Self-Publishing Tips
Hello everyone! I want to see you shine, and I can't wait to read your book!
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Just to clarify, I am not an expert by any means in self-publishing. I have self-published one book (with the second one in the works), and I still have much to learn about the process. The purpose of this page is just to point you in the right direction. I have picked up most of what I have learned from websites online and on YouTube. There is a plethora of knowledge out there, and I recommend researching other websites for more detailed information. This site is just a starter guide.
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Let's get started!
Should I Self-Publish?
Have you ever dreamed of writing your own book?
I would hope the answer is yes because you have an amazing story the world is just dying to hear!
Maybe you have already committed to the task and are now at the step where you have to decide whether to self-publish or traditionally publish.
The answer to this question is very complex.
What's the difference between the two?
The biggest difference is that with self-publishing you as the author will own the rights and earn a larger percentage of the royalties.
You will have more creative control over the fate of your book, but you will also be the one responsible for marketing and managing your work.
With a traditional publishing company you will be less responsible for formatting your book, editing, and marketing.
However, it is rather hard to get accepted by a publisher and the wait time to release is significantly longer. You will also receive a smaller percentage of your royalties since the publishing company takes their cut.
Who should self-publish?
Those who are dedicated to putting the time and energy into researching the process and marketing their product. With self-publishing, the sky is the limit!
You just have to be willing and able to put in the work.
Which Print-On-Demand Service Should I Use?
The answer in my opinion is: BOTH!
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Although Amazon's KDP is easier to use (before, during and after publishing), Ingram Spark has a wider distribution option and higher royalty rates.
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It is defiantly worth it in my opinion to invest the energy it takes to publish on both platforms.
Here are the websites for each:
How to Build An Audience
Congratulations! You have made the decision to self-publish your book. NOT SO FAST!
Before you release your hard work into the world, it is worth the time it takes to build an author website and social media accounts to market your brand.
I built my own website through www.wix.com, but there are plenty of options out there for designing your own (www.godaddy.com and www.wordpress.com are two other popular favorites).
Not computer savvy or short on time?
Ask a friend or hire a professional!
Establishing a social media presence is important to:
A) Tease people with upcoming releases
B) Have a fast and effective way to share information
C) Make it easy for people to find you and your work
D) Advertise since you don't have a publisher or marketing department to do it for you.
There are lots of resources online for more helpful tools and tips of the trade, so go check it out!
Book Cover Design
You might not be able to read a book by it's cover,
but people won't read yours at all if your cover stinks.
Period.
This would be the one area (other than editing) that I would say it is wise to hire a professional if you aren't a graphic artist or know one.
Humans are visual creatures. Why go through all the hard work of writing a book to produce a product that no one wants to pick up?
Your book cover will make or break your book.
Editing Done Right
Mistakes happen, that's part of life. However, no one wants to read a poorly edited book!
First and foremost, I recommend using a grammar assistant such as Grammarly while writing the book.
This will simplify the editing process and help improve your writing style.
Next, don't skimp out. Hire a professional.
There are four different types of editing:
Proofreading, copy editing, structure editing and content editing. Please look into these different styles of editing to determine your needs for your project.
If you are going to spend any money at all self-publishing, this is the most important area in my opinion.
ISBN: Should I take the Freebie?
What is an ISBN?
I'm so glad you asked.
An ISBN is basically your books 13 digit identification number. IngramSpark and Amazon's KDP will offer to give you free ISBN's when you publish through them, but it is my recommendation you resist the urge.
The reason for this is that if you decide to self-publish with both sites (which you should) this will complicate things if you use the free ones because they hate each other. There is a war in the print-on-demand world, and you want nothing to do with that.
So stay out of it and buy your own ISBN on
https://www.myidentifiers.com/identify-protect-your-book/isbn/buy-isbn
You have the option to buy one for $125
or 10 for $295.
If you are going to release a paperback and a hardcover, or you know you will write more books then buy the 10.
It's a little more upfront but saves a lot of headache in the long run.
What Would You Like to Know Next?
I've only glossed the surface of what there is to know about self-publishing.
Please email me at:
if there is any subject you would like me to discuss in greater detail on this page.
Don't be afraid to ask questions!
You never know who else will be helped!
God bless!