Am I Ready to Self-Publish? Things to Do Before You Self-Publish a Book

So you’re considering self-publishing a book, but you’re not sure where to start. Luckily, you’re in the right place - we know that the world of self-publishing can seem daunting and overwhelming, and everyone wants the best for their book. And whilst self-publishing can seem like a big challenge, it’s also a massive opportunity - an opportunity to get your work out there, get it read and achieve your writerly goals.

So, to help you, we’ve set out all the things you should do before you self-publish your book.Have a Completed Manuscript

Unlike traditional publishing, where you can sometimes be commissioned to write a book, in self-publishing you need to have your manuscript completed. This does not have to be the final and edited version by any means - there are plenty of people you can go to for that - but it does need to be finished.

Most self-publishing companies or services also require the manuscript to be in a digital format (in one file), so if it’s longhand, we recommend either typing it up or sourcing a typist to do this for you.

Consider What Your Goals Are For Your Book 

Would you like to publish a book and gain commercial success? Have you written a business book, to help share your expertise? Did you want to publish a children’s story to share with your loved ones, and extra sales are just a bonus? Are you looking to publish quickly?

People opt to self-publish for a myriad of reasons, and understanding what you want from your book is so important. It will help you make crucial decisions such as what services you go for and, ultimately, who you choose to publish with.

Research, Research, Research!

The fact that you’re on this blog shows that you're off to a good start! We always recommend that authors thoroughly research the self-publishing industry before they dive in - there’s so much to learn about! Our blog is a great place to stay up-to-date with relevant industry topics, with advice from experts. You can also stay up-to-date with relevant companies on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tiktok. Companies often use these platforms to promote their services and facts about the industry, which is an easy way for you to quickly learn more information. We also recommend you research companies like Jericho Writers, who offer a range of guidance for writers. We also have a news page, which discusses news about both Troubador and the self-publishing industry as a whole. You can also attend webinars and events, like our annual Self-Publishing Conference, to learn more information and meet people within the industry

Consider The Costs

Self-publishing can be very expensive and the cost falls on the author. However, should your book be successful, you also get a significantly higher portion of the royalties. You should be prepared for these costs when you begin your self-publishing process.

Whilst some companies like Amazon KDP enable you to self-publish for free, this of course doesn’t take into account the costs of the work you may need, such as editorial, illustrations, typesetting and cover design. We always recommend authors look into these services, no matter their provider, as it can make a huge difference in the quality of their book and, in the long run, how successful it could be.

Other self-publishing companies offer publishing packages, which means your manuscript will have to receive the services involved. Please note these packages are often priced based on a significantly shorter manuscript than average, with some examples demonstrating a 40,000-word manuscript (an adult fiction novel is typically between 70,000-100,000 words).

We often get asked about our prices, and whilst we have a prices page which offers examples of what our prices could look like, we offer bespoke non-obligation quotations tailored to each manuscript. Every book is different, so we design each quotation to fit your exact needs. This way you aren’t paying for any services which aren’t necessary.

Another cost to consider is time cost - some authors choose to spend lots of money on their self-published books, some spend a lot of time on their books, and others do a combination of the two. There is always a cost to self-publishing, but you need to decide what your split is going to be. 

Having a deeper understanding over the costs of publishing is crucial before you get started.

Think About What Your Book Needs

There are plenty of services that you can get, to ensure your book is set up to be the most successful it can be.

Options include:

• Illustrations - You may seek a professional illustrator for either your book’s contents, the cover design, or both.
• Editorial - Having an editor look over your work is crucial to ensure your novel is as polished, professional and consistent as it can be. Authors often miss errors in their own work due to ‘author blindness’ and having a trained professional to weave out any mistakes will be paramount to a novel’s success.
• Typesetting - The process of taking your book from manuscript to print-ready format, this involves the process of choosing font, spacing, ensuring everything is laid out professionally for a seamless reader experience.
• Cover Design - ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover!’ Unfortunately, we all do, so having a design which is eye-catching and marketable will be critical in getting readers to pick up your book. 
  Printing - Companies like Amazon KDP will offer POD, which means your books cannot be stocked in physical bookshops like Waterstones. If you want commercial success, you may choose to have a print-run of your books. Printing also involves the decisions surrounding paper and quality, which is so important to the final product.
• Ebook Production - the modern world has evolved and readers expect the publishing industry to follow suit! Readers often expect to see the books available in a variety of formats, and Ebooks are, of course, easy to distribute, and can be a great way of reaching a wide range of readers easily.
• Audiobook Production - Some authors opt to have an audiobook created. If you’d like an audiobook, you also need to consider what kind of voice actor you’d like. 
• Marketing, Publicity and Distribution Services - How do you plan on distributing your book? Would you like digital marketing services, publicity, so forth? Would you like an author website created? 

