Many people dream of writing a book and seeing it in print, but the process can be long and arduous if you are going the route of using a traditional publisher. Yet, another option with several benefits that have been growing in popularity over the last several years is self-publishing. No longer do we have to submit manuscripts to agents and wait months (or even years) to have our book accepted by a publishing house. With self-publishing, you own all the rights to your manuscript and are in control of each of the steps to self-publishing a book.
Guide to Self-Publishing
Can anyone publish a book? The answer is yes, if you know and follow the process. Self-publishing a book no longer involves paying thousands of dollars and requiring you to store hundreds of copies of your book in the basement just waiting to be sold. With the print-on-demand technology available today from publishers like Amazon’s KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) and Ingram Spark, you can see your book in print in just months and for a fraction of the previous costs. Self-publishing is affordable, inexpensive book publishing that almost anyone can do!
Here is an overview of the 10 steps to self-publishing a book:
- Write
- Self-edit
- (optional) Beta Readers
- Professional Editing
- Final Draft
- Format
- Book Cover
- Final Details
- Publish
- Book Launch
Writing Your Book
1. Write
The first step to self-publish a book is obvious, and that is you must write it! Many people get stuck at this step and their dream never becomes a reality. One of the greatest pieces of advice we can give is to just give yourself permission to write an ugly, messy first draft. Don’t bother to worry about editing at this point. Just let your ideas flow. You can’t work with something if it isn’t written, so you have to start here. No one except you will ever see this first draft, but you need to get your ideas out of your head and onto paper.
2. Self-Editing
Now you can go back and self-edit what you wrote. This is where you will go back and fix grammar, spelling, and punctuation. You can also reorganize your content into a logical flow as needed. There are several helpful free and paid resources to help you self-edit your manuscript such as Grammarly (linked below).
3. Beta Readers
When you have done your self-editing, an optional step is to find volunteer beta readers (friends, family, professionals in your genre, etc.) who will read your manuscript and give you feedback. Give them at least a few weeks to a month to give you their suggestions and then you can go back and adjust your manuscript accordingly using those that make the most sense for your book.
4. Professional Editing
At this point, you are ready to hire a professional editor. Some people skip this step because it is the mostly costly step to self-publish a book, but don’t make this mistake. The overall quality of your book will be much more accurate and professional if you hire an editor.
5. Final Draft
Once the editor returns your manuscript, it is time to implement the suggestions and corrections they have given. Take time to consider all of the recommendations to ensure that your book is of the highest quality. When you complete this step your book should be in its final draft and ready for self-publishing.
This is also a great place to write a book description that you will use for your back cover and ad copy that summarizes the benefits or theme of your book and that will entice readers to want to buy.
Printing Your Own Book
Now that your book is complete, you are ready to print your own book using a print-on-demand company such as Amazon KDP or Ingram Spark. There are a few steps to consider at this phase before your book is published.
6. Formatting Your Book
Before you can have your book printed, certain requirements need to be met so that the printing company can successfully produce it such as certain trim sizes and cover dimensions. If you are using Amazon KDP, they have formatting software you can use. There are other book formatting software programs such as Atticus, and even one you may already have which is in your Microsoft Word program.
There are several considerations at this step to self-publish your book, and that includes how you want your font, headings, any sidebars or pull quotes, etc. to appear.This all falls under book formatting.
If you are unsure of how to format your own book or don’t feel completely comfortable with this step, you can hire someone very affordably (sometimes as low as $25.-50.) who can do it for you.
7. Book Cover
Like professional editing, this is a step you don’t want to skimp on or take lightly in getting your book published. The cover of your book is one of the number one factors that a customer will consider when deciding to click on your book and potentially purchase. There are a lot of factors involved including the photo and how it relates to your book’s content and theme, the color scheme, fonts, and layout. You also have to consider the design of the book’s spine, and the back cover including your author bio, book description, barcode, and publishing information.
If you are familiar with graphic design, you may be able to create your own book cover successfully. Programs like Photoshop or Canva are helpful tools in creating your cover. Otherwise, you can often hire someone to create a book cover for you. A great resource to check out is Fiverr, where freelancers from around the world can help you. (This is also a great resource for book formatting.) Make sure to check references for whomever you hire.
8. Final Details
Now that your book is written, formatted, and has a cover designed, you have a few more decisions to make. First, you need to decide the price at which you want to set your book. Take some time to research other books of similar size in your genre and take that into consideration when pricing your book.
You also need to research keywords, or search terms, that you will include if you upload your book to Amazon. These are words that customers search for when looking for books such as yours. Currently, Amazon lets you choose 7 keywords or keyword phrases. A great resource to find your keywords is Publisher Rocket, which is a paid software download that helps you find relevant keywords to get your book seen.
The wonderful thing about self-publishing is that you are in control and can change the details such as price anytime you want!
Publish Your Own Book
You’ve finally reached that final step and are so close to holding a copy of your own book in your hands! This is where you will upload your book manuscript and cover file to Amazon KDP. Once you enter all the relevant information they require, you can order a proof copy of your book which takes a few days to receive. Go over it carefully checking for any errors or problems with the formatting, cover design, etc. If you find anything, you can make changes and re-order a new proof copy to check again.
Once everything looks good, you are ready to hit that publish button and publish your own book! Congratulations you are finally a published author!
Using these 10 Steps to Self-Publishing a Book, you can recreate this process again and again to create and publish more of your own books!
Book Launch
With your book now released, you can plan events to kick off your marketing efforts and promote it. Some authors like to have a .99 sale for a limited time to get momentum on book sales, to increase visibility, and start getting book reviews.
Others plan book signings, launch parties, and even speaking events. The choice is yours to do whatever fits your book and your personality best. Many online resources can provide ideas for your book launch if you choose to have one. (See resources and recommended reading below.)
Resources for Steps to Self-Publishing a Book
Recommended Reading for 10 Steps to Self-Publish a Book
- How to Plan a Book Launch that Stands Out from the Crowd
- What to Consider When Planning a Book Launch Timeline
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