The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing: Everything You Need to Know to Write, Publish, Promote and Sell Your Own Book

by Tom Ross, Marilyn Ross

Take Control of Your Destiny

Bottom line: You want to get published. You want to control the future of your manuscript and your writing career.

Best-selling author Marilyn Ross and publishing expert Sue Collier show you how to make your own success - whether you're a published author, entrepreneur, corporation, professional, or absolute newcomer to writing. In this expanded and completely revised 5th edition of the ""bible"" of self-publishing (over 100,000 copies sold), they empower you to publish your own work with minimal risk and maximum profits. You'll find:

Complete step-by-step guidance on publishing and marketing a bookWays to leverage social media marketing to build your platform and make yourself stand out from the crowd A thorough explanation of the difference between POD self-publishing, subsidy publishing, and true self-publishing - and how to decide which is the best option for youPractical advice on making the decision between offset printing and print-on-demandHow to leverage the Internet to create ""buzz"" and promote your book with killer PRThe latest information on e-publishing A detailed marketing plan and timetable to keep you on trackProven marketing strategies to get free publicity, reach nontraditional buyers, and sell booksInformation-packed appendices with marketing contacts, organizations, and vendors, complete with names, addresses, and websitesValuable case studies and examples of how other publishers excelAn in-depth discussion of exclusive distributors, plus coverage of the most recent changes in bookstores and the book-selling industryThirty-one creative ideas for generating capital to launch your publishing company "The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing" is the one book you need to take control of your writing career. Read it. Believe it. Do it. Your future depends on it.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Reference, Business, Self Help, Ebooks

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Julie Bihn]

I downloaded the Kindle version for free, and I would've been really disappointed if I'd paid for it. The formatting had no indents, and it's just not quite optimized for the Kindle the way I'd expect a book published by a big publisher to be. (And yes, it's maybe a bit ironic that a guide to self-publishing appears to be published by a royalty publisher.)

Since our book is already published, I focused on the promotion aspects. There seems to be a fair amount of useful information on promoting if you're writing a non-fiction print book. But there wasn't all that much on promoting if you're writing fiction. The version I downloaded, at least, was pretty light on eBooks, considering how ubiquitous they are now. Since there is a Kindle version it would be nice if the author/s could keep the book a bit more current with changing trends.

What really jarred me is the anecdote about an author who craftily told his potential reviewers, "Why wait for the old-fashioned next-day courier when you can read it online right now? I will give you the unique Internet address of my book or send it to you as an e-mail attachment that you can view in Adobe Acrobat Reader." In 2012, when most people either have a Kindle, a Nook, an iPad, or a phone that can read eBooks, I don't think sending a PDF attachment should really be called "a new approach to (obtaining) book reviews."

Worth looking into if you're planning to print a bunch of physical copies and sell them yourself. For eBooks, you can probably get better information just searching Google.

[Magdalena]

Are you considering self-publishing your book? According to self-publishing gurus Marilyn and Tom Ross, some 8,000 to 11,000 new publishers enter the field every year, most of whom are self-publishers. While self-publishing isn’t new, the explosion in self-publishing numbers represents a trend that is only likely to grow. There are a number of reasons for this – some of which are directly related to the difficulties inherent in obtaining a traditional publisher and to the low royalties on offer, while others are around the increasing ease and significantly lower entry costs for publishing. Many traditional publishers use print on demand (POD) methods, and many more use readily available distribution channels and inexpensive online promotional venues, which means that the differences between traditional and self-published books are shrinking.

One thing that hasn’t changed, and won’t change, is the value of high quality words and serious, significant, and learned editing. Without those a book won’t be of value to readers regardless of the publication medium. However, beyond that, many authors are getting their books together themselves and taking them on the road. If you’re one of those people, you need a decent guide. While the number of resources available to self-publishers is growing rapidly, the Rosses have long been known as the most knowledgeable of self-publishing mavens. The first edition came out long before self-publishing became the household process it is today and the latest version has completely revised it, bringing in dynamic self-publishing consultant Sue Collier to give the book a facelift and add much needed freshness.

