How to Self-Publish a Book in 2022: A Guide for Savvy Authors

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Thinking about self-publishing and joining the thousands of authors who each year enjoy complete creative control and a larger share of royalties? If so, we’re here to show you how to do it while giving you the best chance of achieving your goals. we’ll cover all the essential parts of the process while providing you with the resources to learn more.

Here’s how you can self-publish a book in seven steps:

You are reading: How to self publish books

1. start the self-publishing process by writing a solid book

Whether you’re publishing a book with a traditional press or as a freelance author, your success depends on whether readers will love your book enough to recommend it to others.

While there is no foolproof method for writing beloved bestsellers, certain approaches can help you deliberately and intentionally write a book that can be successful in the marketplace.

planning for success

While we’re trying to go through the whole self-publishing process, there just isn’t enough room to give a lot of practical advice on specifics of writing here. so instead, we’re listing some of the resources on our blog that can help you in just about any writing situation that comes your way.

non-fiction:

How to Write a Nonfiction Book in 6 Steps: Writing a nonfiction book is a great way to share your story, pass on your wisdom, or even build your business.
How to Write a Book Proposal That Seals the Book Deal (+ Free Template): Find out how to write a book proposal that could win that six-figure deal.

memories:

How to Write a Memoir: Tell Your Incredible Story in 9 Steps: Learn how to dig into the sands of your memory to tell a personal and moving story.
How to Sketch a Memoir: This guide The 3-Step Guide will help you organize your ideas into a coherent, logical arc.
Top 30 Memoirs of the Last Century: This list is a boon to anyone still researching the genre.

fiction:

what is a story arc? – a breakdown of your protagonist’s journey, influenced by the three-act structure.
Dynamic vs. Static Characters: Understand these critical character types and how they work best together in fiction.
point of view: the ultimate guide: find out how to choose the right perspective for your story.
reedsy’s guide to world building (+ template!): learn the best way to create a compelling perspective and believable universe.
how to write a novel (free course): a complete tutorial from independent novelist ben galley.

crossing the finish line

Enough of developing skills: let’s talk about practical things, about sitting down to write. That’s where developing the habit of writing comes into play. Luckily, we have some helpful resources to help you.

How to Create a Regular Writing Habit: Author and book coach Kevin Johns reveals his process for creating a writing schedule that fits your life.
Stop procrastinating! Build a Strong Writing Routine (Free Course): Using cutting-edge behavioral science, this course aims to help writers kill their procrastination gremlins.
How long does it take to write a book? – all about how long you can expect this process to take and how to reduce your writing time as much as possible.

2. hire an editor to get feedback on your work

edit is a pretty broad term. it can range from an author’s rewrites of their first draft to the final revision before the book is released. this section offers our recommended approach to editing your book for desktop publishing.

self-publish as much as you can

A publisher’s time is money: your money. Before you turn your work over to a professional, make sure you do everything for them, or you’ll end up wasting money paying an editor to fix basic mistakes.

for novelists, that means working on a few drafts to polish the story and characters; for nonfiction, it means sharing the manuscript with a focus group and rewriting it based on feedback.

here are some resources to help you proofread and self-edit your manuscript:

how long should your novel be? – a post that explains the importance of understanding the average length of books in their genre.
what to expect from beta readers and where to find them – an introduction to get a fresh (and free) look at your manuscript .
what are sensitive readers? (And Should Authors Use Them?): An article that pulls back the curtain on what sensitive readers really do.
Novel Review: Practical Tips for Rewriting (Free Course) – This is a course 10-part course that includes great lessons on working with critical partners and beta readers.
How to Self-Edit Your Manuscript Like a Pro (Free Course): Learn to Spot the 10 Most Common Typing Mistakes.

let a professional help you cross the finish line

Reedsy Marketplace, you can search for (and request quotes from) professionals with experience in your genre.

Before getting too deep into editing, it’s important to understand the different types of editors and what each one does.

5 types of editing: which one do you need right now? – this post explains the crucial differences between development editors, style checkers and proofreaders. it focuses on fiction, but the principles also apply to nonfiction and memoirs.
what is an editorial review? – a quick look at how authors can get help with the “big picture” of their book without paying for a full development edition.

If you want to confirm what kind of editing your book needs at its current stage, we recommend taking this quick test:

okay, your manuscript has been edited, polished and proofread. Now it’s time to make sure his book looks as good as it reads.

Note: You’ll notice we talked about planning how you’ll market your book later, but the truth is that you should work on identifying your target audience (and how to reach them) early in the process. .

3. design a cover that resonates with readers

here are a couple of great resources to help you understand how to make a beautiful and readable book:

Book Cover Design: A Definitive Author’s Guide – Includes an overview of different book design methods and the best way to hire professional cover makers.
How to format a book with reedsy book editor – a quick introduction to a tool that allows authors to format professional-grade book files for free.
why hire a book cover designer? – learn about the importance of cover design.
what is typesetting? – a comprehensive look at book interior design.
the back of a book cover: how to build one that really works – includes a template to make sure the back of your jacket meets the basic requirements.

Once you’ve completed the layout and formatting, you’ll have everything you need to start selling your book. That brings us to our next stage.

4. finish formatting the script

In the past, self-publishing a book meant getting a print run and prepaying for thousands of copies. you almost always ended up with copies you couldn’t sell. Fortunately, modern publishing has provided simple solutions to this problem.

print on demand

With POD (print on demand), authors can upload their book files to a printing service. This service churns out individual copies as, and when, they are purchased. The cost per unit is higher than with printing methods of traditional publishers, but the lack of risk still makes this the preferred option for self-publishing authors.

The two largest pod services in the world are Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and Ingramspark, both of which offer comparable products at similar costs. however, it’s worth researching the options to see which makes the most sense for you and your book.

