A step-by-step guide for self publishing, including how to create a professional-looking book and how to distribute it so that readers can find it.

2. 2016: 725,000+ new self-published books

3.  Turning a manuscript into an
appealing book
 Selling the book where readers
can find it

7. You become your own small press.
You own and control everything.
You contract with specific service providers.
You reap the highest return per book.
You make all of the decisions.

8. EBOOKS:
 30% of all book sales, weighted by category
 4 major readers: Kindle, Nook, iTunes, Kobo

9. EBOOKS:
1. Kindle Direct (exclusive to Kindle readers)
2. Direct distribution to all four e-readers
3. Distributor/aggregator: i.e. Smashwords,
Ingram Spark, Book Baby

10. POD (PRINT ON DEMAND)
 IngramSpark, CreateSpace, Lulu, Blurb
 Handles printing, retail catalog, and
fulfillment
 Low or no upfront cost
 Author sets price

11. OFFSET PRINTING
◦ Custom print and assembly
◦ You arrange separate retail catalog and
fulfillment
◦ Upfront cost of printing inventory

12. INTERIOR TEXT
 Blurbs and endorsements
 Title page and copyright page

14.  Copyright: http://www.copyright.gov/
 ISBN: http://www.isbn.org/
 LCCN: www.LOC.gov

15. INTERIOR TEXT
 Blurbs and endorsements
 Title page and copyright page
 Dedication, Epigraph
 Table of Contents
 Foreword/Introduction/Preface/Prologue
 Acknowledgments
 About the Author
 Promotional Page

20.  Hire a Professional (ask me for referrals)
 Crowdsource it: http://99designs.com/
 DIY Lite:
◦ http://www.coverdesignstudio.com/
◦ http://damonza.com/
◦ https://www.canva.com/
◦ CreateSpace Cover Generator (free)
 DIY Serious
◦ Adobe InDesign

22.  Are pages numbered, with odd on the right
(and no numbers on blank pages, front
matter, or chapter headings)?
 Are there blank pages on verso (left) before
chapter or section starts?
 Are margins justified?
 Are words hyphenated to smooth line widths?
 Are margins wide enough for a finger (with
extra space for the gutter)?

23.  Are there headers on text pages, but not
chapter breaks or blank pages?
 Are there widows or orphans breaking across
pages?
 Did all of your formatting (smart quotes,
italics, footnotes) transfer?

24.  Hire a Professional
 DIY Lite
◦ http://www.bookdesigntemplates.com/
◦ https://www.createspace.com/Products/Book/Interi
orPDF.jsp
 DIY Serious
◦ Adobe InDesign
◦ LaTeX

28.  Hire a Professional
◦ https://www.smashwords.com/list
◦ http://edsguild.org/
 DIY Lite: follow the guidelines
◦ https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/52
◦ https://kdp.amazon.com/help
 DIY Serious:
◦ https://code.google.com/p/sigil/
◦ http://calibre-ebook.com/

30.  100-200 words
 Nonfiction: What’s In It for Me?
 Fiction: Introduce the primary character and
the inciting incident. What sets the story in
motion, and what’s at stake?

31. In addition to the description:
 Blurbs/endorsements
 Author Bio
 ISBN/Barcode box
 Publisher Logo/name

32.  Create accounts, add tax information
 Set price
 Upload files
 Celebrate!

33. Subsidy, Copublishing, Partner, Hybrid, or New
Model Publishing
or
Contracting with a third party to act as your
publisher, at your expense.

34.  Are they selective?

35.  Are they selective?
 Are they publishing books that you would
read, or want to be associated with?

36.  Are they selective?
 Are they publishing books that you would
read, or want to be associated with?
 Are their costs for authors competitive?

37.  Are they selective?
 Are they publishing books that you would
read, or want to be associated with?
 Are their costs for authors competitive?
 Are their book prices competitive?

38.  Are they selective?
 Are they publishing books that you would
read, or want to be associated with?
 Are their costs for authors competitive?
 Are their book prices competitive?
 Do you trust their staff and leadership?

39.  Are they selective?
 Are they publishing books that you would
read, or want to be associated with?
 Are their costs for authors competitive?
 Are their book prices competitive?
 Do you trust their staff and leadership?
 Are they trying to upsell or pressure you?

40.  Are they selective?
 Are they publishing books that you would
read, or want to be associated with?
 Are their costs for authors competitive?
 Are their book prices competitive?
 Do you trust their staff and leadership?
 Are they trying to upsell or pressure you?
 Is there a clear way to terminate the
agreement if things don’t work?

41.  Writer Beware:
http://www.sfwa.org/other-resources/for-
authors/writer-beware/
 Preditors & Editors:
http://pred-ed.com/

42. …the real fun begins!
MARKETING

43. “Go APE: Author a great book, Publish it
quickly, and Entrepreneur your way to success.
Self-publishing isn’t easy, but it’s fun and
sometimes even lucrative. Plus, your book
could change the world.”
― Guy Kawasaki, APE: Author, Publisher,
Entrepreneur. How to Publish a Book

44. http://bethjusino.com
(Click Resources for links to many of the services mentioned)
bethjusino@gmail.com