The book covers the many aspects of self-publishing from the benefits and stumbling blocks, goal setting, publishing e-books, book clubs, subsidy publishing, print on demand printing (and how it varies from POD publishers), choosing a marketable subject, creating a platform, writing tips (especially for nonfiction), editing, design and typesetting, cover design, choosing paper and illustrations, proofreading, printing, creating a publicity campaign and marketing plan, getting reviews, stage managing a book signing, and much much more.

The revised version also contains references to new technologies such as the Expresso Book Machine, co-publishing (a very tricky situation that the authors cover well), the latest in e-books including readers and distribution, creating a website “magnet”, search engine optimisation, ecent trends as Seth Godin’s use of free books to generate buzz (and why you might want to try something similar), using Amazon, Web 2.0, social networking, podcasting, the use of videos, virtual book tours, and using the web to not only research but create content and creative use of emails for promotional campaigns. The book now has a very clear sense of the rapid pace of online change, and what that change means for writers and publishers:

Unquestionably, this digital terrain is moving under our feet. It’s unbridled. Exciting. Unpredictable. What we say here is written in sand, not carved in stone. What you choose to do with it will infinitely shape your future.(47)

The book goes beyond simply the publication and provides a one stop shop for setting up a publishing company (which, of course, you do, even if it’s just one book), including things like generating or raising working capital, setting up proper operating procedures, bookkeeping, filling orders, invoicing, and inventory control. If you thought that self-publishing was all about writing a book, you’ll learn that writing is only a small proportion of the self-publishing role – that it’s a business like any other and has to be run properly. There are chapters on printing, EANs, barcodes, ISBNs, cataloguing, trade announcements, phew. I particularly like the chapter titled “Provocative Promotional Strategies” where ideas like working niches, tying your book to current news topics, writing articles and letters to the editor, working the bookstores, obtaining inteviews, reader testimonials, making use of other activities in your life, using networks, selling subsidiary rights, and so on. This 575 page book has an awful lot of information and just about all of it is absolutely necessary if you want to self-publish a book and most of it necessary even if you are traditionally published.

The book is written in simple, easily readable prose with plenty of anecdotes, quotations, and examples. Some of the book contains truisms such as “Good, readable works sell much more readily than disorganized garble or lofty dissertations” and there is a definite US focus, particularly when it comes to business matters. However, much of the book has global applicability and there are a number of really useful templates like press releases, postcards, and media sheets, along with a large number of links, free resources, and such a wide number of ideas, resources, suggestions for writing that the smart reader will come back to this book repeatedly. The book also provides additional tools like a detailed self-publishing timetable, a complete (and customisable) sample market plan, a list of organisations, manufacturers, review sources, point of purchase suppliers, printers, recommended reading, a guide to acronyms,

Even if you aren’t self-publishing, there is a huge amount of information on garnering publicity, with some quite original ideas that all writers can make use of. For example, being a literary writer, I like the idea of thinking of specific market niches or writing nonfiction like cookbooks as a ‘fundraiser’. Ideas for obtaining blurbs or creating publicity for the book are equally innovative and will be of use to all writers, regardless of the route to publication: “all authors should realize it’s a publicize or perish game, and get behind their own books..” The chapter on book signings also has universal appeal, with excellent ideas for livening up and making the most of the event, and there are many other sections such as developing advertising copy that will help any author make the most of his or her book. If you are serious about going the whole hog and self-publishing one, or many books, then you are going to become a publisher and trying to do it without this guide could be a big mistake. The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing is one of the most seminal, practical and valuable books on the topic on the market and it belongs on every self-publisher’s shelf.

Review first published as Book Review: The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing, Fifth Edition by Marilyn Ross and Sue Collier on Blogcritics.

[Catherine Fitzsimmons · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for information, why not follow up one book on the topic with another?

