How to Begin Self Publishing

With the advent of the computer and the internet the whole process of getting a book published has been drastically altered. With access to the computer and internet going through the traditional channels of a publishing company and agent has become nonessential to becoming a published author. With the modern connectivity provided by the internet and new forms of technology such as e-books, being able to self publish while still reaching a wide audience is now a reality. For those seeking to become self published authors often the biggest hurdle to pass is knowing where and how to get started.

Write the Book

The first step may seem obvious, but it is essential to have a book written before you consider self publishing. Many who talk about and consider self-publishing are in the middle of a book or haven’t even started. You shouldn’t worry about how you are going to publish your book until you are done with at least a rough first draft. The reason for this is trying to figure out publishing can become a hassle taking up too much time and not allowing the proper amount of focus to be placed upon the actual writing. Once you have a book written however it is time to move onto the next step.

Editing

It is recommended to hire a professional editor to edit your book. This will help your book to be up to the quality standards that are expected by the general public. There is nothing worse than trying to read through a self-published book with numerous typos and spelling errors. Though it will cost a little money, professional editing is worth it in the long run. There are a variety of price ranges and obviously the longer the book, the more expensive.

Which Channel to Self Publish Through?

The most traditional form of self publishing involves buying a printer and actually printing copies of your own book. This method has become outdated with the advent of the ebook and the emergence of the online market. Publishing an ebook is as simple as going to a number of websites and uploading your ebook. It is important for your text first to be transferred properly into ebook format. There are many programs that will do this automatically, but for the best quality and avoidance of mistakes it is recommended to have a professional do this. For those who are especially serious about their self-publishing an ISBN number can also be purchased so that their book can be officially categorized and searched for on websites and online libraries.

Marketing

The final step which should not be ignored when self-publishing is proper marketing. Many self published books never receive the attention they deserve. This can usually be traced to either poor marketing or a complete lack of marketing. Marketing your book on social media platforms is a great way to increase support or interest. For the best most thorough marketing you should expect to pay a decent amount of money.