Self-Publishing For Dummies

Get your books into the hands of readers with this simple how-to guide Self-Publishing For Dummies takes you through the entire process of publishing your own books, starting with the writing and editing process and moving through cover design, printing options, distribution channels, and marketing to a target audience. With the advice in this book, you can tackle self-publishing, no matter what genre you write in. You’ll learn how to retain full control over your work and keep the profits from the sales of your book. In this updated edition, you’ll discover the latest technologies in self-publishing, trends in the world of ebooks, and new marketing techniques you can use online and in the real world. Becoming a published author is easier than ever, thanks to this Dummies guide. Understand every step in the self-publishing process Discover how to write and sell your books in ebook and printed formats Hire an editor, obtain an ISBN, and generate publicity for your book Fine-tune your writing to improve your chances of success Get your work out there—no agent or publisher needed Self-Publishing For Dummies is the perfect choice for anyone with an interest in DIY publishing.

Introduction 1 Part 1: Do It Yourself: Getting Started with Self-Publishing 7 Chapter 1: Welcome to Self-Publishing! 9 Chapter 2: Understanding the Pros and Cons of Self-Publishing 23 Chapter 3: Determining Who You’re Writing for and Why 41 Chapter 4: Equipping Yourself with the Write Stuff 53 Chapter 5: Creating a Winning Manuscript 69 Chapter 6: Fine-Tuning Your Work with Careful Editing 91 Part 2: Pulling Together the Details: Administration and Design 101 Chapter 7: Setting Up Your Self-Publishing Business 103 Chapter 8: Tackling Book-Specific Tasks 117 Chapter 9: Coming Up with Creative Page Design and Layout 135 Chapter 10: Crafting (and Judging) Your Book’s Cover 155 Part 3: Start the Presses! Examining Printing Choices 171 Chapter 11: Creating and Publishing E-Books That Sell 173 Chapter 12: Trying Out Short Run Printing 199 Chapter 13: Print-on-Demand for Demanding Self-Publishers 215 Part 4: Making Your Book a Bestseller: Distribution Methods 235 Chapter 14: Selling Your Book through Popular Online Booksellers 237 Chapter 15: Distributing Your Book through Traditional Channels 249 Chapter 16: Getting a Grip on Warehousing, Order Fulfillment, and Shipping 259 Part 5: Creating a Buzz: Publicity and Marketing 269 Chapter 17: Creating a Website and Social Media Accounts for Your Book 271 Chapter 18: Crafting and Distributing Publicity Materials 291 Chapter 19: Publicizing Your Book for Free with the Media’s Help 313 Chapter 20: Marketing Your Book with Paid Advertising and Promotional Tools 329 Chapter 21: Expanding Your Income with Spin-Off Merchandise and Services 347 Part 6: The Part of Tens 359 Chapter 22: Ten Self-Publishing Mistakes to Avoid 361 Chapter 23: Ten E-Book Publishing Mistakes to Avoid 367 Index 373