This book was the flipside of the coin to "Start Your Own Self-Publishing Business". A huge tome and very thorough, this was a long read and a bit less palatable than the previous book. The first few chapters consist largely of discussion rather than actual information, and there's lots of pages to allow space for numerous examples of their own work and that of their clients. It also very much gave the impression that as soon as you write a book, you're an expert, and people will be flocking to you for interviews and seminars and author signings. To be honest, some or even a lot of this book intimidated me, as the information on producing and especially marketing books was very extensive, and went very high-end. Finding out where to start was a problem, though some of the appendices assisted with that.

What this book did have, however, was occasional tidbits of information specific to fiction writers or Canadian authors, which the other books I'd seen really hadn't even touched upon. There were extensive lists of various resources, some of which I hadn't heard about from the other books I'd looked at, as well as thorough information on at least most aspects of publishing. I did read a nine-year-old edition, and a new one was just released about a month ago, and I think there was enough solid information in the older revision that I'm interested in picking up a copy of the new one for myself.

[Susan Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another must-read book to keep on your self-publishing bookshelf. One of my favorite things in here is a terrific "what to do when" timeline that's extremely useful when planning your project. My husband and I relied on an earlier version when we published our first book in 2001, but Marilyn Ross did a nice update on this one a couple years ago. Some people prefer this book Dan Poynter's self-publishing book, so if you can only afford one, take a good look at both before you purchase. But I think it's very helpful to have both available as you work!

Susan Sylvia – Book Designer/Publishing Mentor
http://www.StaircasePressDesign.com

[Christopher Newton · Rating 1 out of 5]

I truly hated this book. If I had to live with these authors I would go screaming into the night. Endlessly eager, living with the truly American hustling ideal, convinced the only reason anyone would write a book is to make a pile of money fast, commending successful titles like "How To Have A Flat Stomach" and "How My Road To Spiritual Healing Earned Me Over Ten Million Dollars The First Year And You Too Can Have It All Now!!!"

Not for me. I just want to write what others will enjoy, get pleasure from, and pay a small but fair price for it.

[V.K. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not very helpful for my needs. I simply wanted to be walked through the process of self-publishing my poetry book, but this took it to a more business oriented perspective. It focuses more on owning and running a self-publishing business rather than the details of actually publishing your book for yourself. Not bad, just not what I was hoping for. It did seem that there was a lot of helpful information if you are wanting to create your own business out of self-publishing.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book for the chapter on typesetting, which contains good technical information and a solid overview of the process. I haven't read the other chapters, but what I did read was very useful.

[Aauvi House · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book for an indepth view of self-publishing; however, like with so many of these kinds of books, a lot of the resources were outdated.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

While a lot of the information is still relevant to publishers today, technology and processes are quickly advancing in the publishing industry. I would still recommend this to anyone in publishing who is either self-publishing or looking to start a small press, or maybe has a small press and is looking for some specific marketing/promotion/networking ideas, however, this is just a jumping-off point for the work that lies ahead in the evolving game of printing and selling books. I do still highly recommend this book though, Marilyn and Sue have done a great job in collecting a lot of information over time for publishers/self-publishers into one place.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's thorough. It's helpful. It may make you want to lie down and take a nap, but whose fault is that?

This how-to by Tom and Marilyn Ross goes through job-after-job-after-job that must be included if you're an author who aims to do a professional job at self-publishing, placing your book in stores, and all the rest.

In a genre where hype is common, I respected this book. I found it thorough. And helpful.

Eventually I finished my nap and got to work.

FIVE STARS of respect from this indie author, this Goodreads author.

[mad mags · Rating 4 out of 5]

Packed with pearls of wisdom as incandescent as raindrops

Of the half-dozen or so self-publishing books I've poured over in the past few months, "The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing" is by far the most helpful guide that's crossed my desk. Although it does have a few major flaws, overall it's an excellent reference for those interested in publishing and/or marketing their own work.

