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The Work of Self-Publishing

The work that goes into publishing a book is the same for a self-publisher as it is for a royalty-publisher. A major difference is that a self-publisher who starts out with no investment money has to find creative ways to produce a top-notch product to sell online and then increase book availability and visibility gradually over time.

You can use the checklist below to organize the steps of your self-publishing project as you go along, but also to help you decide which tasks you'd prefer to delegate to others. Purchase a copy of Self-Publishing Revolution for further guidance and economical strategies for getting it all done.

Self-Publishing Checklist

  • Make a contract with yourself.
  • Develop your book’s theme and content.
  • Edit your book for organization, consistency, grammar, etc.
  • Get input from your target audience.
  • Get editorial input, if needed.
  • Lay out the interior pages of your book.
  • Design your cover.
  • Develop your public persona, e.g. pen name, brand, etc.
  • Choose a publishing company or “imprint” name.
  • Decide RE: ISBN, copyright, Library of Congress.
  • Research and choose a POD or printing company.
  • Solicit reviews via preview copies or emailed .pdf files.
  • Add reviews to your book cover or interior, if desired.
  • Develop your Web site and POD author page.
  • Throw a book release party, online or offline.
  • Sell your finalized book online.
  • Purchase some physical copies to sell in person.
  • Get the word out! Keep mail/email lists.

For Maximum Exposure:

  • Participate in book signings and other events.
  • Sell to retailers; keep an ongoing list of those you work with.
  • Adjust your distribution price point, if necessary.
  • List with wholesale distributors, and let your retailers know.

Vanity press?

The term “vanity press” is most often interpreted as derogatory. It means that a book has made it to market based solely on the author’s vanity or ego, having bypassed the crucial input of royalty-publishing professionals. The term implies that self-published books are those that have not or cannot make it in the “real world.”
     If you approach your work as a self-publisher with some humility and get the help and input you need along the way, then your book will become a valuable contribution to your target audience. Do an honest self-assessment of your strengths and weaknesses using the Self-Publishing Checklist.

- Self-Publishing Revolution