How to Self-Publish Your Book – A Beginner’s Guide
If you are a first-time author struggling to find a traditional book publisher, you might have come across some unsolicited advice on the internet: “Go for self-publishing! It’s just easier.” While this is not bad advice, you need to know what self-publishing involves and whether it is the right path for you.
5 Steps to Self-Publish a Book
Pros and Cons of Self-Publishing
What is Self-Publishing?
Self-publishing is a way for authors to bypass the gatekeepers of traditional publishing and publish their book on any self-publishing platform of their choice (e.g., Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Kobo etc.).
Traditional publishing needs you to pitch your manuscript to a publishing house, either independently or through an agent. But self-publishing does not require you to go through any of these hurdles. Many independent authors are opting to self-publish, primarily because of the rise in demand for eBooks.
However, it is not a decision to be taken lightly and requires careful consideration. Self-publishing can seem daunting, especially for a first-time author. Here are 5 simple steps to get you through the process.
5 Steps to Self-Publish a Book
1. Get writing: Sounds very basic, but it could be one of the most difficult tasks! It’s not easy to find the motivation to put in all the work to prepare the right manuscript for a book. So, prepare a schedule and set small, achievable goals to monitor your progress.
For instance, if you plan to complete writing 5 pages in a day, do it! Some authors find it helpful to practice writing using tools like 750words to keep them on track.
2. Edit your manuscript: You might need to opt for professional services to get expert, external insights. Your familiarity with the content of your manuscript may not let you be objective. So go for manuscript critiquing and get a comprehensive edit (also called a line edit) before deciding to publish.
3. Design your book: Once your manuscript is copyedited and proofread, move on to determining how you want to design your book. Since you are self-publishing, you hold complete control over creativity. Do take the help of professional services to get the interior designing as well as the cover design of your book done the way you want it.
4. Choose a self-publishing platform: There are many platforms that can help you publish your book. Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Kobo, Create Space, Google Books are popular with self-published authors. Vet them all carefully and select the one that suits you best.
5. Market your book: With self-publishing, you need to take the responsibility of marketing your book through various channels. Create (and update) a blog, prepare a mailing list, solicit reviewers, use social media and book advertising websites for promotions, and collaborate with other bloggers to drive traffic to your page. Get as creative as you like because there are no restrictions!
Pros and Cons of Self-Publishing
Like any other publishing process, self-publishing has its benefits and drawbacks. Whether you choose to go for it depends on your priorities. So take a look at the pros and cons of self-publishing.
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Pros of Self-Publishing |
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| Better chance of publishing, and fast | Traditional publishing houses may be hesitant to invest in first-time authors or manuscripts covering niche topics. But with self-publishing, you can be guaranteed to get published! And what’s more, self-publishing is much quicker than traditional publishing as it can take you just a few days or weeks to publish. |
| Authors can let their creativity shine | Because the decision-making lies with you, you take complete creative control over how your book is designed. You can utilize professional services and design your book cover the way you envisioned it without having to comply with the guidelines of any publishing house. |
| If it is not working, change it | It is easier to make changes if something is not working as expected. Since the books are not printed and stored in advance, any textual and design changes can be easily made even after the book is published.
For instance, is you’re unhappy with the book cover design, you can replace it with a more attractive design if needed. |
| eBooks have a longer shelf life |
Most traditionally printed books have a limited shelf life in bookstores and are often replaced by newer books. Self-published books are always available online and can be discovered any time by interested readers. Audience may search for your book months or even years after its publication and purchase it. |
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Cons of Self-Publishing |
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| Authors need to market books by themselves | A traditionally published book is always marketed by the publishing house because of its investment in it. But with self-publishing, the responsibility lies with you. However, it might not be a disadvantage if you enjoy having full control with respect to how your book is marketed. |
| Professional services must be availed | Be ready to spend on professional services for editing and designing your book. This is crucial because you always need expert insights to ensure a successful publication. |
| You may not get enough time to write | If you are a first-time author, you might spend more time away from writing because your attention is focused on finding suitable service providers, marketing your book, and much more! This may leave you with less time to write as you will be spending more time and effort on these additional tasks than an experienced self-publisher. But once you make necessary connections in the publishing world and get familiar with its workings, it should not be a hurdle anymore. |
| Bookstores may refuse to stock your books | If you decide to have both online and printed versions of your book, convincing bookstores to stock your book may be difficult. The two main reasons for this are self-published authors cannot accept book returns, which traditional publishing houses do. Also, stocking books with the imprint of a publishing service company (e.g., Amazon) means that the store has to compete with Amazon customers, which can be challenging. |
Choose to publish your book your way! Check out Editage’s Book Publishing Services and get published today.