In just over 500 pages, the Ross's discuss the basics of self-publishing, covering everything from electronic publishing to print on demand (POD). They tell readers how to choose and write about enjoyable and profitable topics; revise and refine your manuscript; manufacture your masterpiece; create a publicity buzz, even before your book's in print; market your product in various venues, including print and electronic media, on TV and the radio, and in bookstores, libraries, and conference halls; pursue subsidiary rights; establish and operate a small publishing business; and negotiate with the "Goliath" publishers. They also tell you how to penetrate oft-overlooked markets, such as schools, libraries, catalogs, and retail outlets.

As a newbie to the self-publishing scene, I found "The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing" to be an excellent introductory resource. It's literally overflowing with nuggets of useful information. I suspect that publishing veterans will most likely find some of the information obvious or commonsensical, but again, as someone with limited knowledge of the publishing industry, this book was a real eye-opener. Compared to the other self-publishing guides out there, the Ross's version takes the cake.

Of course, that's not to suggest that "The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing" is perfect - quite the contrary. I personally found the Ross's writing style to be somewhat grating. I understand that they probably crafted this volume for general audiences, and thus had to write for the "lowest common denominator." However, I still found their folksy, familiar tone a bit annoying. I suppose it could have been worse, though - thank goodness they didn't stoop to the level of, say, a "For Dummies" book or an "Idiot's Guide"! Those books are so watered down that they're simply unreadable!

Also, in Chapter 5, which offers writing tips, they advise readers to use metaphors, similes, analogies, and anecdotes to make writing more lively. They follow their own suggestion to the point of overkill - they literally throw in a simile or metaphor every two or three pages. The text itself stands at a hefty 436 pages - you do the math! After page 15, this technique became as annoying as a sharp stone stuck in your sneaker. (I've got a few hundred more where that came from!)

My final gripe concerns the "Web Sites, Wisdom, and Whimsey" section that the authors included at the end of every single chapter. Far from providing any useful information, these additional four pages just struck me as a way to beef of their book so that they could jack up the price. Again, at four pages a chapter, and 22 chapters total, that's an extra 88 pages that they could have omitted entirely (just think of all that wasted paper!). The "Web Sites" portion of this section would have been helpful IF they had included a new web site. Instead, they usually featured a site that they'd already mentioned within the chapter itself. I didn't see any "Wisdom" to speak of, and the "Whimsey" was silly and self-indulgent. Consider the following: "The nice thing about living in a small town like we do is that when you don't know what you're doing, someone else does." Huh!? What does that have to do with self-publishing? This is something that belongs in the Ross's Christmas card, for crying out loud - not in a book on publishing!

Now, I'm a busy lady - I simply don't have the time to waste on this kind of stuff. Sure, the "Web Sites, Wisdom, and Whimsey" is easily skipped over, especially since it's clearly labeled and placed at the end of the chapter. But that's not the point - if you buy this book, you're PAYING for the extraneous junk they throw in, whether you like it or not. At $19.99, "The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing" is priced about 25% more than many other paperback self-publishing books - no doubt because it runs a whopping 521 pages. Had the authors just stuck to the topic, they could have trimmed at least a hundred pages from the book (and a few bucks from the price). Or perhaps they could have more adequately addressed e-publishing, which to my disappointment was a subject that they failed to do justice.

Nonetheless, I gave "The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing" four stars because it is fairly helpful, well-organized, and packed with info, unlike many similar books I've seen. Just be sure to brace yourself for those similes!

By the way, the Ross's followed up on "The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing" with "Jump Start Your Book Sales," which is essentially a guide to marketing your self-published book. If you just need publicity/marketing tips, skip "The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing" and go right to "Jump Start Your Book Sales." Buying both would be a waste of money, as the authors recycle their marketing advice from one book to the next.

http://www.easyvegan.info/2005/05/10/...

