How to Self-Publish a Book: Step-by-Step Guide
Learning how to self-publish a book can be a complicated, overwhelming process. After all, publishing a book requires specialized knowledge and skills.
By publishing independently, authors serve as their own publisher. That means they are responsible for hiring professionals and making important decisions about the publication process. The independent author takes on all the responsibility.
That’s why it is critical that indie authors have a fundamental understanding of the industry. In this guide, we will cover the steps involved in self-publishing a book. You will learn how to self-publish on Amazon and IngramSpark. We will also make sure you understand all of your options for publishing your own book.
Benefits of Self-Publishing
Before we jump into how to self-publish a book, let’s talk about why authors may choose to publish independently.
Self-publishing requires significant time and financial investments. Yes, you can throw up a book on Amazon, cross your fingers, and hope for the best. But if the manuscript isn’t ready and you haven’t gone through the process of creating a quality book, it’s not going to sell.
And let’s be honest, would you really want it to? As a writer myself, I can’t imagine publishing a subpar book simply to call it “published.” Your readers deserve better than that, and so do you.
Pros of Self-Publishing
Here are the main reasons authors choose the self-publishing route:
- Complete Control: You have the final say on everything related to your book, including edits and design choices.
- Higher Royalties: Because you don’t have to pay an agent and publisher, your percentage of the royalties is significantly higher.
- No Gatekeepers: Sometimes the barrier to publication isn’t the quality of your book but its place within the current literary landscape. If your book is an odd blend of genres or too much like other books on the market, self-publishing may be a route to get your book to readers—who will make the ultimate decision about its worthiness.
- Shorter Timeline: While self-publishing done right is not a short process, it takes far less time than traditional publishing.
Cons of Self-Publishing
Of course, there are some very real cons associated with self-publishing. It’s important to consider the downsides, as well, to make sure it’s the best route for you.
- No Support: An independent author is also the publisher and is responsible for the entire publishing process. That includes editing, cover design, interior formatting, and marketing. The author has no support except professionals they hire.
- Less Reach: Self-published authors may have a difficult time getting their books into brick-and-mortar bookstores and libraries. However, indie authors can mitigate this by publishing through the right channels.
- Up-Front Costs: Because the author is responsible for all aspects of publication, there will be up-front costs. Indie authors will need to hire professionals to take care of various aspects of the publishing process. They will also need to pay for marketing efforts, such as a marketing team, promotional materials, and booths and book fairs.
- No Advance: In addition to paying for up-front costs, self-publishing authors receive no cash advance.
Options for Indie Authors
Some authors opt for a hybrid publishing approach, meaning they publish some work independently and other books traditionally. For example, an author may publish their fiction through a publishing house and their nonfiction independently. Authors may have different goals for different manuscripts.
The takeaway here is that there are many options for modern authors, but it’s important to consider why you’re choosing a certain route. Understand that there are pros and cons of every decision. And only pursue self-publishing if it’s truly right for your book and your career—not because someone tells you it’s “best.”
There is no “best” publishing route. Each has benefits and drawbacks.
For an in-depth look at reasons you may choose to self-publish, check out this article answering the question Should you publish your own book?
How Much Does It Cost to Self-Publish a Book?
The actual process of self-publishing a fully edited and designed book is minimal. Publishing a book through KDP (Amazon) is free. IngramSpark charges an upload fee of $49.
However, the process to prepare a manuscript for publication requires a financial investment. Consider that traditional publishing houses typically require about a year and a half to get a book to press.
KDP and IngramSpark are responsible for two things: printing and distribution. These platforms do not turn your manuscript into a print-ready or upload-ready book. For that, you need industry professionals.
Here are the three main services indie authors should budget for:
- Professional editing
- Cover design
- Interior design
Note that the overall cost of self-publishing varies widely. The biggest factor impacting your self-publishing costs is length. Higher word counts result in higher fees. Editing and interior layout typically feature per-word rates.
The manuscript’s complexity also impacts rates. You may find higher editing and interior layout rates for manuscripts with the following:
- Footnotes and citations
- Tables and charts
- Illustrations
- Poems and complex formatting
I encourage anyone who is planning to self-publish a book to begin their research well in advance. Having a grasp on industry-standard rates is crucial to choosing reputable professionals. Very low rates are one of the most reliable red flags in spotting low-quality services. The Editorial Freelancers Association publishes a list of industry-standard rates.
Learn How to Self-Publish a Book
When you self-publish a book, you become the author and the publisher. That means you’re responsible for everything: writing, editing, book design, and marketing. Obviously, one person is not likely to be an expert in all of these areas, which is why it’s important to build a team of professionals (or work with a team like Blue Pen). Below, we’ll talk about the steps you should take to self-publish a book, along with the tasks you’re likely to contract out.
