Self-publishing a book: what to consider before you start
Self-publishing is often presented as wonderfully simple: finish your manuscript, upload a file, choose a price and your book is available to buy.
Technically, that may be true. But uploading a book and publishing it well are not quite the same thing.
The good news is that authors have more control over their work than ever before. The important thing is knowing what you’re taking responsibility for and which decisions matter most.
Know what you want from the book
Before choosing a platform, think about the job your book needs to do.
Are you hoping to build a readership over several books? Share specialist knowledge? Reach a very particular community? Sell copies at events? Use the book as part of an existing business?
Your answer affects the format, distribution, budget, launch plan and how you measure success.
Someone producing a short practical guide for existing clients has different priorities from a novelist planning a series. Neither should be squeezed into somebody else’s standard publishing checklist.
Understand what you’re becoming responsible for
When you publish independently, you’re effectively taking on the role of publisher.
That doesn’t mean you personally need to edit, design, proofread and distribute everything. It means you’re the person coordinating those decisions and checking the work meets the standard you’ve set.
A professional editor may help with the structure or clarity of the manuscript. A copy-editor can address consistency and language. A proofreader looks for remaining errors at a later stage. A book designer considers cover, page layout and the reading experience.
These are different skills. Ask what each supplier is actually delivering rather than assuming a single ‘editing package’ covers everything.
Think about the reader, not just the cover
A good cover matters, but not as a decorative exercise. It needs to tell the right reader what sort of book this is.
Look at comparable titles in your category. What expectations do they create? Where is there room to stand out without confusing the audience?
Think about the title, description and opening pages in the same way. They need to work together. A reader should be able to understand quickly who the book is for and why they might want it.
Plan the format and distribution carefully
You may want an ebook, paperback, hardback or some combination. Each format has costs and practical implications.
Print-on-demand can reduce the need to hold stock, but unit costs and available specifications vary. A larger print run may reduce the unit price, while introducing storage, fulfilment and cash-flow considerations.
Distribution is another decision. Being available through a platform is not the same as having bookshops stock the book or readers discover it.
Check the commercial terms, territory restrictions and any exclusivity requirements before committing. Keep copies of your final files and maintain a clear record of who controls your accounts.
Don’t treat ISBNs and metadata as afterthoughts
Book metadata includes information such as the title, contributor details, description, format, subject categories and publication date. Done properly, it helps retailers, libraries and distributors identify and present your book accurately.
ISBN requirements depend on the format and how you distribute. Different editions and formats normally require different ISBNs where ISBNs are used. In the UK, the ISBN Agency is NielsenIQ BookData.
None of this needs to become a technical obsession, but it is worth getting right early. Tidying up inaccurate details after a book has been listed in several places can be unnecessarily frustrating.
Be realistic about marketing
A publication date is not a marketing plan.
Start identifying your potential readers before launch. Where do they already spend time? Which publications, communities or organisations reach them? Why might somebody recommend your book?
You don’t need to be on every social platform. A focused approach that suits you and your readers is far more useful than a long list of activities you won’t maintain.
For some books, direct relationships and a small engaged audience matter more than a broad, unfocused campaign.
Make a budget that includes the less exciting bits
Allow for editing, design, proofreading, printing proofs, ISBNs if needed, marketing assets and any professional help you choose to use.
Ask suppliers for clear scopes and deliverables. Check ownership of cover and interior files. Understand cancellation terms and what happens if you want to change providers later.
Be cautious of anyone promising bestseller status or guaranteed commercial success in return for a fee.
Self-publishing should mean informed choice
The attraction of self-publishing is freedom: the ability to make decisions about your book, its timing and its future.
That freedom works best when you understand the decisions in front of you. You don’t need to know everything at the outset. You do need a realistic plan and the right help where it adds value.
Start with the purpose of the book, work backwards from the reader, and build a publishing route that makes sense for your project.
If you’re considering self-publishing and don’t know where to start, Book Bubble Press can help you think through the options before you commit.