[Lily Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could you figure this out or find all this information on the internet, maybe. But I enjoy having a place where I can easily find all this information, and they did have a couple of things in there that I'd never thought of before. I would recommend spending money on this book. It's really helped me to navigate the self-publishing route.

Lily S. Thomas - Author of the Ice Age Alphas series

[L.M. Elm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gets into the smallest aspects of self-publishing. If you're planning on venturing into this business, I would highly recommend this book. There are probably things in this book that a professional had either forgotten or hadn't thought of. Definitely gave me the one-up if I decide to take this career route.

[Skylar Annairo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very thorough guide to self-publishing, containing countless resources for the indie author. I thought at times it was written more for nonfiction authors, and there were some parts that felt like it was written for an older audience. Apart from that, this is still a very good resource for aspiring indie authors.

[D. Adiba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book! I can't praise it enough.

[Joseph Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those writers considering self-publishing, this is a must read. Well written, researched, and chock full of good advice--especially marketing, for those considering self-publishing.

[Laura Gaisie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good information. Still not the checklist approach I hoped for but very useful information.

[Shawn Callon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Very comprehensive and provides worthwhile reference material as you proceed thru the self-publishing exercise.

Review written by Shawn Callon, author of The Diplomatic Spy

[Sally]

Where did I go first? The index! To look at what? Indexing! I'm so predictable. I was surprised at what I found, but entertained. First of all, they suggest that it's a waste of money to pay someone else to index your book, after all, "you know your material best."

Well, "indexing" lists a few pages, then sends the reader to "back matter." "Back matter" lists ONE page, a page where back matter is mentioned, but skips the section where it is discussed. Perfect example of Index Fail. If your reader can't find information, especially in a long-ish nonfiction book, it is almost as if you didn't write it.

Of course, I'll give the rest of the book the benefit of the doubt, and give it a good read/skimming, because they are "experts." ;)

***

Due back at the library before I could read it all. There is a wealth of information in here - discussion of the various self-publishing options available today, terminology, the ins and outs of the process.

But this book suffers, ironically or fittingly (can't decide), from several self-publishing gaffes. The table of contents, which should provide a brief overview of the content, is EIGHT pages long, not including the list of illustrations. I can't get an overview of the contents of the book without spending 15 minutes *reading* the TOC. They included a listing and page number for every single sub-section of every chapter, which is overkill, and not helpful.

And of course, the index is less than helpful. When you offer 550 pages of information, you want your reader to be able to find the bits they're looking for without becoming so frustrated they throw your book out the window.

The overall design is nice. The quality of the graphics and illustrations is great.

To me, this book illustrates the reality that no ONE has all the answers, although there are some mighty helpful resources out there. Looking around and doing your homework will always pay off.

[James Fant · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing is an empowering collection of information that covers the entire gambit of writing and publishing. It talks about the formulation of the idea, the writing process, printing options, what to do before your book comes off the press, options for print on demand (an attractive option with a small entry fee), and post-print activities. It covers marketing, how to connect with media outlets, what to say when you appear on media outlets. It even covers approaching larger publishers for subsidiary rights.

The appendix includes a handy step by step guide you can follow during the different stages of publishing. I’ll spend a lot of time in the appendix of the book, putting the instructions to practical use.

I learned about serious pitfalls to avoid while reading the guide and I have made better business decisions because of that knowledge. I also learned about creative ways to create capital. This book lists 31 ways to raise capital for book publishing. I only wished that the guide spent a little more time on fiction. It seemed to concentrate more on non-fiction or self-help books.

Nevertheless I enjoyed the book and will use it as tool for years to come. I'll even buy new editions as they become available.

[Jan Deelstra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very comprehensive volume, filled with valuable information for the self-published author. Some of the reviews here confuse me, especially those that criticize the book for being too comprehensive. That's just silly. However, the Kindle or e-book version may have formatting issues, and that would make this book a challenge to get through. I am not reviewing or suggesting the electronic version here. This review is regarding the print version of this book. Some subjects are just best in print.
I have read this book "cover to cover" on two occasions. I also refer back to it often for various purposes, and I have taken a LOT of notes from these pages. Any self-published author, or any author wanting to learn about the marketing process, and the publishing process whether or not it is traditional or self-publishing would do well to have this book on the shelf.