These services are all provided by Troubador, as explained on our website here. You should consider which of these options will be suitable for your manuscript, as this will help you establish which self-publishing provider is right for you. 

Choose The Right Self-Publisher For You

There are so many different companies out there right now, ranging from Print on Demand distribution (POD), Ebook distribution, to companies like Troubador that support your manuscript through the whole process. Choosing your ideal company comes down to factors such as budget, your book’s goals and what your book needs. What worked well for one author may not work for another!

Companies including Amazon KDP, Ingram Spark, Troubador Publishing, Barnes and Noble Press, Apple Books and Kobo Writing Life all offer differing self-publishing services, which is why it’s crucial to figure out what your book needs. At this stage it is also important to consider when you’d like to publish - whilst all self-publishers are faster than traditional publishing, some providers will be able to do it fairly quickly, whereas companies like Troubador, as a result of offering full publishing and distribution services, can take around six to nine months.

Whoever you go with, we strongly advise that authors thoroughly research the company before going ahead. Look them up on websites such as Trustpilot and GoogleReviews. Does the company seem authentic? Do they prove their knowledge of the industry well? Particularly for companies which offer publishing services (or publishing packages), see if you can speak to somebody on the telephone, and gauge whether they’re the right fit for you. We hear plenty of stories of people with bad experiences, and doing some googling before can prevent an unfortunate situation.

Be Ready To Take Charge 

As we’ve said, a massive part of self-publishing is the author’s ability (and need) to take ownership over many aspects of the project, and this starts right at the beginning. One of the reasons people often opt for self-publishing is the control they get over your book. If you were to work with a company like Troubador, we would be collaborating with you to ensure the product we produce is what you want. Whilst we will offer our expert guidance, you should be ready to work with us and share your ideas.

After publication, there are plenty of different things that an author can do to help with the visibility and sales of their book, and we recommend that authors are as active as possible if they want to make sales. Some examples of these are:

• Online presence: There are a host of resources you can work with to boost this such as author websites and social media, which can be a great way of reaching readers and having a platform that they can stay connected with you on. Whilst we can create the author website for you, how you use it will be up to you.
• Bookshops: Self-published authors often have to take more ownership (compared to traditionally published authors) of getting their books into stores. You may decide to aim for local shops (as bookshops love stocking local authors), and try to get your book stocked.
• Setting up author events: Events like booksignings, talks at book fairs, and so on, are very important to an author, and these again will be on you to organise. These events are a great way to create connections and find readers, and we thoroughly recommend that you do it. There are a whole host of book and writer events that take place across the country, and would be an excellent opportunity. Local events are particularly important, as the pull of a local book is irresistible for many!
• Pricing: As the book is yours, you will also have control over pricing. Whilst we will suggest a Recommended Retail Price (RRP) for all formats, it is ultimately up to you. For an ebook edition, you can give your books a bit of a price drop in order to boost sales. You could decide to do this seasonally (if your book was about dogs, for instance, you might do a deal around National Dog Day). This is a great tool to have at your disposal, and is an exciting aspect of being a self-published author.  

These are just a few of the examples where self-published authors take ownership - however, we always recommend that you should lean on experts, if you're using them, to get the best possible outcomes. 

Try to think of fun ways that you can reach out to more people - it’s actually an incredibly fun part of being in the self-published world! 

Summary 

Choosing to self-publish a book is a very exciting step, but there are so many things to consider. By having your manuscript ready, understanding what you want for your book, and being proactive, you'll be in a great position to start your self-publishing journey. And remember - there are so many experts out there willing to support you in your journey, and we're one of them.