Sarah’s Writing Blog

I hope everyone has the most wonderfully peaceful holiday.

See you all in the New Year!

I mentioned Lily taking over the Portal stories, in this post.

I started that story with a rough idea of genre and two main characters - Kate and Sam. I had no plot and no real idea of where the story was going. I was writing out my own personal demons and pouring heart and soul into the whole thing as a form of therapy. Oh and it was a dare that I couldn’t resist…

Anyway, I got to the point where Kate tells Lily that she’s seen Sam and something weird was going on and Lily started doing things that took me by surprise. She knew things that she shouldn’t have known and said things that had an odd resonance, leading me to think she had a much greater part to play in the story. I’ve heard and read of other writers saying similar, that their characters take over and I thought it was nuts. I mean, you made them up right? How on earth can they take over? You, the writer, control the characters and plot don’t you?

Umm, no. I take them and shape them, give them form and feelings, breathe life into them and when it works they behave like real people. When it works they do and say surprising things and I have to choose to either let it happen and work with the person they become or to force them into the plot I have in mind. I’ve tried that. It doesn’t work. They rebel and the story doesn’t flow properly.

Well, it doesn’t work for me anyway. What I’m saying here is that each writer has to find their own way and their own methods for writing. It’s all very individual! When you find the right way for you then it’s magical and almost addictive. Once I discovered that planning is not great for me and that I write best under competitive pressure, then I was hooked.

The Portal Sundered (current working title) is mostly written but is in need of some serious editing and rewriting work - that will commence after Christmas now and I hope to be able to get it ready for release around Easter, but don’t hold me to that!

OK, I’ve finished it - it was a real page-turner! what an achievement!

Comments from people who read The Portal Between.

I’ve finished it!! Hooray! Well not so hooray actually I’d like to read the sequel now please…

Really good Sarah, I thank you!

I suppose I’d better start pulling the sequel together now then? Right after I sign and send out the latest batch, make lunch, feed the kids, do the shopping….. Oh, tomorrow then?

Ah yes, now where was I?

So, you’ve got your manuscript ready, all formatted and looking great in a word document. You have your cover art sorted, or you think you’ll be ok with a Lulu template. They have lots but bear in mind that anyone can use them, there will be other books with the same cover. You’ve also thought about and decided what kind of book you want.

Now go and find the Lulu forums and FAQ and have a good long read before you start. There are tips on making your work look the best it can and helping it look right for selling. There are also guidelines on which type of documents are appropriate, which image formats Lulu accepts etc. Well worth a browse over a cup of tea or several. The forums are also great places to ask those daft questions and get a sensible answer.

Once you’ve got that all sorted, Go for it!

Go to your Lulu account, sign in and find “My Lulu” Once there you’ll find a “Publish” tab at the top, on the left. Click it and follow the instructions, it’s fairly self explanatory.

A tip though, I’d set your masterpiece to “Private” until you’re happy with it. You can always delete and start again if you go wrong or don’t like the result. Also allow a few months to order a preliminary copy, get it and change it, then get another one.

Have you noticed? There’s no up front payment. Part of the cost of each book covers the printing and other associated costs and Lulu take a cut too. If you’re buying your own book then you pay just that. You are in control, every step of the way. When you’re ready to release it to general sale then YOU set the creator revenue and the price that the public will pay for your work.

This is simple self publishing and this WILL NOT get your book onto Amazon or into your local bookshop. For that you need an ISBN and a distribution package, and that’s a whole other post for another day….

Good luck.