So, you’ve written a book! Congratulations! You’ve accomplished a huge feat. But now comes the hard part. Or, at least the more complex part—Publishing it! If you plan on self-publishing your book rather than going the traditional route, you need to know what to expect from the process. Below is an overview, so you don’t go into it completely blind.
Self-Publishing Your Book Isn’t a Solo Act
Despite what the term implies, self-publishing your book is far from a solo act. Self-publishing just means that you won’t hand it over to a publishing house to do all the work. For instance, the editing, marketing, interior and cover design, as well as the printing and distribution. You’ll be in charge of all that.
But don’t worry, you won’t be actually doing most of this, even as a self-published author.
There are print on demand and distribution services out there for self-published authors. There are also a whole host of experts that can help guide you through the process and do the work that needs to be done. All which make your book polished and professional despite it being self-published.
A note on the types of publishing and their differences
Traditional Publishing
This means your book is published by a publishing house. They cover all expenses, sometimes including the marketing of the book, and they pay YOU for your manuscript. The downside is that traditional publishing is fickle. It also requires you to basically sell yourself and your book. You’ll likely need an agent if you really want to get picked up by a traditional publisher. You also have less control of your final product.
Self-Publishing
You cover the expenses and do the work of marketing your book, but with the help of others. These experts do the work that you can’t, or don’t know how to do. There are a host of experts out there, from agencies to freelancers, that work with you in the process of self-publishing your book. The main upside to this style of publishing is that you have complete control and there are no gatekeepers.
Hybrid Publishing
This route to publishing is a blend of self-publishing and something similar to traditional publishing. Because hybrid publishers have their own imprint, your book will be vetted for quality and fit( which is another huge reason to use a professional editor!). You still own your book and you’re still in control, but the work is done for you, and it’s published under their imprint. The one downside to this, if you’re on a budget, is that it can be costly and you have less control of that budget. However, these types of publishers usually offer packages and you do know the price up front.
What You’ll Need Help with When Self-Publishing Your Book
As you may have guessed, self-publishing your book is going to cost money. The cost of self-publishing can run anywhere from $2,000 up to $10,000 when you include marketing. But the good news is, you have options as far as budget and out of pocket costs go.
Of course, saving money usually means you’ll be spending your time instead. Either way, you can expect to spend both during the publishing process. It would be nice if you could simply take your manuscript and put it in some magic publishing machine and it came out a whole book, but that’s not the case.
There is a whole process involved and an order in which to do it. Of course, there is some variation with so many working parts, and your timeline can be adaptable. But generally, there’s a way it’s done when it’s done right.
You’ll need help with everything from editing your manuscript to formulating your marketing strategy. You can decide which is most important to you, ultimately. Just choose wisely, admit when you need help, and use it.
The Standards You Need to Meet Before Publishing
First and foremost, self-publishing your book requires that your manuscript is publish ready before you even start the interior design process. This is the part that happens before it can go to print. What does this mean, exactly? Well, it means that it should be formatted correctly and the content has to be of professional quality. It actually needs to be formatted correctly BEFORE you hand it over to an editor. They’ll take care of the quality part. Ideally, your book, though self-published, will be of the same quality as a traditionally published book.
But ultimately, you need to expect to spend some time and money on making sure your book is as ready as possible before you even start the process. After all, if your book edited already, or in the editing process, at the beginning of your self-publishing journey, you can use that time and energy on other aspects of the publishing process such as building a marketing strategy.
The Experts You’ll Be Working With on Your Self-Publishing Journey
Editors
As I mentioned, there are different types of editors and you may make use of all of them at different stages, depending on your needs. From developmental and content editing to final proofreads, professional editors are your best friends and absolutely necessary. With all the time and money you’ll put into getting your book into print, you don’t want it to be subpar and looking unprofessional.
Designers
Yes, there are templates and platforms like Canva and others that help you go the DIY route and create your own book cover, but I never recommend going that route. Although you can, and likely will, be part of the cover design process you shouldn’t go it alone.
Book cover designers know their stuff. They understand things like layout and genre conventions that authors don’t know. They also ensure that your book includes important features like your ISBN and barcodes. The goal is to have a finished product that looks just like a traditionally published book after all. You don’t want your book to scream, ”self-published”, even if it is.
Consultants
These are the people that can guide you through the process to get things done right. From the formal process of publishing correctly to your marketing and brand building. I like to think of them as cheerleaders. They include publishing consultants, like myself. Consultants also do things like help you stay on budget, focus on your goals, and set you up with a practical and sustainable marketing strategy—which also needs to begin the moment you’re ready to start self-publishing your book, by the way.
You Do Have Options!
You can save some money by spending the time taking courses on book marketing, attending webinars and subscribing to newsletters. I often recommend doing these things anyway. You want to arm yourself with as much knowledge as possible.
I’d also like to note, if you really want to put your book out there, and are on a very limited budget, with a limited skill set, you can always opt for publishing an eBook. But if you want that print book you can hold in your hand, you’re going to have to spend the money and time getting it polished.
Don’t forget, there are conventions for print books like dimensions, formatting, ISBNs, registering with the Library of Congress and many other small but very important details that are absolute musts for a quality product.
Self-Publishing Your Book Requires a Plan
Writing your book was a huge accomplishment and you should be proud of yourself. Your book is your baby! This is why you need a plan once you decide you’ll be self-publishing your book.
This is the part where consultants like myself come in. Some things you need to know to start off on the right foot and keep things moving along include:
- How much money do you have to spend? What about time and energy? These are all included in your budget.
- When is your pub date? Do you have a date you want your book to be released? Does it coincide with an important event or is it flexible?
- Who is your ideal reader? Where is your audience and how will you turn that audience into loyal followers and book buyers?
- Why did you write this book? What is your purpose for it?
Without a roadmap, it’s easy to get lost. Self-publishing your book requires a sustainable and focused plan if you want to be successful.
The Timeline for Self-Publishing
The timeline of the publishing process depends on the shape your book is in from the start, and how much help you get along the way. It also depends on your commitment to the process. Certain things can’t be helped though. Things like the time between uploading your proof ( the book in its complete but unprinted form) and the printing and distribution depend on the printer and distributor you choose, for instance.
If everything goes smoothly, then the process of self-publishing your book stays on track. But you have to keep in mind that the agency or contractors you’re working with do need a minimum amount of time to complete their end of the deal.
Your marketing plan alone needs to start BEFORE your book is published and that takes time! You want to build and establish your brand, increase your social media presence, and build a website, among other marketing essentials.
A Ballpark on Time
All in all it can be as short as 6 months and as long as a year or more. The better shape your book is in, and the more skilled and experienced those you hire are, the faster the process will go. But the point is, it doesn’t happen overnight! You’ll be sorely disappointed if you have other expectations about the publishing process.
