- How do I find a publisher?
- Paths to Publishing: Trade Publishing (aka traditional publishing)
- Paths to Publishing: Small Press
- Paths to Publishing: Self-Publishing
- Paths to Publishing: Vanity Publishing
Writing Scams
- Should I pay to enter a writing contest?
- Should I pay to contribute to an anthology?
- Should I pay an editor or agent to …?
Self-Publishing
If you decide to self-publish, then you are responsible for the entire publishing process:
Book Cover Design
You’ll need a book cover. Here are my design tips: Book Cover Design
Front and Back Matter
If you choose to self-publish, then you’ll need to include certain information in the front and back of your books: your front and back matter:
Copyright
- Understanding Copyright
- How and When can I Use Copyrighted Material?
- Understanding Fair Use and Fair Dealing
- Using Images in Blog Posts
- Seven Works Creators Can’t Copyright
Formatting
Vellum
Vellum is downloadable Mac-only software that makes it easy to format ebooks and paperbacks. People who use it swear by it (and as a reader I can confirm it produces beautiful ebooks). Kristine Kathryn Rusch recommends the print copies as well, saying Vellum is fast and easy, and produces quality books.
Joel Friedlander’s Book Templates
Joel’s book design templates* make it easy to format a professional ebook or paperback in Word or InDesign.
Draft2Digital
Draft2Digital* provides free ebook formatting, as well as distribution to Amazon and all major online retailers. They also offer printing services.
Scrivener
Scrivener users swear by Scrivener for formatting ebooks. I’m not yet a Scrivener convert, so don’t have an opinion. But if you use Scrivener, it’s worth checking out their formatting options before paying for something else.
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