Have you decided to take publishing into your own hands, and independently release your work to the world? Or are you wondering if this is a good choice for you? This is a growing market, and things change quickly. We will walk, step by step, through the self-publishing process, examining current opportunities and realities of independent publishing from a variety of perspectives. We’ll discuss content, formatting choices (print? ebook? audio? translations?), hiring freelancers, pricing, distribution options, and how to evaluate what options are best for your unique project. This class gets past the hype and examines the practical decisions that need to be made, realistic costs and income potential, as well as pitfalls to avoid. Most importantly, it helps writers evaluate self publishing in light of their own goals, strengths, and audience.
20. 3. Front and Back Matter
Title page
Copyright page
Dedication, Epigraph
Table of Contents
Foreword/Introduction/Preface/Prologue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Promotional Page
23. 3. Front and Back Matter
Title page
Copyright page
Dedication, Epigraph
Table of Contents
Foreword/Introduction/Preface/Prologue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Promotional Page
36. http://bit.ly/2GxVZxz
1. Define a mission and vision for
its publishing program.
2. Vet submissions.
3. Publish under its own imprint(s)
and ISBNs.
4. Publish to industry standards.
5. Ensure editorial, design, and production quality.
6. Pursue and manage a range of publishing rights.
7. Provide distribution services.
8. Demonstrate respectable sales.
9. Pay authors a higher-than-standard royalty.
37.
38.
39. Are they publishing books that you would
read, or want to be associated with?
40. Are they publishing books that you would
read, or want to be associated with?
Are their costs for authors competitive?
41. Are they publishing books that you would
read, or want to be associated with?
Are their costs for authors competitive?
Are their book prices competitive?
42. Are they publishing books that you would
read, or want to be associated with?
Are their costs for authors competitive?
Are their book prices competitive?
Do you trust their staff and leadership?
43. Are they publishing books that you would
read, or want to be associated with?
Are their costs for authors competitive?
Are their book prices competitive?
Do you trust their staff and leadership?
Are they trying to upsell or pressure you?
44. Are they publishing books that you would
read, or want to be associated with?
Are their costs for authors competitive?
Are their book prices competitive?
Do you trust their staff and leadership?
Are they trying to upsell or pressure you?
How responsive are they?
45. Are they publishing books that you would
read, or want to be associated with?
Are their costs for authors competitive?
Are their book prices competitive?
Do you trust their staff and leadership?
Are they trying to upsell or pressure you?
How responsive are they?
Can you talk to their authors?
46. Are they publishing books that you would
read, or want to be associated with?
Are their costs for authors competitive?
Are their book prices competitive?
Do you trust their staff and leadership?
Are they trying to upsell or pressure you?
How responsive are they?
Can you talk to their writers?
Is there a clear way to terminate the
agreement if things don’t work?
47. Are they publishing books that you would read,
or want to be associated with?
Are their costs for authors competitive?
Are their book prices competitive?
Do you trust their staff and leadership?
Are they trying to upsell or pressure you?
How responsive are they?
Can you talk to their writers?
Is there a clear way to terminate the agreement if
things don’t work?
Do they provide the services YOU need?
53. Ebook Distribution Options:
1. Kindle Direct (exclusive to Kindle readers)
2. Direct distribution to all four e-readers
3. Distributor/aggregator: i.e. Ingram Spark,
Draft2Digital
55. 100-200 words
Nonfiction: What’s the Problem? What’s your
solution? Why should I trust you?
Fiction: Introduce the primary character and
the inciting incident. What sets the story in
motion, and what’s at stake?
58. Know what’s popular
Don’t get stuck on one idea
Don’t try to tell the whole story
59.
60.
61.
62. 1. Book Cover Design
Hire a Professional (ask me for referrals)
DIY Lite:
◦ http://www.bookdesigntemplates.com/
◦ http://99designs.com/
◦ http://canva.com
◦ KDP Cover Generator (free)
DIY Serious
◦ Adobe InDesign
63.
64. Are pages numbered, with odd on the right
(and no numbers on blank pages, front
matter, or chapter headings)?
Are there blank pages on verso (left) before
chapter or section starts?
Are margins justified?
Are words hyphenated to smooth line widths?
Are margins wide enough for a finger (with
extra space for the gutter)?
65. Are there headers on text pages, but not
chapter breaks or blank pages?
Are there widows or orphans breaking across
pages?
Did all of your formatting (smart quotes,
italics, footnotes) transfer?
66. 2. Interior Print Design
Hire a Professional
◦ https://www.ampersandbookery.com/
DIY Lite
◦ www.bookdesigntemplates.com/
◦ www.coverdesignstudio.com/
DIY Serious
◦ Adobe InDesign
◦ LaTeX
67.
68.
69.
70. 3. Ebook Formatting
Hire a Professional
◦ https://www.ampersandbookery.com/
◦ http://edsguild.org/
DIY Lite: follow the guidelines
◦ https://kdp.amazon.com/help
DIY Serious:
◦ https://code.google.com/p/sigil/
◦ http://calibre-ebook.com/
75. Please sign up for my
mailing list!
http://bethjusino.com
bethjusino@gmail.com
Most photos in this slideshow are
licensed Creative Commons and
available through Unsplash:
https://unsplash.com/
