Self-publishing Mission Beach author also a writing, publishing coach

SAN DIEGO – Having self-published 26 books since 1991, Lee Silber of Mission Beach is now ready to help others do the same.

The self-proclaimed local “book doctor” wants to add writing coach to his resume. Silber noted conditions were favorable for him – and could be for others – to discover their literary voice.

“The timing has never been better for someone who has always wanted to write and publish a book,” Silber said. “Everyone has a story to tell, and now it can be shared. I want to offer tips to help and inspire others to write a book and get it out into the world.”

Silber talked about why things have changed for the better for self-publishers.

“I had a literary agent, still do,” noted Silber, adding that the wrong advice he received was that you can’t write both fiction and non-fiction. “I believed that for a long time,” he said. “Then I wrote a book of short stories and a novel. You can do both.”

Silber pointed out even his non-fiction is story-based because, “I feel people learn better through stories and I felt like I was already a storyteller.”

Of his modus operandi, Silber said: “Start with that thesis, the main idea of the book. Then outline it. I do that with index cards, or you can just speak into a recorder. The most important advice I can give about writing a book is that the more you break it down into easier, more manageable steps to lessen your feat, the better.”

The Mission Beach author noted that lots of people talk about having a book idea, but that it stops there, with few following through on their idea.

“They think you have to have an agent and publisher,” he said. “But there’s another way. And that is, you write it, and have your friends and family help you edit. Then you upload to Amazon, and they will publish it. And that can happen quickly.”

That way, Silber noted, the self-publisher can minimize costs while getting the feedback from others they need to refine their writing.

“And the books are printed on-demand; you order them as you need them,” he said. “Amazon is the greatest distributor of books on Earth. They take a percentage of your sales. But it’s a better deal than if you sign with a publisher.”

Can you make a living self-publishing? Silber replied that the best way to answer that is to say it’s best to think of it as “complementary,” but not your main source of income. “You never want to say never,” he said, adding, “But don’t count on it.”

You’re only good as your last story or book. Silber is working on two new books. He’s also planning on helping others with their new books. “I have friends saying to me over and over, “I’m ‘going’ to write a book, instead of saying I ‘am’ writing a book,” he said.

Silber said his new mantra is going to be, “Let me help you get this thing done. If people reach out to me for my help – I’m happy to do that.”

The author spoke of his most dramatic self-published book. “A few years ago, I wrote a book about a woman who had stage 4 lung cancer with only months to live,” he said.

“She said, ‘You will write my book.’ That was a big ask. I said, ‘yes.’ The book about her lessons in life was called ‘Sunshine.’ Her book lives on because of me. I’m so proud of that.”

Silber will be teaching a class about the book business at San Diego Writers’ Ink at Liberty Station, 2730 Historic Decatur Road #204, on Saturday, Sept. 13. San Diego Writers’ Ink is a nonprofit offering classes, workshops, readings, and more at Inspirations Gallery at Arts District Liberty Station. For more information, visit leesilber.com.