Self-publishing is no easy feat. The idea that self-publishing is for authors and books rejected by traditional publishers or that it’s the “easier” way to publish is outdated and proven wrong by brilliant, successful, hard-working self-published authors every day. There’s nothing easy about it.
When you don’t have a publisher backing you, there’s no team of people handling different parts of the process for you. You can’t rely on other people behind the scenes to sort out ISBNs or cover design or editing or listing your book on Amazon.
Everything is on you.
It’s a learning process for every author who self-publishes; there will almost certainly be bumps in the road. Give yourself the best chance of success by arming yourself with the information necessary for the smoothest process possible.
While I’ve yet to read any of these books myself, I’ve heard great things about how helpful other writers found them. They may just be exactly what you’re looking for.
Books to Help Self-Publishers
Self-Publishing Books 101
by Shelley Hitz and Heather Hart
Self-publishing books has never been easier. With print on demand and eBook technology available to us, it has made the process of self-publishing available to anyone and everyone. And there does not have to be huge upfront costs either.
However, there are certain steps to self-publishing that you need to know.
We have been publishing books since 2008 and want to share what we have learned with you.
In this book we cover everything from the different companies and costs, to copyright information and book design.
What you will learn:
Part One: The Foundation for Publishing Success
* Writing Your Book
* Editing Your Book
* Building Your Marketing Platform (e.g., blog, website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.)
Part Two: Self-Publishing Your Book
* Pre-Publication Decisions (book title, book description, pricing, categories/keywords, etc.)
* Book Cover Design
* Self-Publishing a Print Book
* Self-Publishing an eBook
* Self-Publishing an AudioBook
* Translating Your Book
Part Three: Other Publishing Decisions
* Obtaining a Copyright
* Forming an Independent Publishing Company
You will also find our self-publishing checklist to help you on your journey, as well as additional tips for success.
We invite you to come with us and take a walk through the step-by-step process to getting your book self-published. After all, if you can dream it, you can do it!
Successful Self-Publishing
by Joanna Penn
Do you want to successfully self-publish?
There are thousands of new books being published every day, but many self-published books quickly sink to the bottom of the pile. Many authors are frustrated because there are so many options for self-publishing, and they don’t know which one to choose or what will be best for their book. Others spend thousands of dollars to publish and end up broken-hearted with the result.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
I’ve spent the last seven years self-publishing bestselling fiction and non-fiction books and in 2011, I left my day job to become a full-time author entrepreneur. I’ve made lots of mistakes along the way, but through the process of self-publishing 17 books, I’ve learned the most effective way to publish and market your books. In this book, I’ll share everything with you.
The book includes:
– What you need to know before you self-publish
– Why self-publishing an ebook is a good idea
– How to format an ebook
– Exclusivity and going direct
– How to self-publish an ebook
– Why self-publish a print book
– Print-on-demand will change your life
– What you need to know before you print
– How to self-publish a print book
– What to do if you want help with the publishing process
– After self-publishing
– How much does it cost to self-publish?
– How do you get paid when you self-publish?
– Book marketing principles
– How to market fiction
– How to market non-fiction
14 Steps to Self-Publishing a Book
by Mike Kowis
How do I self-publish my new book?
And how much will it cost?
Have you ever asked yourself these questions? If so, 14 STEPS TO SELF-PUBLISHING A BOOK is the perfect book for you! In this concise and practical self-publishing guide for aspiring authors, Mike Kowis, Esq., shares his 14-step process to publishing attractive, well-written, and effectively marketed books. Don’t worry, it’s MUCH easier than you think!
In this step-by-step guide, you will learn:
• Everything you need to know about self-publishing, including advice for editing, designing, distributing, and marketing your book;
• How much this process costs; plus
• The surprising lessons Mike learned from self-publishing his award-winning debut book.
This handy book also includes a checklist of the entire 14-step process so you won’t miss a single thing.
The Naked Author: A Guide to Self-Publishing
by Alison Baverstock
This how-to guide advises aspiring writers on how to tap into the world of self-publishing and channel their energy to handle the creative demands of their craft and gain confidence in managing the many business aspects of publishing. New online technology and digital publishing service providers have vastly contributed to the number of viable options available to writers who want their work published. This book offers a new look at this expanded playing field and compares it to the practices of commercial publishers so writers can see what they should emulate and avoid. It covers how to choose editorial and publishing services, where to look for red flags and potential scams, and how to assess whether a good job has been done. This very practical guide encourages writers to examine why they want to publish and helps them define their aims and objectives whether they have a specific limited-use project in mind, like a family history, or they aspire to one day hit the bestseller lists. The Naked Author is THE roadmap to pragmatic and polished self-publishing.
Become a Successful Indie Author
by Craig Martelle
Demystify the tangled web of self-publishing to put you on the road to success. This is a motivational guide based on my two and a half million published words (mostly with Amazon) to help you see past the hurdles that are keeping you from climbing the mountain of success. Nothing is overwhelming once it’s been explained. If you are smart enough to write a book, you are smart enough to do everything else needed to make your indie author business a success. Clocking in at nearly 50,000 words, this guide has something for every budding author as well as those who have already published, but for whom success remains elusive. In this business there is only one hard and fast rule – you must find readers willing to pay for your stories. It starts with the first sentence. You have to write a gripping story that people want to read, wrap a cover around the book, and then do the marketing. There’s no doubt that you can do it. Let me show you how.
Write. Publish. Repeat.
by Johnny B. Truant and Sean Platt
In 2013, Johnny B. Truant and Sean Platt published 1.5 million words and made their full-time livings as indie authors. In Write. Publish. Repeat., they tell you exactly how they did it: how they created over 15 independent franchises across 50+ published works, how they turned their art into a logical, sustainable business, and how any independent author can do the same to build a sustainable, profitable career with their writing.
Write. Publish. Repeat. explains the current self-publishing landscape and covers the truths and myths about what it means to be an indie author now and in the foreseeable future. It explains how to create books your readers will love and will want to return to again and again. Write. Publish. Repeat. details expert methods for building story worlds, characters, and plots, understanding your market (right down to your ideal reader), using the best tools possible to capture your draft, and explains proven best practices for editing. The book also discusses covers, titles, formatting, pricing, and publishing to multiple platforms, plus a bit on getting your books into print (and why that might not be a good idea!). But most importantly, Write. Publish. Repeat. details the psychology-driven marketing plan that Sean and Johnny built to shape their stories into “products” that readers couldn’t help but be drawn into — thus almost automatically generating sales — and explores ways that smart, business-minded writers can do the same to future-proof their careers.
This book is not a formula with an easy path to follow. It is a guidebook that will help you build a successful indie publishing career, no matter what type of writer you are … so long as you’re the type who’s willing to do the work.
Finding people to help you along the way while self-publishing—whether they be fellow writers who support you or professionals who help with different elements of preparing your book for publication—is crucial. I hope these books will be helpful to you now, and when your novel is ready for editing, I’d love to hear from you.
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Allison Preston is a public relations expert with more than 10 years of experience. She is also working on her first novel, which she hopes to publish in 2023. To learn more about working with Allison, visit