You have created a work of art. In the past, you’ve shared some of your work with others that have enjoyed your work. Now you are looking to publish your work to get it exposed farther afield.

There are so many pathways to choose from. Which path should you choose in getting your work out there, from an e-book and print (hardcover and paperback) to an audio book? Let’s discuss a few ways to getting your work noticed.   

You have been writing graphic novels for over three years. You are seen as an expert in your field by a small group of readers that love comics. Taking your work globally can be a challenge because there is so much competition, but if you concentrate on a niche market of readers, you can become a success like J.K. Rowling, the Harry Potter author.

Rowling appeared to have become an overnight success in the late 1990s, beginning with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Great writing begins with a compelling character and story in order to obtain excellent exposure. The exposure will be based upon who wants to hear what you have to say.

We will begin the conversation with self-publishing. Self-publishing is not for the faint of heart. It takes work, passion, and persistence to create a buzz for your work.

You want others, especially readers, to see you as an expert on a subject not only within the publishing arena, but within your field of expertise. Brian Patrick Eha interviewed Guy Kawasaki for Entrepreneur.com. Kawasaki, who himself is a self-published author of some of his 13 books, had some compelling things to say about self-publishing.

Kawasaki understands the challenges of being self-published so he co-wrote Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur (APE): How To Self-Publish. In his interview, Kawasaki provided Eha with some simple yet explosive points to consider when self-publishing. As you read through each point that Kawasaki offers, your task is to begin to process the information and consider how you can use these six steps immediately:  

Write for the right reasons

Use the best tools

Get in the front of the crowd

Hire a copy editor

Hire a cover designer

Don’t give up

Each of the above-mentioned steps will help point you to the pathway for self-publishing, but let’s touch on these points a little more:

Write for the right reasons.

This process helps you to create a pathway for exposure because you are creating a story that others want to either get educated about or to be entertained by.

Use the best tools including a copy editor and graphic designer.

In using the best tools you will be seen as a professional. Your professionalism allows you the ability to be able to compete with not only indie authors like yourself, but established and major authors as well. No one should be able to tell that you are an indie self-published author by your book and presentation.

Get in front of the crowd.

This says it all. What is your plan to make this happen? You can perform this in several ways from being seen as an expert, asked to speak as a subject matter expert, and using a social media platform to create several grassroots marketing messages.

Don’t give up.

Remember what I stated earlier, that self-publishing is not for the faint of heart. Tap into that passion so that it continues to feed you when you are discouraged and to give you a jumpstart when you feel there’s no hope left.

While writing is the key to not only accomplishment but to honing your craft, getting your story heard and exposed are the steps to getting you noticed.