New Author Guide to Self-Publishing

So you spent weeks, months, or years writing a novel, getting feedback, revising it, and you finally have a publishable manuscript BUT you're not sure how to start the process. Let's dive into a step-by-step plan to self-publish your fiction novel!

1️⃣ STEP ONE: Get your ISBNs

When it comes to publishing your novel, you'll need an International Standard Book Number (ISBN) for each format of that book.

This means you'll need a new ISBN for:

• Your ebook

• Your paperback

• Your hardcover (if applicable)

• Your audiobook (if applicable)

Most self-publishing platforms will provide a free vendor-specific ISBN for your ebook, but you'll need to purchase one for your print books.

Depending on where you are located, you can get your ISBNs below:

➡️USA - Bowker

➡️Canada - ISBN Canada/Library and Archives Canada

➡️UK - Nielsen ISBN Store

2️⃣ STEP TWO: Create your front & back matter

Your book file will not only include your story (the actual content of the manuscript), but will also have a few pages before (the front matter) and a few pages after (the back matter).

The inclusion of some front and back matter pages is completely optional (for example, the dedication, epigraph, also by, etc.), however, there are a few basic pages you are better off including:

• Title page

• Copyright page

• Acknowledgments page

• About the author page

Before interior formatting, you'll want to put these front & back matter pages into your manuscript.

3️⃣ STEP THREE: Interior formatting

Once you have your full manuscript, you'll need to format those pages.

There are multiple pathways you can take when it comes to formatting:

• Hire a professional book formatter

• Use a formatting software like Vellum or Atticus

• Learn how to do your own formatting

Regardless of which path you take, you'll likely want to publish your book as an ebook and a paperback, meaning you'll need an ePub file for your ebook and a PDF file for your paperback.

4️⃣ STEP FOUR: Get your cover designed

Depending on which formats you choose to publish, you'll need at least two versions of your cover:

• The ebook cover (JPG or TIFF file)

• The paperback cover and wrap (PDF file)

You won't be able to get your paperback wrap finalized until you have:

➡️ Your final page count (for the spine width)

➡️ Your book description written (for the back cover)

5️⃣ STEP FIVE: Decide where to publish

Now that you have your book files ready, you'll want to decide where to publish your novel. Most indie authors choose more than one platform, but it's entirely up to you where you decide to publish.

Here are some of the options based on what you're looking for:

EBOOK DISTRIBUTION

➡️Amazon KDP

➡️Apple Books

➡️Barnes & Noble Press (distributes to Nook)

➡️Draft2Digital (distributes to many retailers & libraries)

➡️Google Play Books

➡️Kobo Writing Life

PAPERBACK DISTRIBUTION

➡️Amazon KDP

➡️Barnes & Noble Press

➡️IngramSpark (distributes to many retailers & libraries)

Each of these platforms has different royalties, fees, and features, so be sure to do your research and decide which ones appeal to you. Many new authors opt to start out with Amazon KDP (for ebook & paperback) and IngramSpark (for paperback).

Once you've chosen your platforms, you'll need to go to the appropriate websites and create your accounts.

6️⃣ STEP SIX: Create your book listings

On each self-publishing platform, you'll need to go into your account and create your book listings. This step will require you to have the following information ready:

• Title

• Book blurb

• Categories

• Keywords

• Manuscript files (ePub & PDF)

• Cover files (JPG/TIFF & PDF)

• ISBN

• Book pricing

7️⃣ STEP SEVEN: Order a proof copy

Before publishing, you'll want to order a proof copy of your paperback to make sure everything looks as it should.

8️⃣ STEP EIGHT: Click Publish

Once you've published your novel, it'll take anywhere from hours to weeks to show up online. Be sure to give yourself lots of time before your release day!