[Deb Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must have for all authors, whether you are self publishing or not!

I am a seasoned self publisher with 4 titles in print, but I felt like an Indie Newbie when I was reading this book--every chapter gave me new ideas and inspiration to try them out!

This book is immersed with ideas, and infused with inspiration!

Did you know that 1 of every 4 books sold (25%)are NOT sold in bookstores? (Read this book to find out where they are sold!)

I culled at least 10 of these little treasures and tidbits from each chapter.

Fair Warning! Keep sticky notes, and a pad and paper nearby as this beautiful little sales booster of a book will stretch your brain to new levels!

Thank you, Marilyn Ross and Sue Collier!

[Erin Morris]

There is a lot of information in here that is useful for someone like me with little exposure to the publishing industry. It is tailored to publishing "marketable" books - nonfiction, "how to" types - and I am looking to self-publish a Kerouac-esque novel of a literary quality, but in reading it I am becoming more knowledgeable about a competitive market that I would otherwise know little about. Ultimately, you've got to believe in what you are writing and producing - and go for it, put it out there. I wouldn't have created a Goodreads page had it not been for the section on internet marketing in this book.

[Wendy Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

With this book, you won't need any other on the subject of Self-Publishing. Veteran writers, Marilyn Ross & Sue Collier, deliver their indepth knowledge on every aspect of the publishing industry; no questions left unanswered. It should be classed as a reference book with no less standing than an unabridged dictionary. Bravo, Ms. Ross & Ms. Collier. Like your other publications, The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing is thorough, candid, and worth triple its price; it's the ONLY book a self-publisher needs.
Wendy Joyce

[Tammie Painter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would probably give this book 3.5 to 4 stars if there was a more current version with updated info and addresses. Still, the advice is solid and there are some excellent tips for getting your book noticed. Due to a limited budget, my books are all electronic or POD, so some of the advice on printers and distributors was a bit beyond what I needed. The authors also make it seem a bit too easy to get self-published books noticed by major reviewers (unless you want to pay a hefty fee) and TV/Radio programs, but they at least give the ins and outs of getting publicity, more so than any other book on self-publishing I've ever read. More advice on promoting fiction would have been appreciated.

[Sonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most books, I'm content to read it from the library and make notes. This book had so many resources and so many notes that I had to buy the book after getting it from the library and then use a highlighter as I went through my second reading.

Ross's detailed check lists of each step gives me the confidence to know that nothing falls between the cracks and I have to step in it later...Her style although teaching is personable and engaging.

She does take you from non-published to published completely and with practical helps. She gives options when available and gives pros and cons to help you decide for yourself what would be best for you.

Great resource.

[Abby Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marilyn and Sue have done a tremendous job with The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing. As a new author, I have read many books in this arena. None compares to this book. It is very well organized and lays out everything from the first thought of writing all the way to getting reviews post-publishing. It is up-to-date which I am really grateful for as many books in this arena had old information and bad URLs. I am very grateful for this book. It is also a great reference book you will want to keep; I continually pull it off my shelf to review.

[Hannah]

Super helpful!! Gave me info on things I didn’t even know about. Pretty dated as it came out in 2010 so their ideas on social media marketing definitely need updated, but the rest of it was still good. Definitely recommend even if you’re considering self pub because it tells you in detail what goes in to everything.

[Belinda Kroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great resource for me. I've tagged so many pages for future reference. Novelists should probably keep in mind, though, that a lot of the information is geared to non-fiction writers. Still, I found a lot of good ideas to implement and it was worth the purchase.

[Stephanie Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Video Book Review of The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing by Marilyn Ross & Sue Collier. Great book for beginning research of self-publishing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rHjB_...