Authors are flooding towards publishing their books themselves instead of relying on traditional processes. But how to self-publish can be confusing and overwhelming. So, I have five great resources I send authors to help them do it themselves.
Read on to learn more about resources for self-publishing and whether doing it yourself is a good road for you to take.
Background
I fell into running as a hobby, mainly because running is a cheap sport. I thought I did not have to pay for fancy equipment, I just needed to head outside and run. But, I quickly discovered that the cost of a “shoe system” alone would prove my cheap-hobby theory wrong.
Running starts with buying more than one shoe. I rotated pairs to keep their form and longevity. I added shoe inserts to protect my joints and paid for fancy wicking socks to prevent blisters. Ironically, my hobby turned into a full-time job for a running-sock company, so now I fully embrace the cost of running.
Self-Publishing
The same goes with self-publishing. The aspiring author goes into the process with the mindset that sweat equity will get them through. Although anyone can do this, typically, I find authors crawling towards the finish line at the end of their writing process, only to realize that they have to go through more extensive processes to get the book finished, including (but not limited to):
- Editing
- Proofreading
- Formatting
- Registration
- Publication
- Marketing & Selling
At this moment, an author begins to understand how daunting writing and publishing a book can be. If you are thinking about writing a book, do not be too hard on yourself. You could easily slip into a frantic pace if you have a looming deadline or are lost on what to tackle first. Remember, each of the steps listed above is a profession itself.
So try lobbing one of these steps over to a professional and save yourself the time and headache of learning the process from scratch. Contracting all of these steps can add up, so you must know what you are willing to pay for and what you can try on your own.
Keep in mind the massive trend toward self-publishing. And with a bigger audience to prey on, prowlers will want to make a quick dollar off of vulnerable authors. Too many people are out there offering their services, so it can be easy to overpay or not get the quality of service you deserve.
Tools for Self-Publishers
As a professional proofreader and editor, I often have conversations with new authors about editing and proofreading and the self-publication process in general. In fact, most authors looking for editors also want advice or an editor experienced in the publishing process.
I found five invaluable tools that I provide writers I work with to help them with the self-publishing process. I believe these are honest and reputable sources on the process and provide helpful advice if a writer wants to take on the publication themselves.
Five Resources for Self-Publishers
1. ,lisapoisso.com Publishing Resources
Nothing sums it up better than Poisso’s home page tagline, “Writing a Novel Shouldn’t Feel Like Throwing Darts with a Blindfold.” This editor and story coach’s page on publishing resources provides a gold mine of valuable sources on self-publishing. I share this resource the most with first-time or independent authors.
2. ,Reedsy.com
Reedsy allows authors to contract out any step in the book writing and publication process. However, you are not required to sign up for any of the services to access the many resources and helpful advice for aspiring authors the website provides. The website also features a webcast section with varied topics, such as “Memoirs for Beginners” and “Getting Published as a Debut Author.”
3. ,Alliance of Independent Authors Advice Center
The most important thing I would like to share is tools to avoid getting burned by low-quality or expensive services. Scams prey on authors rushing to learn more about the self-publishing process.
The website’s blog acts as a “watchdog” for authors and stays current with the latest scams and bad reputations. I highly recommend checking the website’s blog before buying services from any company. However, don’t get fooled by the website’s name. The ultimate goal for this website is to sell you their products and services.
This website focuses primarily on marketing for book authors and bloggers. But, I find the website’s posts offer great advice for particular topics relating to the self-publishing process such as, “Marketing for Authors Who Hate Marketing” and “Successful Self-Publishing on Amazon.” The website’s content is easy to navigate, and of course, the website offers resources for purchase.
Nothing could be more straightforward than Jane’s opening headline, “I report on the book publishing industry and educate authors.” Sign up for Jane’s email newsletter, Electric Speed, or spend some time reading the topics that apply to your situation on her Resources for Writers page.
Final Thoughts
The writing process can be challenging, but getting your book ready for publication and marketing, and selling your book is daunting. Try not to get swallowed in the crazy world of website crawling for advice. Instead, stick to what you know you can do well and outsource the rest. The resources for self-publishing I provided in this article can jumpstart your author journey.
If you are looking for help with editing or proofreading your book, please know that I am a reputable editor who plans to stick with you throughout the process. I provide high-quality work because my end goal is to help people, not scam them for a quick buck.
Please reach out to me at https://rivetservice.com/contact-rivet-service/ for more information about how I can make your book clean and polished, and ready for self-publishing.