Print On Demand vs. Offset: A Look At The Pros And Cons Of Pod.
What Is The Best Service For Printing Books On Demand? – a comparison of the four main pod services.
what are the standard book sizes in publishing? – pod services will allow you to choose from various formats. choosing the right size can make or break your book.

ebooks

book sales in the kindle store are the bread and butter of a desktop publishing author. after all, kdp offers the highest royalty percentage, which is very appealing to authors hoping to publish profitably.

the complete guide to e-book distribution – contains just about everything you need to know about selling your digital book. includes sections on being “exclusive” with amazon, alternative retailers like kobo, and barnes & noble and instructions on how to set up your book at retailers.
epub vs. mobi: does amazon’s mobi format exist anymore? – an updated explanation of the ebook formats you need.

audiobooks

The audio format has exploded in popularity in recent years, and self-published authors who have invested in audiobooks have reaped the benefits. audiobooks are usually published after print or e-books; it is quite unusual for a book to be released in audiobook format. They’re a great way to grow your catalog, especially if you’re just launching a new book.

Audiobooks: Your Guide to the Fastest Growing Format: Discussing the rise of audiobooks and why authors should pay attention.
How to Make an Audiobook as a Freelance Author: A Guide handy publication that covers everything from hiring a narrator to selling your audiobook online.

5. choose a desktop publishing company

When it comes to deciding where (or through which company) you’ll sell your book, the simplest and most popular option for self-publishing authors is Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing, which allows you to upload your book and list it for free. . readers can buy the e-book or have a print version created for them with a click of the mouse. You don’t need to understand how sausage is made—Amazon has made the process simple.

master amazon kdp

Anyone can get your book on the Amazon Store (and thus on Amazon’s ubiquitous Kindle) for free. however, few people know how to do it correctly.

For example, when uploading your headline, there are certain things you can do to increase visibility with your readers. then there is the matter of getting people who find your book to buy it. To be successful here, you need to become an Amazon expert. Fortunately, we have everything you need to do it!

the ultimate guide to self-publishing on amazon: everything you ever wanted to know about how to self-publish a book on amazon, plus tips for selling your book.
everything you need to know Amazon’s Algorithms (Free Course): Learn how to choose the right keywords and metadata and have Amazon handle most of your marketing.
Pricing Books for an International Audience (Free Course ): an intermediate course that will show you the easiest way to ensure your publication is priced correctly in every country.
how to write a description for an amazon book you sell: a look at how to write ad notes that work specifically for online retailers.

Pro Tip: Wanting to know if Amazon exclusivity is right for you and your self-published book? Take our 1-minute quiz below to find out.

other desktop publishing companies

If Amazon isn’t right for you, there’s a world of desktop publishing out there, whether they help distribute e-books or offer printing or marketing services. Head over to our post on e-book distribution to compare all of your options when it comes to shipping your book to online retailers.

6. self-publish the book on amazon and other retailers

The good news is that there are proven methods to promote your title, including automated mailing lists, price promotions, and online advertising. here are some articles on marketing and ads for self-published authors.

70+ book marketing ideas every author should know – a fantastic primer that covers all the major aspects of independent book marketing.
how to market your book: 8 steps Tips to Boost Sales: A Look at ‘Deep’ Promotional Tricks
How to Market a Memoir: Marketing Experts Provide Top Tips for Selling a Book Based on Your Own Life.
how to set up and grow your author mailing list (free course), in which you can learn all about the most essential tool in a freelance author’s arsenal.
facebook ads for authors (free course ): facebook, due to its data, is the perfect place for authors to reach their target audience, however limited. Find out why!
Amazon Ads for Authors: A look at Amazon’s book advertising platform, with a helpful guide to setting up your first campaign.
Social Media for Writers: Learn all about the top social media platforms for writers and how to get the most out of your social channels.

throw your book

A lot depends on a book’s first few weeks on the market. To have the best chance of thriving on Amazon and other platforms, your title needs to rack up a healthy dose of book sales and reviews soon after its release. With that in mind, a lot of work goes into preparing for your book release. this is what you need to learn:

the world’s most essential desktop publishing checklist: a downloadable checklist that allows authors to cover all their bases before launch day.
create a self-publishing advertising plan effective and timely books: a sample schedule will help plan public relations activities like reviews, interviews, live readings, and podcast appearances.
how to create an amazing author media kit: a template that will Make it easier to get your name out there.
How to Get Book Reviews in 5 Steps: Follow these 5 steps to get book reviews from bloggers.

So far, we’ve covered writing your book, editing and designing it, planning your launch, and ramping up your marketing efforts. now you have enough knowledge to go and publish your book.

7. use marketing to increase sales after publication

Now that you have the finished product and all the necessary enthusiasm on the part of the reviewers, you have mustered all your courage and pulled the trigger: congratulations, you have published your book!

Now that your book is out in the world, finding devoted readers, what’s next for you? These are just a few resources to help you maintain your momentum as an author:

How to Write a Series: 5 Top Tips for Expanding Your Story: Give your readers what they want and revisit a book’s universe by expanding it into a series.
getting started Your Own Publishing House: If you’ll be publishing multiple books, consider starting your own publishing house to level up.
How to Become a Better Writer: 20 Tips and Tricks to Take Your Writing Skills to the Next Level when you tackle your next project.

you have reached the end of the publishing process; now the long-term marketing begins. As any author would tell you, a book is something you never stop promoting. It will fit nicely into his biography on social media or in print and will continue to be discovered by a stream of future readers.

The path to book publication can be treacherous. however, preparing properly and surrounding yourself with the right people can also be one of the most satisfying experiences.

In the next part of this guide, we’ll show you the benefits (and potential drawbacks) of self-publishing. so be sure to keep reading!

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