This review identifies two useful books for authors who want to know more about the self-publishing process.
Self-Publishing Resources for Writers:
Books that Guide the Author Step-by-Step Through the Self-Publishing Process
Don’t Let Rejection Letters Stop You
You’ve got a great manuscript and a pile of rejection letters to go with it. But you know it’s still a great manuscript. You’ve done your market research and feel certain that there’s a market for your book, if only you could get it into print.
You’ve heard about self-publishing and would like to know more about it before giving it a try. You may have some concerns that need to be addressed. You’re not sure whether you can afford the cost, handle all the little tasks associated with the self-publishing process, or perhaps you feel trepidation about the marketing aspect of getting your book into the hands of buyers.
The good news is, there are lots of great resources available to help guide you step-by-step through the entire process. Here a two for starters.
Self-Publishing for Dummies
Self-Publishing for Dummies by Jason Rich (Wiley Publishing, Inc.; 2006) is part of the popular For Dummies book series for beginners. It’s a comprehensive guide to self-publishing from start to finish. The author discusses all the necessary tasks involved in self-publishing. Chapter titles include:
- “Understanding the Pros and Cons of Self-Publishing”
- “Creating a Winning Manuscript”
- “Setting Up Your Self-Publishing Business”
- “Trying Out Traditional Offset Printing”
- “Selling Your Book through Popular Online Booksellers”
- “Crafting Publicity Materials for Your Book”
Laid out in typical Dummies format, this in-depth guide to self-publishing is easy to read. The text uses icons to identify tips, reminders, and words of caution. A complete index and well organized table of contents eases your search for specific information on different aspects of the self-publishing process.
From Entrepreneur to Infopreneur
Another very useful book is Stephanie Chandler’s From Entrepreneur to Infopreneur: Make Money with Books, eBooks, and Information Products (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.; 2007). Although this book is not focussed solely on self-publishing, there is enough information on the self-publishing process laid out in a clear step-by-step format for an author to get through the self-publishing process successfully. Plus there are lots of great ideas for making a good income at producing information products like eBooks and booklets, teleseminars, and subscription newsletters among other things.
Written for Americans, these books give some information that is specific only to authors living in the United States. If you are planning to self-publish elsewhere, you will need to get information relevant to your own country’s requirements for starting your own publishing company, getting an International Standard Book Number (ISBN), and barcode, for instance.
Regardless of where you live, rejection letters need not be the end of your book project. With helpful tips from resources like these, you're sure to become a publshed author soon.
