Thinking of Self-Publishing Your Book? Here’s What You Need to Know

You've been working on that manuscript for years. The epic fantasy novel you've been crafting since high school, or maybe the nonfiction guide you know could help people. You've edited countless drafts, had friends and family read it over. Now, you're ready to get it out into the world. But traditional publishing routes seem daunting, with countless rejections and waiting periods. 

Self-publishing starts to look more appealing. With self-publishing, you maintain control and creative freedom over your book. But diving into independent publishing isn't easy. 

A recent survey found that over 60% of authors feel overwhelmed by the self-publishing process. The good news is that self-publishing services have come a long way, and with the right preparation, you can publish your book successfully. 

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from editing and cover design to printing and distribution. So read on to learn how to turn your manuscript into a self-published book you can be proud of.

The Rise of Self-Publishing

Over the past decade, the self-publishing sector has experienced remarkable expansion. Wordsrated reports that the volume of self-published books has surged by 264% in the last five years.

Control and Higher Royalties

When you self-publish, you have full control over your work and set your own schedule. You also keep a much higher percentage of the royalties, typically 70% compared to the 15-25% offered by most traditional publishers. Some self-published authors have even landed million-dollar book deals after building up an audience.

Accessibility and Affordability

Self-publishing platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, Barnes & Noble Press, and Kobo Writing Life make it easy and affordable to publish an ebook or paperback. All you need is a manuscript, cover art, and a few hundred dollars for optional editing and marketing services. Print-on-demand means there's no upfront cost to print physical books.

Navigating the Process

However, self-publishing also means handling all the responsibilities that publishers traditionally manage, like editing, design, distribution, and marketing. The quality of self-published books is uneven, so take the time to polish your manuscript and surround yourself with pros for the best chance at success.

While self-publishing isn't for everyone, for the right person with the right book, it can be an incredibly rewarding journey and open up exciting new opportunities. If you're up for the challenge, self-publishing could be your chance to share your message with the world.

Pros and Cons of Self-Publishing Your Book

Self-publishing lets you keep control of your work and earn a higher royalty, but it also means handling all the work yourself. According to a recent survey, over 500,000 books were self-published in 2023 alone.

The biggest pro of self-publishing is keeping control of your rights and a larger cut of the profits. Traditional publishers typically only pay authors 10-15% royalties, while with self-publishing you can earn up to 70% of the list price. You also retain full creative control over your content and cover design.

However, self-publishing also means handling everything yourself, from editing and design to marketing and distribution. This can be difficult and time-consuming, especially for first-time authors. You'll need to invest in professional editing and cover design to produce a high-quality book. You'll also be solely responsible for promoting your book to gain visibility and drive sales.

While services like Penman International can help guide you through the self-publishing process, you still need to put in the work to build an audience and market your book. If you're not prepared to spend time promoting your book, it may struggle to find readers. However, with the rise of ebooks and print-on-demand, self-publishing has become more accessible and authors can reach readers more easily.

Overall, self-publishing offers both rewarding opportunities and real challenges. But with hard work and the right mindset, you can take control of your destiny as an author and turn your book into a success. The choice is yours!

Key Steps to Self-Publish Your Book Successfully

So you've finally finished writing your book and are ready to get it into readers’ hands. Self-publishing is an attractive option for many authors today. By handling the publishing process yourself, you have full control over your book and you get to keep more of the royalties. However, self-publishing also means taking on all the responsibilities of a publisher. To self-publish successfully, here are the key steps to keep in mind:

Find the right self-publishing platform

There are several reputable self-publishing platforms to choose from, including Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, IngramSpark, and Draft2Digital. Do some research to determine which platform best suits your needs and will distribute your book to the most retailers. Many are free to use and offer print book and ebook publishing options.

Get an ISBN

An ISBN or International Standard Book Number identifies your book as a unique publication. Many self-publishing platforms will provide you with a free ISBN. However, if you want to use your own ISBN, purchase one from Bowker in the U.S. or Nielsen in the UK. An ISBN will make your book available for sale from more retailers.

Design an eye-catching cover

As the saying goes, “Don't judge a book by its cover.” But in reality, readers do. A professional cover design will make your book look polished and help attract readers. You can hire an experienced book cover designer or try an online tool like Canva to create your own cover.

