Three Keys to Successful Self-Publishing 

By Patricia Marshall

Whether your dream is to print on demand, produce a beautiful e-book or both, self-publishing is a fantastic way to get your work out into the world.

Here are three basic keys to successful self-publishing:

Understand and conform to self-publishing standards and reader expectations 

Print-on-demand books are published from files the author or publisher submits to a printer.

To publish a print book, you have to create and then upload two files to a print-on-demand printer: an interior, which is the body of the book, and a cover file, which will include the back cover and spine. Your files must conform to the standards set by the printer.

Ebooks are distributed from files the author provides to ebook distributors.

To publish an ebook, you need to format your document as an HTML file, then convert it to an epub, according to ebook standards, create a cover file (front only), and upload your cover and interior file to ebook distribution sites. 

There are several ebook formats; you will need to know which sites accept which formats, and be sure you have all formats available.  

For both formats, all the elements—editing, cover design, text formatting—need attention to make a product conform to reader’s expectations.  

Make your book discoverable

For both print-on-demand and e-book formats, and to make the book discoverable (and therefore salable), you have to ensure the proper metadata is in place, which means you register your book, get an ISBN, and barcode, set the retail price, make sure your book description, keywords, and channels are set up properly. 

Create a realistic plan to sell your book

Along with publishing, the self-publishing author needs to have a basic understanding of how book marketing works. Unlike the field of dreams, your audience will not materialize just because you’ve put your work out in the world. 

If you want to find an audience and generate some income, you need to create a realistic plan to sell, or market, your book. 

Marketing should start long in advance of publishing and, while it can be challenging for an author, it can also be a fun and rewarding part of the writing experience, especially when it comes to interacting with readers. 

Patricia is a writer, editor, and publisher with a passion for helping authors produce the best books possible.

She is the former editor of Forest Magazine, published by a national conservation group located in Eugene, Ore., and she has extensive experience producing marketing and promotional materials, both for print and online. She is currently writing a non-fiction book about Burley Design Cooperative.

Patricia has a degree in journalism from the University of Oregon, an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Goucher College in Baltimore, and a certificate in Digital Journalism from Media Bistro in New York. She is a member of the Northwest Independent Editors Guild, Willamette Writers, and the Eugene Chamber of Commerce.

For more information on independent publishing visit luminarepress.com.

Upcoming classes you might enjoy

Nap-a-thon

Nap-a-thon: a fundraiser for people who are tired. Which, statistically, is everyone.

Nap Ambassador sign ups close Sept 30.
Napping and fundraising happens Oct 1-31.

Learn more! Nap-a-thon

Writer’s Life Lunch

Come share a meal with other writers and talk shop—craft, process, money, motivation, publishing, rejection, weird writing habits, and whatever’s currently living rent-free in your brain.

Friday, Sept 18 | Noon–1:30 pm
Ages 18+

Learn more! Writer’s Life Lunch