Self-Publishing a Book: A DIY Guide
Self-publishing a tome like a boss, all on your own terms? Welcome to the wild west of authorship, where the reins are in your hands. Here's a no-nonsense guide to publishing your book, exactly the way you want. Let's dive into the details.
First Things First: Is Self-Publishing For You?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of self-publishing, let's understand what it's all about. Unlike traditional publishing, where the bigwigs make most of the calls, self-publishing lets you call the shots. Here's a quick run-down of the major differences between self-publishing and the old school method:
| | Traditional Publishing | Self-Publishing || --------- | ---------------------- | -------------- || Rights | Give up control | Keep all rights || Royalties | Get 10%, depending | Get 60-70%, || | on publisher & country | depending on || Decisions | Decisions made for you | Make all decisions || Timing | Take years | Publish within || | | months || Success | Success based on editor's | Success based on || | taste | your marketing |
Although self-publishing may seem more time-consuming, giving up the reins guarantees you'll get published. So, here's what you can expect:
Self-Publishing: The Main Steps
The self-publishing journey consists of six essential steps, from writing your book to distributing it with a platform:
- Writing your book
- Editing your book
- Designing your book cover
- Formatting your book
- Creating a book promotion plan
- Self-publishing with a platform
For a sustainable gig, don't forget that working on your distribution and promotion strategy is an ongoing process.
Self-Publishing
1. Write your book
If your literary masterpiece isn't yet complete, it's time to get writing! There are plenty of tools and resources at your disposal. Take inspiration from your favorite podcasts for scribes or integrate various apps into your writing process:
Traditional Publishing
- Use eBook software for writing, editing, formatting, and conversion.
- Try AI writing tools to aid in brainstorming, crafting sections, and more.
- Take advantage of dictation tools like Google Voice Typing or Apple's Dictation.
- Google writing prompts on whatever topic you're stuck on to get things flowing.
- Connect with writer groups like ours or genre-specific spaces on online forums like Reddit.
- Always prioritize self-care.
2. Edit your book
After writing your first draft, revisit it repeatedly to eliminate errors. Your final manuscript should be perfect. To achieve this, consider hiring a professional editor from sites like Upwork or Fiverr (costs start at $10 per 1,000 words). Leverage proofreading tools like Grammarly or ProWritingAid. Here are some additional options:
- Ask your network to read your first draft and offer honest feedback. Find reviewers from diverse backgrounds to gather different perspectives.
- Network in spaces like Reddit and find writers willing to exchange critiques.
- Utilize the free platform Scribophile. Upload sample chapters and exchange reviews.
Rights
3. Design your book cover
Every book requires a slick cover design to grab readers' attention in a crowd of competitors. Check out this guide on creating a cover that stands out. If you have the bucks for it, go ahead and hire a pro, especially one with experience in the book industry. If you're on a budget, free tools like Canva cater to folks with no design skills (Like this design we whipped up in less than an hour:)
Keep all the rights.
4. Format your book
Now that you've got a final cover design and manuscript, it's time to put everything together in the correct format. This will ensure that the files you upload and submit to stores and platforms meet their requirements. Be aware of different file and formatting requirements for eBooks, audiobooks, and print books:
The publisher has the rights to your book deal. The exact conditions depend on the publisher.
- For eBooks, format your manuscript in a Word doc ready for conversion into an epub or mobi file. You can outsource formatting or handle it yourself using this guide on eBook formatting.
- For audiobooks, narrate the whole book and record it into mp3 files, each separated by chapters. Check out this guide on turning a book into an audiobook. Don't forget about AI-narrated audiobooks available on all major retailers like Amazon, Apple Books, and Google Books.
- For print books, you'll need two pdf files. The first file should contain the front cover, back cover, spine, and bleed area. The second file should encompass your manuscript body. Learn about print-on-demand requirements.
💡 Self-publishing success hinges on your ability to reach your market. Publishing on various platforms is a key strategy to maximize your reach.
5. Create a solid book promotion plan
Alongside astute distribution, you'll also want a bold book promotion plan. Think about this process in three stages:
Royalties
- Develop your strategy: Outline your target audience, your unique selling points, your budget, and other constraints.
- Choose tactics that align with your strategy: Explore best practices for book marketing, like TikTok's BookTok culture. Choose marketing channels that complement your budget and objectives.
- Set a timeline: Arrange your promotion strategies to coincide with your book launch and overall publishing schedule.
Here's an example timeline:
Get around 60-70%, depending on the store.
Book metadata are the details you fill out for your book on various platforms like Amazon. Optimizing these fields can help with discoverability:
6. Self-publish with a platform
Get around 10%, depending on the publisher and country.
