A Guide to Self-Publishing
Self-publishing has revolutionized the literary world, giving authors the power to share their stories without the need for traditional gatekeepers. If you're ready to take the plunge, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the journey.
Step 1: Have a Complete Manuscript
Before anything else, ensure your manuscript is complete and polished. Seek feedback from beta readers or hire a professional editor to refine your work. Editing is a crucial step in creating a book that resonates with readers. You can hire professional editors on these sites:
Book Reality (my personal favourite)
Step 2: Choosing Your Publishing Platform
Popular platforms for self-publishing include:
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP): Ideal for eBooks and print-on-demand paperbacks.
IngramSpark: Offers broader distribution to bookstores and libraries.
Your own website: Make sure you can get an e-commerce shop plug-in and you are good to start selling.
Tapas: Publish your novel, or graphic novel on here chapter by chapter for free. It’s a good audience developing tool, and you can add links to get your book in a physical format if required.
Webtoon: Host your graphic novels on their Canvas platform.
Step 3: Design a Professional Cover
Your cover is your book’s first impression—make it count! Hire a skilled designer or illustrator to create a cover that reflects your genre and appeals to your audience. Have a gander at the creative process here for illustrated book covers.
Step 4: Format Your Book
Formatting ensures your book looks professional, whether it’s an eBook, paperback, or hardcover. Use software like Vellum, Reedsy, or hire a formatting expert to handle this step.
Some illustrators like myself are able to offer this service.
Step 5: Set Your Price and Royalties
Determine a pricing strategy that balances affordability with fair royalties. Research comparable books in your genre for guidance. If you are planning to have multiple books launched at similar time, consider having an offer on. For example, one book is £10, but if someone wants two, you could charge £18.
Step 6: Create a Marketing Plan
Self-publishing means self-promotion. Some essential strategies include:
Building an author website and email list.
Engaging with readers on social media. Facebook groups are underrated.
Running promotions or discounts during launch.
Using Amazon Advertising or BookBub to boost visibility.
Open multiple sales funnels: Amazon, EBay, Facebook Marketplace, Etsy. But, what you want to do with these ones is add a little offer for people to buy directly from your website next time to save on listing fees. Watch out for EBay, as their listings are only free if you’re a private seller.
Step 7: Launch Your Book
Plan a launch that creates excitement:
Host a virtual or in-person book launch event. Contact your local indie book shops, or even Waterstones/ Heffers if you’re feeling brave.
Reach out to book bloggers and reviewers. There are dedicated Facebook groups that specialise in book blogging.
Try targetted events, for example, comic cons if your book is within the nerdy realm or book and makers markets. There are events for every genre out there.
Share behind-the-scenes content about your journey to publication.
Step 8: Monitor and Adjust
After launch, track your sales and gather feedback. Experiment with pricing, promotions, or marketing strategies to find what resonates with your audience.