The Steps to Self-Publish a Book
Self-Publishing vs a Traditional Commercial Book Deal
Publishing a book is an intimidating task: Writing and editing alone are a serious lift. Once a text is completed, the biggest decision to make surrounding your book is self-publishing versus pursuing a commercial book deal. These days, an author has the opportunity to make more money with self-publishing than with a typical commercial book deal. Other benefits to putting a book out yourself include creative freedom and control, owning the rights to your work, and time saved in the publishing process. Plus, with programs like Amazon self-publishing and IngramSpark, it can be a streamlined affair.
However, self-publishing comes with its own set of challenges. If you’re marketing a book from scratch, it can be difficult to gain recognition, and it is expensive. It’s important to consider what time and financial resources you have available before setting out to publish a book on your own.
On our journey to publishing the Far From Home series, we learned a lot about the process firsthand and decided to put the books out ourselves. The author, Kelly Byrd, felt like it was more important to have the work accessible to readers rather than waiting on agency and publication.
Here’s an overview of the self-publishing process:
Writing: Arguably the most important part of the process is writing your story. Take the time to flesh out your storyline, and what you want to say. Write and rewrite to your heart’s content until you’re satisfied the story has been told. The end result will be your manuscript. Your manuscript is the story before it’s been turned into a book, a final draft of sorts. This is what you’d submit for consideration.
Editing: Editing a book can be done by a professional editor for hire, or by yourself. If you choose to hire an editor they’ll have a fresh set of eyes on your story, and make edit suggestions for you. They’ll correct things like grammar, and general spelling errors. They can go even deeper by helping you with the conciseness and the flow of your tale. That’s not to say you can’t achieve the same thing by yourself! For self-editing, read your story in full. Comb through your manuscript word for word and look for any accidental errors. You can have trusted friends and family read your manuscript for new perspectives, too!
Finishing touches: The process of book writing includes tasks beyond storytelling. You’ll need a great title that encompasses your story. Come up with a few ideas and pitch them to your editor, and to family and friends. There’s also the fun, creative process of designing a book cover. Hire a designer to brainstorm what imagery will represent your book, or design on your own. This will also go through edits to ensure the best possible cover.
Decide on a distributor and format: Most self-published authors rely on KDP (Amazon’s self-publishing hub) and Ingram Spark for distribution. While these are the two most well-known distributors for micro-publishing, they’re not the only options. Do your research and decide whether you’d prefer to put the books out in E-Reader or print format or both and keep in mind that the design and layout of your book will differ based on the format chosen.
Layout your book and purchase the necessary data: Every book has an ISBN for identification purposes. You can purchase these through a service like Bowker, or use Amazon’s services to obtain them. Make sure to have your work properly copyrighted as well, so that you can ensure you’re in control of your product.
Upload and distribute: Once you’ve completed all of these steps, your book will be ready to upload and distribute. You can set pricing and the intended audience.
For the Longbird team, the process of self-publishing was a positive one. Exploring our options, and digging deep to find what worked best ultimately led to Kelly’s vision for the Far From Home series becoming a reality. No matter which way you choose to publish, don’t be afraid to get your story out there!
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I self-publish my book?
Self-publishing is a great way to get your story out there! Consider how much work you’d like to put in when it comes to self-editing, self-design, and more when choosing.
Will I make money if I self-publish?
Yes. Authors often make more money with self-publishing than with a commercial book deal, as the return on each book sold is higher. There are also the benefits of owning the rights, having creative control, and publishing in a timely manner.
What writers have self-published their books?
Authors such as Jane Austen, Mark Twain, DH Lawrence, Jon Grisham, Kelly Byrd, and E.L. James have self-published their work. You’re in good company!
