First, I’m aware that crowd-funding is a way to monetize an existing audience rather than an audience building venture.
That said, I feel like the idea of crowd-sourcing is slightly different.
What’s the difference, you might ask?
Great question!
I’m going to say that crowd-sourcing is inclusive of crowd-funding. With crowd-funding, the ask is for money. The “crowd” provides “funding” in exchange for a product being produced. Crowd-sourcing, on the other hand, might ask for money, but it could also source a variety of services and assistance in exchange for a product bring produced.
What’s my point, you might ask?
Another great question! Have you done this before?
Well, in my last post, I shared the launch of a new project: Peter the Starchaser, Adventures in the Neververse. This will be a middle-grade novel, and I’m planning to release it in serial format with a plan to then compile and self-publish in book form. The idea came from my five-year-old who said I should write a science fiction Peter Pan story. Since Peter Pan is public domain, I thought, “Why not?”
It’s a fun space-opera style adventure novel filled with laser guns, space pirates, thrilling action, and more than a little heart. It will be for anyone who loves Peter Pan, space pirates, and great storytelling, but it will also have my signature draw to get boys to fall in love with reading.
The first chapter is up. Second chapter is on the way.
(That wasn’t a point)
You are very astute.
The point: Writing a novel has a lot of steps. As the author of two self-published middle-grade novels and a middle-grade trilogy in the process of being put by a small press, I’ve learned a lot of things to do and not to do.
DO
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Get feedback from other writing-professionals, beta readers, and fans
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Hire a cover artist (above image is AI, which will not do)
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Hire a professional editor (developmental, copy, and line editing)
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Get a lot of people to publish reviews (prior to launch if possible)
NOT TO DO
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Assume I’m going to make a lot of money
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Assume the book will have instant appeal
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Skimp on marketing activities
But the point is, it takes a village. So while I started with “why not” to the writing of this whole thing, I’m going to also say “Why not crowd-source” some of the things I need.
The Call to Action (or Here’s What I’m Asking For)
Here’s what I’m thinking:
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I’ll keep writing the book and releasing chapter by chapter here on Substack. At least monthly, but maybe faster.
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You read the chapters, comment, share, offer suggestions, make requests, share, subscribe to my Substack, share, get your friends to read it, read it to your kids, get your friends to subscribe to my Substack, share, etc.
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If you are able, join the paid subscription. This is the only paid thing I’m doing here, so all of the proceeds will go towards getting this project published (and marketing it if there is anything left over).
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If you have a particular set of skills and want to participate in this project, get in touch. I could use editors, beta-readers, reviewers, marketing help, publicity, cover artistry, chapter illustrations, book layout, a book trailer… the list goes on and on.
Doesn’t that sound like fun?