Many people dream about publishing a book. For centuries, however, anyone who wanted to see their name on a book cover faced many obstacles. The publishing world is still known for its strict gatekeepers. Fortunately, today it is possible to bypass publishing houses and use various tech and digital tools to accomplish your goals. Self-publishing is the quickest and easiest way to see your publishing dream take shape.
Here is a short and easy guide to self-publishing.
What is Self-Publishing?
The best way to understand the process of self-publishing is to compare it with traditional publishing. When you choose the traditional path, you have to convince a publisher that your work is worthy of attention and can generate revenue. You have very little creative freedom when it comes to cover designs or marketing campaigns. You split the earnings with the publisher, so you only get a small percentage of each sale.
Everything is different when you self-publish. In this case, you are the only person responsible for every aspect of the process. You have the freedom to decide how your book will look. You also have to take care of editing, proofreading, formatting, and printing. It may seem like a lot of work, but you can find many helpful resources for each particular step.
The Importance of Finding Reliable Help
Self-publishing comes with a lot of freedom. However, doing everything on your own can be a real challenge. Whether we’re talking about proofreading, cover design, or book formatting, these are specialized skills. You can do everything yourself if you have the necessary skills or at least the time to learn. If not, you can hire people to help you. Most self-published authors hire freelancers to help them with certain aspects of their work.
Hiring talented people to polish your book and give it a proper form for publishing can make the publishing process quicker and more efficient. Moreover, this approach gives you the mental space and the time to focus exclusively on writing.
eBooks or Physical Books?
One of the most rewarding things about writing a book is getting the chance to hold it in your hands. Many writers want to create a physical product, even knowing that selling a digital product is significantly easier. As a self-published author, you can choose to sell only eBooks or only physical books. Many readers choose eBooks to save money. You can also develop both digital and printed versions.
Do you want a printed version of your work? Choose the right book printing service to ensure your book looks indistinguishable from a traditionally published book. You’ll get a beautifully bound book with sharp text, vivid colors, and high-quality paper.
After printing your book, you can digitalize it and make it available on various eBook sale platforms. All you need is a PDF and a digital version of the cover. You can upload your book online in a matter of minutes.
Self-publishing has changed the creative world, giving writers, illustrators, and even photographers the freedom to decide how and when they publish. It has never been as easy to give shape to your ideas.