At this point, you have a solid plan in hand, ready to upload your formatted book files and set up your metadata on any self-publishing platforms you prefer. But with so many options out there, which ones should you choose? Here are some of the best free self-publishing sites to consider (a.k.a the big five retailers in the publishing industry):
Amazon KDP
Amazon's the dominant player in the digital book market, which makes its self-publishing platform, Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), popular. However, keep in mind that KDP Select has an exclusivity clause that locks you into selling your book only on Amazon for the first 90 days.
Many indie authors start with KDP Select and switched to a wide strategy later. If royalties between 35% (for books priced below $2.99) to 70% (for books priced between $2.99 - $9.99) are crucial for you, publish wide from the get-go. Use an aggregator like ours to publish wide to various stores along with Amazon.
Decisions
- Formats: EBook, audiobook, and print
- Royalty payout: 70% (for books between $2.99 - $9.99) or 35% (for books below $2.99)
- Reach: Kindle stores in 13 countries, with over 200 million monthly visitors on Amazon.com
- Start: kdp.amazon.com
Apple Books
Make all the decisions, from your cover design to promotional tactics.
Apple's App Store for eBooks and audiobooks boasts a stellar reputation, making it a must-have on your list. Apple Books has a user-friendly process for uploading eBooks. For audiobooks, you'll need to partner with one of Apple's approved vendors, such as ours.
- Formats: EBook and audiobook
- Royalty payout: 70% for most books
- Reach: Over 1.4 billion Apple users in 50+ countries
- Start: authors.apple.com
The managing team makes most of the decisions.
Google Play Books
With Google's immense reach, a bookstore app pre-installed on Android devices, and a strong search engine, Google Play Books is another must-have. A dedicated books page under Google can boost your search engine rankings.
- Formats: EBook and audiobook
- Royalty payout: 70% for most books
- Reach: Over 3+ billion Android users in 75+ countries
- Start: play.google.com
Barnes & Noble Press
Timing
Are you enamored with print books? Barnes & Noble is a traditional book retailer with an impressive print service. Publish directly to the store's platform.
- Formats: EBook and print books
- Royalty payout: 70% for eBooks, 55% for print books
- Reach: Market to millions of readers on the BN.com website and NOOK devices
- Start: press.barnesandnoble.com
Your book can be on the shelves within months. Publish soon after whenever you want.
Kobo Writing Life
Kobo is another self-publishing platform that'll help you tap the Walmart market. In addition to Walmart, Kobo also distributes to other prominent stores around the world.
Publishing a book can take several years. You may have to wait for even more years to publish the next one.
- Formats: EBook and print books
- Royalty payout: 70% (for books priced above $2.99), 45% (for books below $2.99)
- Reach: Access 190+ countries, with over 275 million monthly visitors on Walmart.com
- Start: kobo.com/writinglife
Publish Wide with an Aggregator ⭐
For faster access to various platforms, use an aggregator like ours to save time and maximize your audience reach. Our platform enables you to publish your book across the big five retailers and thousands of other channels, like digital libraries, audio players, and apps.
💡 Contrary to popular belief, going wide doesn't mean spreading yourself too thin. By publishing on as many platforms as possible (eBooks, audiobooks, and print books), in multiple regions, your books' chances of finding their audience increase dramatically.
Getting a book published
Spotlight on Draft2Digital:
courageous independently published works last year, and best of all, they don’t touch any of your royalties. You can check out their website here. Other notable aggregators include Smashwords, IngramSpark, and StreetLib.
Anyone can get published. Your success depends on how well you reach your market.
[5] A Venkat (2020). "How to Write, Publish, and Promote Your First Book." Writer's Digest.Retrieved on [date not provided]. URL: < https://www.writersdigest.com/how-to-write-your-first-book>
[1] AUESUECHTE, K. (2019). "How to Self Publish a Book" Authors Publish Retrieved on [date not provided]. URL: https://authorspublish.com/how-to-self-publish-a-book-2/
Publishers have limited funds, met with countless book proposals. There's no guarantee of your book getting signed.
[2] Fobare, H. (n.d.). "8 Essential Steps to Self-Publish a Book." Reedsy Retrieved on [date not provided]. URL: < https://reedsy.com/blog/8-essential-steps-to-self-publish-a-book/>
[3] Metzler, J. (2021). "The Ultimate Guide to Self-Publishing." Make a Living Writing Retrieved on [date not provided]. URL: https://makealivingwriting.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-self-publishing/
[4] Wendt, K. (2019). "Outline Your Novel Like a Pro." Writer's Digest.Retrieved on [date not provided]. URL: < https://www.writersdigest.com/the-write-angle/outline-your-novel-like-a-pro-five-tips>
- As you embark on self-publishing your book, ensure that it aligns with your interests and goals. Consider various genres such as lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, books, and entertainment.
- In the process of editing your book, employ the help of professional editors from platforms like Upwork or Fiverr. You may also use proofreading tools to ensure your manuscript is free from errors.
- To catch the eyes of potential readers, design an eye-catching book cover using tools like Canva. However, if you have the budget, you might consider hiring a professional designer with experience in the book industry.
