Desktop publishing is growing in popularity every day and there is already a large market thanks to the ease of use offered by digital media. It’s never been easier for authors to publish their own work, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need guidance while doing so.
The following list contains all the books an author needs to become an expert in desktop publishing. the books are numbered ten to one, each one deserves more space on your shelf than the last but each is important in its own way. each book on the list has a unique point of view and approaches desktop publishing from a different angle.
You are reading: Best books on self publishing
Check them all out for a really balanced take on desktop publishing, or select the ones that sound most suited to your own approach, but rest assured, featured books only recommend the best.
10. the business of digital publishing: an introduction to the digital book and magazine industries – frania hall
If self-publishing your book is a kayaking holiday then The Business of Digital Publishing is a map of the region. It might not be all about paddling, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t essential.
Hall’s book focuses on the industry and provides an overview of the different publishing sectors and the influences that shape their operation. what makes the book so brilliant is its unbiased treatment of conflicting arguments.
if there is a one-stop shop for understanding the market your book will enter, then this is the solution.
9. publication: principles and practice – richard guthrie
Guthrie’s book provides a comprehensive guide to publishing issues some other sources skim over. Subjects such as possible cultural conflicts and varying trade practices are explored accessibly but authoritatively.
While Guthrie writes about publishing and desktop publishing, Publishing: Principles and Practice is presented for maximum usability, allowing readers to search for relevant passages with ease. Guthrie writes in a welcoming, almost informal style, mixing interviews and real-world examples to illustrate her claims and keep things from getting bogged down.
8. write. post. repeat.: the no luck guide to desktop publishing success – johnny b. truant and shaun platt
Platt and Truant are self-published authors made good, and in this book they set out to share the secrets of their success.
the goal is to achieve success purely through hard work (the ‘no luck required’ philosophy of their title) and the pair ensure that effort and a decent product are all self-publishing authors need to succeed. succeed. the book covers the full gamut of desktop publishing, including pricing, format, covers, and publishing on multiple platforms.
fit your ‘work = reward’ mentality write. post. repeat. doesn’t have the in/out accessibility of guthrie’s book, however, readers willing to read cover to cover will find it to be a well-informed read written by authors who know what they’re talking about about and who they are talking with.
7. self-printing: the healthy person’s guide to desktop publishing – catherine ryan howard
Howard begins with the premise that self-publishing should co-exist with the traditional publishing industry, rather than attempt to replace it. What follows is a no-nonsense explanation of the pros and cons of self-publishing, and an identification of the kind of authors who can really benefit.
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howard is not looking to make friends and is targeting an audience that is prepared to treat their writing like a business rather than those looking for the quickest route to publication. the result is a useless book for the latter but indispensable for the former. see autoprint here.
6. 2014 guide to desktop publishing – robert lee brewer
An annual compendium, collecting the most up to date advice on self-publishing. The digital marketplace, and the technology on which it operates, develops so quickly that there’s a real need for a constantly evolving source of advice.
brewer features a host of helpful tips, as well as collating contact details for freelance publishers, designers, and production facilities, all essential for the serious self-publisher.
see the 2014 desktop publishing guide here.
5. monkey: author, publisher, entrepreneur: how to publish a book – guy kawasaki and shawn welch
Kawasaki takes the opposing path to Howard, describing self-publishing as a rival to the traditional publishing industry.
That’s not to say that Kawasaki idealizes desktop publishing, in fact, much of its advice stems from a focus on the pitfalls authors might face in their endeavors.
Simultaneously pessimistic and too big for his boots, why does Kawasaki rank higher on our list than Howard? because the combination of these features provides an unusually complete and wide range of advice. kawasaki is ambitious enough to advise the reader on tactics and targets that others would not, and pessimistic enough to plan for everything that could go wrong.
while howard writes a straightforward guide for the sane reader, kawasaki requires you to bring your own sanity. Most authors will reach a point in simian where things get too ambitious, but as long as they don’t start the book thinking they have to do everything Kawasaki advises, this isn’t a problem. You don’t have to eat everything at a buffet to get a good meal, but the more variety the better.
4. The Naked Author: A Guide to Desktop Publishing – Alison Baverstock
Despite the whimsical name, Baverstock’s book takes a very business-like stance on self-publishing. Baverstock posits that self-publishing is a series of investment choices, albeit that what an author is investing in is their own work.
The key, he argues, is to make sure that these investments, whether the resource is time or money, are managed sensibly and are profitable. decisions related to cover design, format, and price are scrutinized to ensure maximum performance.
its approach is an objective description of an author’s investment options, with the intention of informing and advising authors to the extent that they feel confident in making their own decisions. see the author naked here.
3. let’s go digital: how to self-publish and why you should – david gaughran
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Gaughran offers a slightly more encouraging style to Baverstock, taking for granted that anyone who wants to self-publish should.
what really makes gaughran’s book so great is the focus on digital content, the preferred environment of the self-published novel.
Brought to you as a guide to the many and varied opportunities available to desktop publishing authors, Gaughran has written a process guide that encourages the reader to get started. Look, let’s get digital here.
2. writers & artists yearbook guide to getting published – harry bingham
It might be surprising that a book which covers both traditional and self-publishing places this high on the list, but the Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook are a trustworthy, authoritative source with access to some of the most up-to-date advice going.
bingham describes his book as a professional tool and it is certainly designed for functionality, with chapter-by-chapter dissections broken down into key paragraphs.
Including interviews with publishing giants and case studies of success stories, no book blends accessibility with authority better than this one. well, maybe one will.
1. how to self-publish: a master class for guardians – ed peppitt
A short book of around 100 pages, and costing less than a cup of coffee on the Kindle, How to Self Publish is a minimalist self-publishing tool produced by one of the most trusted and respected newspapers in the world.
don’t confuse minimalist with incomplete: peppitt’s book contains everything you need to know, it just doesn’t contain much more. different publishing approaches are compared to provide a sort of buyer’s guide, allowing readers to identify the best option for their own needs.
Topics covered include: writing your book, creating an e-book, the economics of desktop publishing, and how to use a desktop publishing company to publish digital and physical literature.
good luck!
Self-publishing is an exciting process that puts each author in charge of distributing their own work, and the above reading list is designed to enable authors to publish their work in the most effective and well-informed way possible. At standoutbooks, we believe that’s something every author deserves, and we’re committed to sharing the resources they need to do it.
This article is part of a series recommending useful books for authors: For a reading list on how to write a bestseller, check out the top ten books on writing that will make you a better writer, or for books on how to market your work, try the only ten books you’ll ever need on how to market a book.
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