Edit and proofread thoroughly

Self-published books often get criticized for poor editing and lots of typos. Invest in professional editing and proofreading services to ensure your book is polished and error-free before publishing. Your book's success depends on producing a quality product that readers will enjoy and recommend to others.

According to recent surveys, over 1.5 million books were self-published in 2020 in the U.S. alone. Following these key steps will help set your book up for success and make it discoverable by readers eager to find their next great read. The opportunities in self-publishing today are truly exciting! Go for it and get your book out there.

Choosing the Right Self-Publishing Service

With so many options for self-publishing your book these days, it can be tricky to determine which service is right for you. According to a recent survey, the top self-publishing platforms are CreateSpace, Kindle Direct Publishing, Lulu, Smashwords, and Draft2Digital. Pricing The costs to publish your book can vary widely between services. CreateSpace and Kindle Direct Publishing are free to use, while Lulu and Smashwords charge a small fee for each book sold. If you want additional services like editing or marketing, you'll pay more. Consider how much you can invest to get your book in readers’ hands.

Royalties

The percentage of each book sale you keep as the author, known as your royalty, is an important factor. CreateSpace and Kindle Direct Publishing offer royalties of up to 70% of the list price. Lulu provides royalties of 80% minus a small fee per book. Smashwords starts at 85% and allows you to distribute to major retailers. The higher the royalty, the more you’ll earn from each sale.

Distribution

Some services only distribute ebooks or print books, while others offer both. Kindle Direct Publishing publishes exclusively to Kindle, while CreateSpace distributes print books on demand. Lulu and Smashwords distribute ebooks and print books to major retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books. Wider distribution means more potential readers can find and buy your book.

In the end, you need to weigh the pros and cons of each self-publishing service based on your priorities and budget. You may start with one platform to test the self-publishing waters, then expand to additional services once you get the hang of it. The key is choosing what will work best for your book and make the publishing process as simple as possible so you can get back to writing!

Market survey about Self-Published Books

The self-publishing industry has exploded in recent years. According to a 2019 survey by Written Word Media, the self-publishing market in the U.S. alone was valued at over $1.6 billion. Self-published books now make up about 50% of all ebook sales and 20% of print book sales in the U.S.

Ebooks dominate self-publishing sales

Ebooks continue to lead sales for independent authors. The same survey found that ebook sales accounted for 72% of self-publishing revenue in 2019. This is likely because ebooks have very little upfront costs for authors and higher profit margins. Many self-published authors have found the most success by publishing in ebook first before creating print versions of their books.

The romance and sci-fi genres sell the most

Romance and science fiction are the top-selling genres for self-published books.A huge 47% of self-publishing revenue in 2019 came from the romance genre. The next most popular genres were science fiction (19%) and fantasy (12%). Thrillers, mysteries and action/adventure books also sell well for self-published authors. If you want to maximize your sales potential, consider writing in one of these popular genres.

Most self-published authors earn under $10K a year

While there are certainly self-publishing success stories, the truth is most independent authors earn relatively little from their books. According to Digital Book World, nearly 75% of self-published authors earn less than $5,000 per year from their writing. Only 5-10% are able to make a full-time living as an author. However, many self-published authors write as a side hobby or to share knowledge with others, so income isn’t always the top priority.

The self-publishing industry has made it possible for anyone to become an author. But to earn a meaningful income from your books, you need to strategically choose popular genres, build your audience, and continually optimize your sales and marketing efforts. With hard work and persistence, self-publishing can be a viable path to becoming a full-time author.

Conclusion

So there you have it. Self-publishing can be a rewarding way to share your book with readers, but it requires time, effort, and a bit of cash. If you're ready to take on the work of being your own publisher, start by researching the self-publishing options available and make a plan for editing, design, distribution and marketing. According to a recent survey, over half of self-published authors spend between $500-$5000 to produce their book. While the costs can add up, the ability to retain full creative control and earn a larger royalty per book sold makes self-publishing an increasingly popular choice. With careful preparation and persistence, you can successfully publish your book yourself and accomplish the dream of becoming an independently published author.