So You Want to Publish a Book

I am preparing a downloadable course that provides all the tips and strategies I have learned in my Independent Book Publishing career. But first:

The Reality of Independent Book Publishing

In the past, you would have spent years writing a novel, years sending your manuscript to publishing houses, and years collecting stacks of rejection letters. The lucky authors were accepted, had their first book published, and then waited to see whether it was successful. If successful, the publishing house may have offered a contract for the next book, possibly with an upfront fee. An author’s career advanced based on book sales.

The publishing industry has changed dramatically in the last 10 years:

Self-Publishing Has Exploded. A decade ago, self-publishing was still considered “alternative.” Today, it is fully mainstream: millions more self-published books are released each year than traditionally published ones. In 2023, there were 2.6 million new self-published titles. In 2023, the number of traditionally published new titles fell to about 563,000.

Print Never Died — It Rebounded. Predictions that print would die were wrong. Print sales increased steadily in the late 2010s, dipped during 2020 supply-chain issues, then stabilized. Big publishers merged (e.g., Penguin Random House attempted to buy Simon & Schuster; multiple mid-sized imprints were absorbed or closed). Traditional publishing is now harder to break into than ever.

Amazon Became the Dominant Retailer. A decade ago, Amazon was huge. Today, Amazon controls well over half of all U.S. book sales and nearly all e-book sales. There are currently at least 33 million distinct book titles available via Amazon.

E-books Plateaued, but Audiobooks Boomed. E-book sales surged in the early 2010s, then leveled off, but audiobooks became the fastest-growing segment in publishing, growing ~20–25% per year. A decade ago, audiobooks were niche; today, they produce over US$1B per year.

AI Became Part of Writing and Publishing. Over the last 2–3 years, AI tools have undergone a significant transformation. It’s no longer unusual for authors to use AI for developmental editing or content optimization.  Amazon embraces AI as a tool for self-publishers, but Amazon insists on responsible use and transparency to preserve quality and trust in the marketplace.

You can see that you are entering a very dynamic and exciting industry. If you like competition, independent book publishing is for you. If you only want to get your book out there, you now have the perfect vehicle to accomplish that.

Now back to the course:

We start with choosing a book topic. That can often be the hardest step for some individuals. I can help you choose a topic with potential to make money. I can guide you in selecting a topic that comes from your heart. This is your personal journey.

Writing your book is a big step! There are still people out there who write with pencil and paper. More people bang away at a keyboard. Some now rely on Artificial Intelligence to generate ideas and text. IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE HOW YOU DO IT - JUST DO IT.

Manuscripts go through an incredible evolution. Your masterpiece can change as you find out that old ideas don’t work and new ideas transform your focus. You will be adding and deleting chapters, restructuring the book’s order, and giving every detail your personal touch.

You’ll know when you are ready to Edit your book. I will share my experience with hiring professional editors or editing with the software Grammarly. Each avenue has its own pros and cons.

Once you are happy with your manuscript editing, it is now time for Formatting. I do not have experience hiring a professional formator. I have had success with the formatting software, Atticus. I could format your manuscript for you, or coach you through the finer points of using Atticus. (Atticus has an excellent tutorial section.) Atticus provides you with your manuscript file in a format ready for download to Amazon for publishing.

Your Book Cover can be an important factor in your book’s success. Even if your book is not for profit, your book cover is a direct reflection of your book’s content and you as an author. Your book cover offers the world its first impression of your work and you. I am happy to share my experiences hiring professional graphic artists to provide covers and creating my own book covers. Each avenue has its own pros and cons.

The last topic is your decision to Publish. Where do you publish? You also have to decide whether to market your book or just give it to family and friends. If you choose to sell your book, then you can join me on a fantastic voyage through a wide range of marketing strategies. I am still working through which marketing options work best for me. You will be amazed at the variety of constantly evolving marketing avenues available.