Step 1: Define Your Goals
Everyone has different goals for self-publishing. Some authors want to use their self-published book to launch their writing career. Others have a memoir or story they want to share with friends and family. Understanding your personal goals will help you decide how much to invest in your book.
Step 2: Make Important Decisions
Once you’ve confirmed that self-publishing is the best option for your book and career, you need to make some other decisions.
KDP vs. IngramSpark
One decision you will need to make is which self-publishing platform(s) to use. The two main options are Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), which Amazon owns, and IngramSpark.
Rather than going too deeply into the pros and cons of KDP vs. IngramSpark here, I’ll summarize.
- KDP is best for online sales.
- IngramSpark is best for brick-and-mortar bookstore and library distribution.
For the widest distribution possible, consider this method:
- Publish your ebook and paperback through KDP.
- Publish at least your paperback and/or hardcover through IngramSpark.
- Publish your ebook through Draft2Digital.
Draft2Digital is an aggregator, meaning it makes your ebook available through multiple distribution platforms. While KDP is on that list, it’s beneficial to publish directly through KDP.
Check out this in-depth look at the pros and cons of KDP vs. IngramSpark.
ISBN for Self-Publishing
One decision that will significantly impact your reach is whether to purchase your own ISBN or use a free ISBN.
In most cases, we recommend authors purchase their own ISBNs. If you use a free ISBN from KDP, for example, you can only use that number to publish through KDP—not IngramSpark—and vice versa. That can severely limit your reach.
Using a free ISBN also makes it nearly impossible to get your book into brick-and-mortar bookstores.
The only time an author may consider using a free ISBN is if they are publishing a book for friends and family and don’t really care about potential reach and growing their readership.
You can purchase ISBNs directly from Bowker (if you are in the United States). You will need a separate ISBN for each version of the book you plan to publish, e.g. one ISBN for the paperback version and one for the ebook. You will use the same ISBN for KDP and IngramSpark.
Remember to log in to your Bowker account and assign the ISBN to your book before publishing. Make sure you input the book’s details, including title and author name, exactly as they appear on your cover.
Step 3: Professional Editing
If you publish traditionally, the publisher’s in-house editors work with your manuscript before it ever sees the light of day. More than likely, your agent also worked with you to edit the story before sending it to publishers. When you self-publish, this work all falls to you.
But I can edit the book myself. Why do I need a professional?
Yes, you can and should self-edit your book. In fact, you should self-edit thoroughly before you send the manuscript to a professional. However, a professional editor can offer a level of insight and knowledge that most authors simply don’t have.
Not to mention that everyone needs editors, even professional editors themselves! The most important aspect of a good edit is objectivity, and it’s nearly impossible to be fully objective about your own work. You know too much about it and can fill in blanks that a reader can’t.
Professional Editing for Indie Authors
- Story-Level Editing: Start with a developmental edit or a manuscript critique to address elements such as characterization, plot, structure, and setting. Your editor may complete a reread after your revisions.
- Line Editing: After you have solidified your story-level elements, a line edit improves the clarity, consistency, concision, and correctness of the prose. A good line edit highlights the author’s unique voice.
- Proofreading: Finally, you will finish with a proofread to catch residual errors. This is a last check for typos, spelling errors, and other objective issues.
Step 4: Interior Layout
After your manuscript is totally edited, meaning no further changes will be made, it’s time to design the inside of your book.
This process involves the creation of the inside pages of your book and the ebook file. This is a very specialized skill requiring specific software. Professional book designers use a program called InDesign, and the process involves going through the book line by line to make sure everything is in its place. A professional book designer will also select fonts and other elements that complement your story.
One of the most important reasons to hire a professional book designer, though, has to do with ebooks. We all know that publishing a digital version of your book is crucial these days. Many people read on their phone, tablet, or Kindle.
A professionally designed ebook is responsive and looks good on all devices. You can turn the device to portrait or landscape orientation, and you can change the font size and color. Producing an ebook is a lot like writing computer code, and it’s not something the average author has the skills to accomplish.
(The interior designer will include your ISBN on the copyright page, so you will need to secure that before the interior layout is complete. You should also provide the interior designer with content such as acknowledgments, a dedication, and your author bio, if you would like them to be included.)
Step 5: Cover Design
Although we’ve all heard the advice Don’t judge a book by its cover, we all know that readers do just that. An eye-catching, professional cover is crucial to the success of your book.
Cover design is listed after interior design because to create the print cover, your designer will need the dimensions of your book and the number of pages to calculate spine width.
When you’re choosing a cover designer, look for someone who works with books in your genre and age category. Every designer has a different style. A cover designer will make sure the book’s cover aligns with reader expectations. Readers should be able to gauge the genre and tone of the story from the cover.
Since you’ll likely be publishing in print and digital formats, you’ll need a print-ready cover (which the designer will deliver as a PDF with the front, back, and spine) and an ebook cover (which will be a JPG file).
