Have you ever thought about publishing a memoir? If so, you’re in luck, because it seems like the perfect opportunity to get your story out there, and online marketplaces can help with that.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the publishing world has changed. We’re all in lockdown, so instead of being able to go to a bookshop and find the latest fiction or non-fiction, you’ll need to do your shopping online. If you’re lucky, you’ll find an ebook of your choice for a good price. But even then, you’ll need to do some research to make sure it’s available online or in paperback. Because of the pandemic, even big-name publishers have had to halt their print runs, causing many best-selling books to disappear off the shelves. And with libraries closed, people are having to make do with what resources they have available online. This has inevitably led to a rise in e-book piracy, as well as a decline in print book sales.

Where Can I Find My Memoir?

Before the pandemic, self-publishing was a popular option for anyone who wanted to get their book out there. From well-known brands like Penguin and Simon & Schuster to small independent publishers, you could find the perfect fit for your story. But now, with so many options available online, that all seems a little messy. While the world of self-publishing was already a challenging one to navigate, the pandemic has complicated things even more.

If you’re looking for a way to sell your books online, the first thing you need to do is figure out where you can find the ones you have written. If you’re lucky enough to have a few books to your name, you may already know where to look. But if you’re wanting to self-publish and don’t have any publications yet, you’ll need to do some research. Where can I find my memoirs? What library do I need to consult? Who is the right person to talk to about this?

The Digital Divide

Although many people are fortunate enough to have a library at home, those who don’t may find themselves struggling to find the answers to these questions. During the pandemic, even the most rudimentary tasks, like going to the library and checking out a book, have become exceptionally challenging. And things aren’t going to get back to normal any time soon. Libraries across the world have closed down, and people are having to make do with what resources they have available online.

This is also causing a digital divide, where those who can afford a fast and reliable internet connection are able to download books and movies faster and more easily than those who don’t have this luxury. Even those who do have access to libraries are finding it difficult to find the time to use them, especially since many libraries have closed down. While some are reopening, for the most part, the libraries of the world are still quiet, with people having to make do with what resources they have available online.

How Do I Publish My Memoir?

So you’ve decided to pursue self-publishing, and since you don’t have any publications yet, you’re wondering where to begin. The first step is to decide which platform you want to use to publish your book. This will depend on a number of factors, but mainly, on whether you want an ebook or a paperback. If you go with the latter, make sure that the print-on-demand company you choose is reliable and offers a good enough quality. If you decide to go with an ebook, make sure that you get the highest quality one possible. There are also additional considerations, like whether you want an illustrated or an unillustrated book.

Once you’ve picked your platform, the next step is to decide which type of book you want to write. Most likely, you’ll decide to write a memoir. Now is the perfect opportunity to do so, as you’ll be able to find tons of inspiration, whether you want to write about your life, or the lives of others. It’s also a perfect option for writers who don’t have an extensive literary background, as you won’t have to worry about complex grammar or prose.

After you’ve written your book, the next step is to consider editing it. Even if you’ve written the best story ever, you need to make sure that it’s presented well. For this, you can hire an editor at a good price. Depending on how many chapters you have and how much you want to spend, you can hire an editor for as little as $20/per day.

Marketing

If you’ve decided that editorial editing isn’t necessary, and you just want to get your story in as clean and polished a state as possible, then you’re going to need to do some research into marketing your memoirs. The first step in this process is to determine a target audience for your book. Since you’re deciding to publish a memoir, a key step in the process is to determine whether or not you want to market to the general public, or to an exclusive audience. If you want to go the general public route, make sure to hire a reputable PR company, as well as consider doing some press junkets, where you visit different news websites and talk about your book. Of course, you can also create your own press releases, or contact journalists who might be interested in your story.

If you want to target a more specific audience, like literature lovers or people interested in history, you can create a mailing list with those who fit the bill, and market directly to them. Alternatively, you can create a specific Facebook group for your book, or label your blog posts with the keyword-rich hashtags #memoir and #self-publishing, so your posts can be easily found by those who are interested in your topic. Remember to be creative and try out different methods of marketing, to see which ones work best for you.

Social Media

Another important step in the process of marketing your memoirs is to establish a presence on social media. For this, you can create a Twitter account, where you can do all the basic things you can on Facebook, including post status updates, create groups, and more. Since most people are staying inside more, and with fewer people going to libraries, the ones who do have access to internet-connected devices are more likely to be on social media. Create a profile on all the major social platforms, and make sure to engage with your followers on a regular basis. You can also consider doing the same on YouTube or Instagram, depending on which platform you decide to use.

Now that you have a Twitter account and a Facebook page, the next step is to get on Google+. For those who don’t know, Google+ is a bit like Facebook, but it’s designed with the search engine in mind. So while Facebook is a place to connect with friends, Google+ is a place to establish your authority. To get started, simply type ‘google’ + your name + ‘+’ + your website, for example, ‘google Amy Jansen’, and you’ll be directed to your profile page. From there, you can enter your website into the dashboard, and get to work ‘growing’ your audience.

So you’ve decided to write a memoir, and you’re wondering where to start. If you’re fortunate enough to have a few books to your name, you may already know where to look. But if you’re wanting to self-publish and don’t have any publications yet, you’ll need to do some research. Where can I find my memoirs? What library do I need to consult? Who is the right person to talk to about this? Since the world of self-publishing has changed, it’s important to figure out how to market your memoirs online. With so many platforms to choose from, it can be hard to know where to begin. But with some dedicated hustling, you can put yourself in a position to succeed.