Self-Publishing
Traditional publishing has been transformed by what some call the self-publishing revolution. Most experts agree that there has never been a better time to self-publish, and although the process can be as easy as uploading an EPUB file to Amazon’s Kindle Direct Press, the learning curve can be steep.
How to Avoid Scams
Reputable self-publishing how-to books and websites often highlight warnings about scams that can devastate a new indie author’s publishing dreams. All the experts urge writers to research carefully and thoroughly. But never fear! The following two resources offer the information you need to protect yourself:
- The Best Self-Publishing Services and the Worst: RatedThe Alliance for Independent Authors (ALLi) maintains this invaluable resource. The color-coded table visually highlights services using the following ratings: Excellent, Recommended, Caution, and Watchdog Advisory (reasons are usually offered for the Caution and Watchdog Advisory
ratings). ALLi’s Watchdog Desk maintains and updates this service, and users can email with requests to investigate any services not already listed. - Writer BewareCo-founded in 1998 by Victoria Strauss (a partner of ALLi), Strauss continues to maintain this website and a blog (among other resources) and continuously updates scams through blog postings with headings such as “Bad Contract Alert” and “Author Complaints.”
Resources - Websites
- Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi)As a writer wanting to self-publish, your go-to resource is this website. The information comes from the wide experience of a community of indie authors along with expertise from self-publishing experts. You don’t need to become a member to access this website, but ALLi offers three levels of membership, which are worth checking out if you’re serious about self-publishing.
- The Creative PennA highly self-published fiction writer, Joanna Penn is an ALLi partner and offers a rich website with podcasts, a blog, courses, and information on her books on self-publishing. Her website is easy to navigate, and she relates to her readers by using her own indie author career.
- David GaughranLike Joanna Penn, Gaughran is an ALLi partner, a highly self-published fiction writer, and offers a content-rich website. Also like Penn, Gaughran’s website offers courses, a blog, podcasts, and information on his books on self-publishing. Sign up for his email list for a free publication on building an author platform and current tips every Friday. And be sure to check out his comprehensive post, "How to Self-Publish a Book in 10 Steps."
- Jane FriedmanFriedman is a powerhouse as a writing expert and works with Writer’s Digest, IngramSpark, and ALLi. The "Start Here: How to Self-Publish Your Book" section of her website offers an introductory guide, and while some self-publishing resources can overwhelm the reader, this guide is clear, organized, and an excellent starting point for your journey.
Resources - Books
Choose the Best Self-Publishing Services: ALLi’s Guide to Assembling Your Tools and Your Team by ISBN: 9781913588618Publication Date: 2020-12-09If I had to recommend one book to purchase to learn about the state of self-publishing, this is the book. As ALLi’s Services Watchdog, John Doppler is in charge of ALLi’s Watchdog Desk (which investigates and rates self-publishing services) and incorporates a wealth of successful and failed self-publishing experiences by ALLi members. The eight sections of this book range from “Publishers and Publishing Services” to “How to Evaluate Self-Publishing Services,” and Doppler’s language is clear, fair, nuanced, and interspersed with humor. To view all of ALLi’s guidebooks on self-publishing, visit ALLi Guidebooks.
Successful Self-Publishing: How to Self-Publish and Market Your Book by ISBN: 9781912105854Publication Date: 2018-02-22As Joanna Penn states in her introduction, she began self-publishing in 2008, has published over thirty fiction and nonfiction books, and earns a six-figure income from her writing. Penn makes the distinction between a self-published author, who may simply want to publish one book and not make money, and an independent author, indie author, or author entrepreneur, an author who makes their living through their writing.
Penn’s book is an excellent one for any novice. Divided into two sections (“How to Self- Publish” and “How to Market a Book”), Penn addresses a wide range of readers but always adds a recommendation for best practices based on her own experience.
From Draft to Book: A Guide to Self-publication by ISBN: 9780578357560Publication Date: 2022-01-20Kara Starcher is an editor with two decades of experience in publishing. Her website, mountaincreekbooks.com, offers resources such as book coaching and cover design. While Joanna Penn’s Successful Self-Publishing is an excellent book for the complete novice, Starcher’s guide offers more detail in many of the areas Penn covers. However, Starcher is clear from the start that From Draft to Book does not cover marketing and advertising. Starcher does point the reader to other resources for those areas.
The book is clearly organized into four parts: 1) Writing & Editing, 2) Designing, 3) Printing, and 4) Planning. With a total of thirty-three chapters, the table of contents makes it easy to locate the section the reader is most interested in. The material before the four parts (“Introduction” and “What You Need to Know”) also offers crucial information, such as “Identifying Vanity Presses and Hybrid Publishers.” Two aspects I especially appreciated are the interspersed “Tip” boxes and the three-month plan at the end of the book, which offers checklists for each stage of self-publishing a book as an ebook and in print.
Let's Get Digital: How To Self-Publish, And Why You Should by ISBN: 9789187109485Publication Date: 2020-07-05Gaughran has been self-publishing his science fiction and historical fiction for a few decades, and also states in “About the Author” that he “has helped tens of thousands of authors publish their work and build a career for themselves” through his books on writing, blogs, and workshops. Although Gaughran addresses a range of writers, his book is mainly geared to those wanting to make a career out of writing—or at least to make money from the books they write. His focus is mainly on self-publishing fiction. Gaughran’s background is in the tech and marketing fields, and his advice in these areas is in-depth, creative, and very helpful.
Sandra Shattuck
Sandra Shattuck has published essays in collections such as Encountering Disgrace: Reading and Teaching Coetzee’s Novel and Virginia Woolf and Bloomsbury: A Centenary Celebration, and reviews in journals such as the Community Literacy Journal, JAC, Research in African Literatures, Belles Lettres, and Conditions. At Pima, she co-managed the NEH-funded Border Cultures Program and served as Literature Discipline Coordinator. Thanks to her sabbatical, she is also the author of the middle-grade novel, The Electric Life of Lilah Browne.