Time to Publish (Almost)
There’s less than 2 weeks to publication date and I’m still not done.
Yes. I’m a perfectionist. But I want everything to be just right for when my book How to Self-Publish Without Going Broke goes live. Even if that means sending my formatted book over again to my copyeditor/proofreader for a final spot-check.
These weeks before you publish can be stressful and nerve-wrecking because there’s so many ducks you have to get in a row including securing your customer and editorial reviewers. This is important because having reviews early on will 1) boost your credibility and visibility as a writer and 2) help you become eligible to promote your book to the big promotion sites out there (e.g. Bookbub)
So what’s involved in this final step? Here is an overview of the publishing process.
Proofing
This is a very important step. I can’t stress how important this is. Even if your book is professionally edited, it is still your responsibility to check the quality of your book. To help in this area, many distributors or retailers allow you to order proofs of your book (if it’s in print form) or preview your manuscript as it would appear on a device. KDP Select, in particular, allows you to pull up your manuscript in multiple formats, so you can see if your book’s formatting appears consistent, readable, and professional regardless of the device. If something looks off or you see a typo, you can correct it to avoid errors in the uploading process.
Here’s a simple checklist of what to look for when proofing your book:
Consistency—Is the font type and size consistent throughout the body of your manuscript? What about the section headings and your use of spacing? Is the spelling of certain words consistent? If not, you have some changes you need to make. Consistency is key for a professional presentation of your book.
Error-free—Are there any typos or spelling mistakes that missed the rounds of editing? Editors are imperfect too, but if you did your due diligence in getting your book edited, you should have close to zero spelling or grammatical errors at this stage.
Links—This applies especially to eBooks. Do all your links navigate to the correct pages? You want to check for any broken links that navigate to another part of your book (ex: the chapter title in your table of contents) or an external link (ex: a blog). Links that take you to an error page or are unresponsive make for poor user experience.
Cover art—It’s one thing to view an image on the computer. However, you may be surprised to see what it looks like once it’s printed full size. Is the image quality still high or do the colors look less vibrant? For print books, in particular, you want to make sure the print settings you chose gives you the desired outcome.
The uploading process will vary depending on the retailer/distributor you choose. Here’s what you can expect if you are publishing through KDP Select, which publishes print and eBooks.
One of the first things you’ll be asked to fill out is the language of the book. You will also need to fill out the title and subtitle (if applicable). If your book is part of a series, you want to indicate the series name and number as well as the edition of the book. If this is the first book, you can leave the edition field blank. You only need to worry about the edition if you are reuploading an updated version of a published book. Next, you want to include the author’s name and any contributors.
The next step is to include the description that will appear on the book’s details page. As far as publishing rights are concerned, they will present you with two options: 1) I own the copyright and I hold the necessary publishing rights or 2) This is public domain work. If something is in the public domain, that means no individual holds exclusive rights to your work. If you want your work copyrighted so only you own the rights, choose the first option.
Once you select the desired option, you can select up to two categories. Then select your keywords. Remember, to maximize your book’s visibility, do not duplicate the category names in your keywords. Instead, list well-known topics or themes related to your book and there’s a chance to unlock an additional category when the book goes live!
Now is the time for the step you’ve been waiting for; uploading your manuscript. If there are no errors, you are good to proceed forward. Keep in mind, you will have the option to enable DRM for your eBook. The purpose of DRM is to restrict the unauthorized distribution of your book. As I noted earlier in the copyright section, it’s aimed at discouraging piracy. If you enable it, users can still lend your book as a gift. Make sure to read the fine print on what it covers and what it doesn’t because once you publish, you cannot change this setting.
The next major step is to upload your cover image. JPG and TIFF are the only accepted files for KDP. If you are using another distributor, please check their policy on what makes up acceptable file formats. If you are publishing an eBook, an ISBN is optional. Instead, you will be assigned an ASIN number, which is a unique identifier for your book. Print books, however, will need an ISBN, which the retailer you’re publishing with will provide. This is important if you plan to have your book sold at bookstores.
The next section you need to fill out is pricing and royalty rate. You can also select the countries/territories that your book will be distributed to. Keep in mind, the pricing of your book will vary per country you opted to make your book available to. As far as book lending, this is optional, but honestly, if you want to maximize your exposure, I would recommend enabling this option so users can lend your book to their friends and family.
Print If you are publishing in print in addition to eBook, you will need to repeat the process which includes, but is not limited to, filling out your language, title/subtitle, categories, keywords, pricing, royalty, etc. Since it is print form, you will also be prompted to choose your paper type, trim size, and bleed settings. Make sure you give careful thought to what would make the most sense for your book as these changes will stick after you hit publish. After you have reviewed all your settings and are comfortable with them, you are ready to hit submit.
[image error]Coming to a retailer near you. (6/29/2020)
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