A talented cover designer will also make sure the design looks great at full size and as a thumbnail.
(Remember to let your cover designer know which platforms you plan to publish through. KDP and IngramSpark require different upload formats. You will also need to provide a back cover blurb for the cover designer. Many authors choose to have this written professionally.)
Step 6: Publish Your Book
Once you have completed and finalized interior and cover files, it’s time to upload your materials. Let’s walk through the process:
- Create accounts on all necessary platforms, which may include Bowker, KDP, IngramSpark, and Draft2Digital. Save your login information.
- Complete your tax information in KDP, IngramSpark, and Draft2Digital. Remember that you are the publisher.
- Assign your ISBNs in Bowker, using information listed exactly as it will appear on your cover.
- Gather the materials in the table below.
| Item | File Format | Description |
| Ebook cover | JPG | Front-only cover |
| Paperback cover | Full spread with front, back, and spine | |
| Hardback cover (if applicable) | Full spread with front, back, and spine for case laminate or with front, back, spine, and inserts for dust cover | |
| Ebook | EPUB | Ebook interior |
| Print interior | Print-ready interior pages | |
| Back cover blurb | n/a | Back cover blurb for description (may also include author bio) |
| ISBNs | n/a | ISBNs should be accessible |
| Login details | n/a | Username and password for any of the following that apply: Bowker, KDP, IngramSpark, and Draft2Digital |
| Print specs | n/a | Page count and trim size |
- Upload your paperback and ebook versions to KDP and publish.
- Upload and publish paperback and hardcover versions to IngramSpark.
- Upload and publish your ebook version to Draft2Digital.
The actual publication process is pretty simple. Enter your book details (title, author, genre, etc.). Note that KDP restricts changes to some of this info later on, so be sure you get it right. Be sure to add a strong description. Most authors choose to use their back cover blurb.
Then upload your book’s interior and cover. Choose your book’s dimensions, ensuring they align with your interior file, and select what type of paper and cover you’d like. Go through the process of reviewing your materials and check any issues Amazon detects.
You’ll also need to set your royalty options and price your book. Use KDP’s printing cost and royalty calculator to get an idea of how to price your book.
Once all that’s done, you can order a proof copy of your book. Note that Amazon considers proof copies low priority, so it may take a while to reach you. You’ll get a copy of your book with a watermark across the cover, and you can make sure everything is correct before making the book available to readers.
IngramSpark does not offer proof copies but allows you to order author copies before publication.
After receiving and reviewing your proof copy, you are ready to press publish. Note that once you hit publish, it can take up to 72 hours for Amazon to review and approve your book. Unfortunately, that means that you have no control over the actual launch date of your book, so be sure to plan accordingly.
Step 7: Market Your Book
The work of a self-published author is never done. After the book is published, it’s time to promote and market. Ideally, you’ve been building your local and social media platforms in advance. You may also have planned a launch strategy to generate excitement leading up to the book’s publication.
Start by ordering author copies. In your KDP account, click “order author copies” and select the number of copies. The books will automatically be added to your Amazon cart. As the author, you pay only the printing cost and shipping costs. It’s important to have copies on hand for local events and to ship to customers who purchase the book directly through your website.
Speaking of websites, you should have one. You can design a simple site yourself through WordPress, Weebly, Wix, or SquareSpace. Or you can hire someone to design your website for you. (Get in touch with us at Blue Pen for information about affordable, specialized author websites.) It’s important to have an online presence where people can learn about you and your work. Having a website drastically improves your reputation as a professional.
When it comes to directly marketing your book, you can hire a service to help you. Be sure to vet these services thoroughly and understand exactly what you’re getting for your money. You can also network and promote your book through social media.
Remember to network locally, as well. Attend book fairs. Join writing groups. Talk to your local libraries and bookstores about purchasing your book and hosting book signings. Although selling and networking in person can be intimidating, it’s extremely valuable for building a reputation within your community and can help you gain devoted new readers.
How to Self-Publish a Book with Confidence
Many authors take the if-you-build-it-they-will-come approach to self-publishing. With the huge number of books on the market, that strategy simply does not work. You have to make your book stand out, and the best way to do that is through good old-fashioned hard work.
Dedicate the time and energy to your project. Invest the necessary finances to hire professionals who know what they’re doing. And then the readers will come.
Consider the position this puts you in as an author. You can publish low-quality work and participate in the race to the bottom on pricing (99¢ books! Free books!). Or you can produce a professional-quality book and then charge what it’s worth. Learn how to self-publish a book that stands out from the crowd. Develop your career and your readership by approaching self-publishing with the same mindset that traditional publishers use.
When you’re ready to start the self-publishing process and turn your manuscript into a book that’s fit to impress readers, get to know our team to learn how we can simplify the process.
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