Use These Simple Steps to Write and Self-Publish Your Own Book

Who hasn’t had a dream of writing and publishing their own book? Well, the good news is that it’s no longer a lofty dream. Thanks to the rise of self-publishing platforms and on-demand printers, anyone can get their own book out there for the world to read.

Here’s Your Self-Publishing Game Plan

Self-publishing a book is almost always a fulfilling experience. It allows you to share your ideas and stories with a wider audience and potentially turn your passion into a business. Here are some helpful suggestions for getting started:

• Define your target audience: It’s important to preface this first tip by explaining that there are two schools of thought here.
• School of thought #1:  Develop a very clear target reader persona before you start outlining or writing your book. Who do you want to engage with your book? What are they passionate about? What other authors do they read? What are their favorite all-time books?
• School of thought #2: Write your book from the heart. Tell your story. Dive deep into a passion. Write freely without trying to fit your book into a pre-existing mold that makes the masses happy. Somewhere along the way, you’ll find a niche readership.

The first school of thought is ideal if you’re looking to write a massively popular book that generates a large audience and brings in plenty of revenue. The second school of thought is better for when you’re writing a memoir or already have a very clear idea of what you want to write.

• Choose a topic: What do you want to write about? Choose a topic that you are passionate about and believe will be of interest to your target audience. Consider your expertise and unique perspective when selecting a topic.
• Outline your book: Once you have defined your target audience and chosen a topic, it’s time to start outlining your book. Determine the structure and flow of your book and create a roadmap for your writing process. 

An outline will help you stay organized and ensure that your book is cohesive and logical. (It’s also helpful to create a writing calendar at this stage of the game. Map out how many words you want to write per day/week, while also giving yourself the occasional day off to mentally refuel.)

• Write your book: Now for the writing. There’s not nearly enough room in this article to tell you everything you need to know about the technical components of writing a book. However, we will say this: Set aside dedicated writing time and try to write every day to make progress. Don’t worry about editing as you go – just focus on getting your ideas down on paper.
• Edit and revise your book: Once you have a draft of your book, it’s time to start editing and revising. Consider hiring a professional editor to help you fine-tune your writing and identify areas for improvement. It’s also a good idea to get feedback from beta readers to get a fresh perspective on your book.
• Design the cover and layout: Your book’s cover will magnetize or repel readers. As superficial as it sounds, many people choose to read (or not read) a book based on the attractiveness of the cover design and title.  This is why we recommend hiring a professional designer to handle this part for you. For a few hundred bucks, you can get a world-class look.
• Choose a self-publishing platform: There are many self-publishing platforms available, including Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing. However, you may also choose to work with your own book printing company and then distribute your books through a Shopify site or partner with local stores. Choose a strategy that fits your needs and budget.

• Promote your book: The success of your new book will ultimately come down to your marketing and promotion. While there’s always an off chance that the right people will see your book and highlight it for the world to see, you’ll most likely have to roll up your sleeves and get your “PR” hands dirty.  In addition to the regular modes – like email, social media, and ads – consider joint-venture partnerships where you compensate others for sharing with their audiences.

What Are You Waiting For?

Self-publishing a book is just the beginning. Keep writing and publishing to build your audience and establish yourself as an author. Whether you’re looking to create a source of side income, grow your name in a specific industry, or just find a new creative outlet, you won’t regret publishing your very first book.