Anybody ever self published a book and have a few tips?
Tips on writing and also tips on the publishing process.
Discussion
What kind of book? I haven’t self published…yet…but I know #[2] has read a lot about it.
Thanks! And I would be writing a non-fiction. About the ways Spirituality and Science (mostly physics) seem to be converging and supporting one another as time goes on.
I’d love to read this. Double slit experiment and quantum really enable a lot of interesting hypotheses about reality and experiences. There’s not much as liberating as the realization that “I don’t know”.
Dr. Robert Lanza's book Biocentricity was a fascinating read on that subject.
I’ll check it out! Thanks for the recommendation!
Couldn’t agree more, and would like to write about it so I could condense the ideas around this. Double slit experiment almost opens up the door to “believing is seeing” possibility.
I have been working my way through listening to every physicist that Lex Fridman has had a long form convo with, and so far the biggest take away is that the closer we try to get to the fundamental fabric of reality, the more things diverge from anything even close to being in the realm of historical “scientific” logic
Just like the mathematical understanding of gravity changed when we understood relativity. “Normal” is also relative and I love that what happens at the extremes flip all of that on its head. Early science is so egotistical - planets circling the earth. I do like the idea that progress in both spirituality and science requires surrender - especially for two areas that at times have been made to seem so diametrically opposed.
Yep I am completely on the same wavelength as you with this. I think that it could be liberating for a lot of people to lose the sense that you are either spiritual or scientific and find that there is actually a lot of logic in the fact that each individual’s relative experience is based in a realm that we are merely trying to find consistencies in (“scientific fact”) which are helpful but also that relative experience by its definition is in the eye of the beholder so there is room for unlimited ways to shape that experience (the spiritual).
And who knows, maybe, just maybe, what you believe is to come is what you end up experiencing.
Obviously lots of interesting cases of belief changing medical outcomes that most of us are familiar with, it’s interesting to see that it could be even more fundamental with the questions now being raised by studies at the quantum level.
I think at the root of this, there is a lot of fear. Of the unknown, sure… but also of what humans have done with spirituality/surrender, and the ways something so fundamental has been used to manipulate and also to shame (largely through this belief that “knowing” is possible and that it’s rooted in the past). I think what you’re describing creates a space in between… a way to not “throw the baby out with the bath water”. I think if you can bridge that gap, there is a lot of value there. You should definitely write the book!
I agree and thanks! This is motivating 😊
Yes but no. Hahaha. Good story ...
So in my complex there's a book exchange shelf in the community building. I saw a book of poems and picked it up. It was self published by another resident and the quality of the paper and binding were good. I was impressed. The cover art looked good too.
But, what was ABUNDANTLY clear, was that it needed HEAVY editing. A good editor is worth their weight in (Bitcoin?).
So I'd say focus down EXACTLY on WHY you're publishing the book and WHO it's intended audience is. Let this guide your showing of your art.
If it's for YOU only then go wild and do whatever. It's art only for you.
But if you're targeting a wider audience get someone who is 1) good at editing 2) understands the genre well - both great and bad examples. 3) let them edit your thoughts and art. Ruthlessly. You need to be an idea assassin.
Why?
I believe parameters and restrictions push increased creativity and artistic expression. I wont dive in. But I believe this strongly.
And attention spans are SHORT. Two famous, THE most famous musicians of the past 100 years, both said that attentions spans are short and you have to have what is important IMMEDIATELY. (Paul from the Beatles and Dave from the Foos)
There are outliers obv... But I think it's sage advice. Huge anthologies like LOTR or whatever only come along once or twice.
How many shows have you watched where you can TELL the writers are drawing it out and making more of the story than it should be? SO many. It waters down the art.
Back to my recent example.
This author had a book of, maybe 50 or more poems. Some of them were bad. Some corny. Some so very amateurish. They weren't categorized in a way to show progress or anything. Just a book of mostly bad poetry with cringy drawings as well. Ick. 🫤
But. There was one poem, as amateurish as it may seem that MOVED me. Hard swallow and fought back a tear. Yup. That good at telling a human experience.
I ran into this author a week later (her headshot was on the back cover) and clumsily told her that I'd picked up and read her book. She smiled wide and said it WAS the edited/updated version. And that she has too many to sell or even donate to the local thrift store.
Thanks for listening. Hahaha. I needed to edit this. 😆 Irony.
I have this dream of writing a book, and I keep saying each year I’m going to participate in NaNoWriMo. Maybe one year I will 😂 but if you’re interested in writing fiction it’s a good community to check out for resources on both the writing and publishing process.
HI, I’m published. DM me specifics and I’ll share some things publicly ☀️😄