How to Self-Publish a Book: The Complete Guide

As technology continues to reshape how we consume literature, self-publishing has become a powerful avenue for writers looking for greater control, flexibility, and direct access to their audience. However, publishing a book can feel like a monumental task, especially when you do it on your own. There’s a whole world of design choices, marketing strategies, and printing options that you need to navigate before your book finds its audience. Count on Palmetto Publishing to guide you along the way. In this complete guide, we’ll explore how to publish your own book and how Palmetto can help every step of the way.

Traditional Publishing vs. Self-Publishing

When it comes to publishing your book, authors can use traditional publishing or self-publishing services. Here’s what these processes entail and how they differ.

What Is Traditional Publishing?

Traditional publishing is the time-tested method where authors submit their manuscripts to literary agents who act as intermediaries between authors and publishers. If accepted, the publisher handles the entire publishing process, including editing, cover design, printing, distribution, and marketing. Authors usually receive an advance against royalties, but a significant portion of the book’s earnings go to the publisher, literary agent, and intermediaries. While traditional publishing provides the support of an experienced team, it often involves a longer timeframe and less control for the author.

What Is Self-Publishing?

Self-publishing is a more independent approach where the author takes charge of the entire publishing process. Authors can use self-publishing platforms and services to publish their work in digital, print, and audio formats. With self-publishing, authors typically earn higher profit margins per sale, retain ownership of their work, and can bring their books to market much faster than traditional publishing. While it involves more hands-on involvement from the author, self-publishing provides greater creative autonomy and the potential for increased financial returns.

How to Self-Publish a Book

The appeal of self-publishing has made it the fastest-growing segment in book publishing, according to the Alliance of Independent Authors. It’s still not an easy road, but you can navigate it with the right guidance. Following these steps, will provide everything you need to know on self-publishing a book.

Step 1 Writing

If you have a finished book ready for publication, congratulations! You’re ready to move on to editing. If not, that’s okay. It’s easy for authors to get excited and start thinking about publishing before the book is finished — or even started. Here are some tips for finishing your book.

Keep the Momentum

Use your excitement to fuel your writing. Focus on why you want to publish a book and what you want to communicate with it. Clearly define the purpose behind your book — whether it’s to share a compelling story, inspire change, or offer valuable advice. By maintaining a sharp focus on your purpose, each word becomes significant, and your narrative gains a compelling direction.

Ask For Help

Some people find it helpful to have “writing buddies” who can check in on progress and offer feedback on artistic choices. Having someone read an excerpt of your book can calm lingering doubts and show you the book’s next step.

If you want more professional support, there are several avenues to explore. Joining a writing group provides a collaborative environment where you can share your work, receive fresh perspectives, and engage in constructive discussions. Attending a writing camp or workshop offers an immersive experience to refine your craft, learn new skills, and connect with fellow writers. For a personalized approach, hiring a writing coach can provide targeted guidance, tailored feedback, and mentorship that aligns with your specific writing goals.

Feedback during the writing process is optional, but you’ll definitely need someone to read your finished draft.

Step 2 Book Editing

A first draft is never ready for publication, nor is a second. It takes multiple read-throughs and various degrees of re-writing before a book should go to print. Here’s the process the pros use.

Self-Editing

Your first draft should be for your eyes only. It’s possible to give your raw first draft to a beta reader, but you’ll get more useful feedback if you’ve given it a self-edit first. However, you shouldn’t self-edit right away. Instead, put your manuscript aside for at least a few days. A week is even better. (According to The Write Life, Stephen King waits for six weeks!) By giving yourself some time, you ensure that when you pick your book back up again, you’ll be looking at it with fresh eyes.

When self-editing, make sure:

• The first few pages grab the reader’s attention.
• The language is vivid (show, don’t tell!).
• You don’t overuse certain words.
• You don’t use complex words where simple ones would do.

Most importantly, don’t worry about making the first draft perfect. You still have several rounds of edits and plenty of time to make changes.

Beta Reading

Beta readers are volunteers who read your manuscript and offer feedback. We don’t provide beta readers at Palmetto, but if you can find one, they can provide valuable feedback to refine your final draft. The Write Life recommends beta readers who are:

Ideally, you’ll have multiple rounds of beta reading and more than one reader per draft. Send your first self-edited draft to two or three people at first. Implement their suggestions, then send it out again to two more people. Repeat until you’re ready to show your draft to a professional.

Professional Editing

For most writers, this is the first big financial investment you’ll make in your self-published book. It’s also arguably the most important.

A professional editor will look at your manuscript and turn it into a polished product. Editors know industry standards and what resonates with readers, and they’ll make sure your book is as good as it can be. They’ll also catch errors that a writer or beta reader can easily miss. There are several different types of professional book editing services. The major ones are:

When self-publishing a book, you choose your editing services. Top-level publishing companies like Palmetto will have editors experienced in all three types of editing. The Palmetto editing team can help you determine which form or forms of editing will serve you best.

If you wrote a children’s book or a book with images, work with your editor to break up the text into pages or determine where images should be placed.

When working with Palmetto, make sure to save your manuscript in Microsoft Word or Google Docs. This is the best way for our editors to provide feedback and suggestions.

Step 3 Professional Book Design

Don’t underestimate the power of a great book design concept. When in the market for a new book, your audience will be faced with hundreds of choices. Focus on these items when designing a book to engage your reader visually and mentally:

Book Cover Design

Everyone says, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” but we all do — including your future audiences. If your book doesn’t look professional and polished, discerning readers may pass it by. A professional book cover design helps you put your best foot forward, capturing the attention of potential readers and signaling the care and quality they can expect within the pages of your book.

Interior Book Design

Book interior formatting matters, too, especially if you publish digitally. Your book needs to be readable across a range of devices. Proper formatting makes that happen.

