Birthing ‘The G.O.D. Machine’. From Idea to ISBN: A Novel’s Journey

Congratulations for the self-published novel!

Every Choice is a Solution, Every Solution Has a Price

The journey of bringing my novel "The G.O.D. Machine" to life has been a masterclass in creative decision-making. Having written the book in English, targeting the English-speaking market was the natural next step—but the path forward presented me with important choices.

The Traditional Publishing Labyrinth

In today's publishing landscape, approaching publishers directly has become virtually impossible. The flood of manuscripts has transformed literary agents into essential gatekeepers—the only sanctioned path to traditional publishing houses.

Yet these agents themselves are drowning in submissions, making their selection process inevitably subjective and often capricious. Some of their submission requirements read like the whims of Roman emperors at the Circus Maximus: "Entertain me, or you're dead." Not exactly nurturing for a writer's delicate psyche!

Embracing the Alternative Path

To preserve my creative spirit and maintain momentum, I've chosen an alternative route: Books on Demand publishing. The times are changing. Physical books are gradually giving way to e-books and audiobooks. Traditional publishers are seeing profit margins shrink, with authors receiving even less—often just €1 per book after five years of writing and editing. The rest disappears into printing costs, logistics, and profits for publishers and retailers. Understandable, perhaps, but painful nonetheless.

Self-publishing has emerged as a meaningful way to bring one's work to market. The greatest financial potential lies in e-books, where production and logistical costs are minimal. This is the path I'm now embracing: self-publishing through Books on Demand with both print and e-book formats. My publisher even offers audiobook options, which I'll explore if the costs prove reasonable.

Distilling the Essence

Throughout the editing process, I've read my novel at least five times, continuously condensing and refining the material. The remaining essence, I believe, is something worth seeing—or rather, reading. Looking back, I'm amazed at the collection of ideas that have come together in this work.

My deepest gratitude goes to Jessica Brody. Her book "Save the Cat! Writes a Novel" helped me tremendously in structuring my story and, most importantly, maintaining the courage to keep writing.

Celebrating Milestones

Now it's time for a brief pause. I'm opening a bottle of champagne to celebrate this life chapter and the completion of my novel project with my beloved wife Susanne. The end of one chapter marks the beginning of the next, and I can hardly wait to see what comes next.

After all, every ending is just a new beginning in disguise.