see that makes sense is chronologically. (more…)