Images

If you want to use your own images or illustrations for your book, ensure they’re high-quality. You’ll also want to ensure you own the rights to all the images you use. Consider your book’s trim size as well. Check out our Complete Guide to the Perfect Book Layout to learn more about trim sizes and book dimensions.

Step 4 Book Metadata

Paying attention to your book’s metadata is a critical step that can impact your book’s discoverability and appeal to readers. The metadata consists of essential information that helps potential readers, distributors, and retailers understand what your book is about and how it fits into the market.

Book Title

Your book’s title is the first interaction readers have with your work, making it a crucial element of your book’s identity. It should be catchy, memorable, and reflect the essence of your book. A well-crafted title can pique curiosity and entice potential readers to explore further.

Book Description

Your book description should be engaging and informative to convince readers to open your book. This brief yet powerful text should provide a snapshot of your book’s theme, main characters, and the unique elements that set it apart. A captivating description encourages readers to delve into the world you’ve created.

ISBN

Securing an ISBN is a fundamental aspect of book metadata. These identifiers are assigned to individual books and are essential for proper cataloging and identification in the publishing industry. Palmetto will help you obtain your ISBN.

For copyright protection, please visit copyright.gov to register your work and protect your intellectual property.

BISAC Codes

BISAC codes help categorize your book by genre and subject. Choosing the most relevant BISAC codes increases your book’s visibility in online retailers and libraries, making it easier for readers to find. Palmetto will discuss these codes with you to help you choose one that accurately represents the content in your book.

Step 5 Publishing

When you feel like your book is polished, it’s time to arrange your book for printing. You can publish your book in several formats. When it comes to printing physical books, your most budget-friendly option is to print on demand.

Where to Self-Publish

Palmetto makes it easy to publish your book in any format. With us, you can ensure your book reaches your readers in whatever format they prefer!

Step 6 Distributing Your Book

Distribution is how your book makes it into the hands of readers. Your most affordable option is to handle the process yourself, working directly with retailers.

Where to Distribute

When it comes to distributing your books, the first step is to put yourself in your readers’ shoes. Where are they most likely to buy your book? Does your reader prefer online shopping or visiting a brick-and-mortar store? Will you have better luck finding them in bookstores or boutique shops?

If you’ve decided to go the brick-and-mortar route, be aware that it’s not always easy to claim shelf space. We recommend building a good relationship with independent sellers who can take your book under their wing. The better your relationship with store owners, the higher your chance of snagging a spot on their shelves.

When distributing your book to physical stores, consider buying them in bulk. Also, be aware that it’s standard for retailers to get a 30–55% discount on the price of your books.

The Benefits of Outsourcing

When you handle distribution, you keep more in your pocket per sale, but all the logistics and negotiations fall on your shoulders. It can be extremely stressful, especially if you lack industry experience.

Another option is to outsource your distribution. If you print through Palmetto, we work with retailers on your behalf. Palmetto distributes print books to more than 40,000 retail stores and libraries across the world, including Barnes & Noble and Amazon. E-books also make it to the top platforms, including:

When you outsource, you also have the option to print on demand. As discussed above, this is one of the most cost-effective solutions for authors.

Step 7 Marketing

As with distribution, the first step in the marketing process is to consider your audience and where they’re buying from. Actively promote your book on your social platforms to engage readers and build a community around your work.

Below are some tips for reaching out to your audience, depending on where they are. For additional marketing advice, check out our Marketing Guide.

Guerilla Marketing

One of the best ways to market your book is to establish genuine connections. Consider reaching out to local bookstores and inquire if they would be willing to feature your book on their shelves. Creating this personal connection increases your book’s visibility and fosters support from the local community.

To expand your book’s reach, consider checking out local markets. These spaces can attract diverse audiences and provide an excellent opportunity to introduce your book to new readers. Placing your work in unconventional yet relevant locations can introduce it to a larger audience.

For direct engagement with your audience, visit book festivals, comic cons, or literary festivals. These events offer a platform to connect with readers, build a community around your work, and generate excitement. Attendees at these types of events are often passionate about literature, making it a great environment to create a buzz around your book and leave a lasting impression.

Author Website

Every book project needs an internet home. Your author website will be a resource for anyone interested in your book, whether they hear about it on the radio or watch a reviewer discuss it on YouTube.

Your website is where you can tell your story as the author. Talk about your “why.” What made you decide to write your book? What inspired your story? Sharing details about yourself can help you create genuine connections with your readers.

Your website should also feature:

• Your biography
• A contact page
• Opportunities to buy your published works
• Links to your social media pages

You can design and publish your website yourself or hire an expert. Palmetto’s designers are ready to help. You can also check out this blog for more advice on improving your website.

Press Releases

Traditional media still matters. With a good press release, you can get interviews and write-ups from local and industry journalists, podcasters, and bloggers.

Palmetto offers press release writing and distribution a la carte or as part of a book marketing package. Drawing on a network of more than 780,000 media outlets, Palmetto’s professionals will send your announcement to as many as 1,000 media outlets.

Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs)

ARCs are pre-publication copies that let authors share their work with a select group of readers, including influencers, book reviewers, and enthusiasts, before the official book launch. They can help create a buzz around an author’s upcoming release, generating excitement. Keep in mind that if you want ARCs, you may have to push your release date out to ensure your readers have time to read the early release.

Author Events

Author events and conventions allow authors to directly connect with their audience and create lasting impressions. Whether it’s a book signing at a local bookstore or a panel discussion at a literary festival, these platforms let authors engage with readers, showcase their personalities, and build a genuine connection. Besides direct sales, these events contribute to brand building, letting authors establish themselves as accessible and relatable people in the literary community.

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