Rodney Miles - The Three Pillars of Self-Publishing Success: Product, Platform, and Publicity

The Publishing Performance Show

Rodney Miles is the author of "The Book Dude's Guide to Self-Publishing" series and a self-publishing consultant with over 14 years of experience in the industry. Having worked on more than 300 book projects, Rodney has developed systematic approaches to help authors navigate their publishing journey. His background as a writer, ghostwriter, and editor evolved into a comprehensive consulting business where he helps authors through custom publishing projects while sharing his expertise through his books.

In this episode:

• Rodney's journey from real estate to writing and publishing
• The evolution of self-publishing over the past 15 years
• Understanding the "ignorance gap" in the publishing industry
• The three key stages of self-publishing: product, platform, and publicity
• The 10 stages of book creation from planning to post-launch
• Why the pre-launch phase is crucial but often neglected
• The value of beta readers and how to use them effectively
• How to increase your chances of a "lightning strike" success
• The importance of treating your book as both an art and a business

Resources mentioned:

• The Modern Author (Book 1 in The Book Dude's Guide series)
• Publishizer.com - Platform for crowdfunding and publisher connections
• Short-form book proposals as an alternative to traditional 50-page proposals

Connect with Rodney Miles:

• Website: www.rodneymiles.com

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
• Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
• Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/

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Chapters

1. Introduction & Welcome to Rodney Miles (00:00:00)

2. From Freelance Writing to Running a Publishing Business (00:02:23)

3. The "Great Library" Philosophy on Book Writing (00:04:21)

4. Introduction to The Book Dude's Guide Series (00:04:59)

5. The "Ignorance Gap" in Publishing (00:06:57)

6. Book Proposals: Traditional vs Modern Approach (00:09:15)

7. The Three Stages of Self-Publishing (00:12:20)

8. Breaking Down the 10 Stages of Book Creation (00:14:35)

9. The Importance of the Pre-Launch Phase (00:16:58)

10. Key Activities During the Pre-Launch Period (00:18:06)

11. How Pre-Launch Builds Author Confidence (00:19:34)

12. Essential Pre-Launch Activities: Beta Readers & Reviews (00:22:30)

13. How Publishing Has Changed in 15 Years (00:25:51)

14. The Book Dude Series Structure & Future Books (00:27:49)

15. Who Should Read "The Modern Author" (00:29:23)

16. Book Marketing: The Drop in the Ocean Analogy (00:31:00)