Ten Steps to Self-publishing

Everyone needs a road-map toward achieving a cherished goal. Here are 10 (not necessarily swift or simple) steps to getting your book into print.

1. Perfect your manuscript

Even if you forget everything that follows—remember this—the manuscript you are planning to publish can not be a first-draft experiment. It’s the final product itself, the polished, edited work. Of course, it’s not uncommon, even once a book is published, to detect errors overlooked during the editing process. But for the first-time author, this is the LAST chance to create a FIRST impression on the reader. The Litmus Test: If someone else submitted the same manuscript to you, would you be willing to put in the time, effort and expense to publish it? If the answer is yes, you are probably ‘good to go.’

The next step is to create a descriptive blurb, perhaps 100-125 words, summing up the essence and contents of your book for the reader. This blurb should be printed on the back cover of your book; even better if you can insert positive critiques or reviews by advance readers of your manuscript, as well.

2. Hire a service publisher or go it alone?

Your next decision is whether you’ll publish your book with the help of a service publisher, or else handle every aspect of book production alone. Publishing is costly, whichever way you decide to go. Service publishers, such as Lulu.com and others, offer help with the technical aspects of publishing. They can promote your book on their website and manage potential sales. These companies offer a range of book publishing services for a fee. Read their promo literature carefully and, as in anything, Buyer Beware. Alternatively, if you prefer to retain complete control over your project, you will go it alone.

3. Page layout and cover design

Speaking of which, it's time to think about your page layout; in other words, how will you design your book pages? Will you include illustrations or diagrams? What about a Table of Contents or a Bibliography? Should you insert a running head book title at the top of every page? Will you use headings and subheadings within the chapters? Have you thought about page size and the width of your lines? What typescript font should you use for the main text (body text) and the chapter headings? And what about the point size of your type? You’ve no idea? Then take a look at some published books you admire (and others that you don't admire). Try to develop a sense of what looks attractive. You'll be amazed at the difference in design of each book.

For your book cover, begin with a simple sketch with one focal point or relevant image for the front. Can you find a high-resolution copyright-free image, or else commission an original illustration to use? Add a prominent book title above the image and the author’s name below. Voilà! That’s the basics taken care of!

Now think about the all-important back cover! Look at a variety of published books to get some ideas about layout and design. This is where you insert the descriptive blurb, mentioned above. Add any testimonials or reviews. Identify the name of your press (your imprint). Include your logo (if you have one) and your web site URL (Step 7). The back cover is a good place to mention credits to other contributors, i.e., co-author/illustrator. Add your book’s ISBN (Step 4). Insert price and author photo, if desired.

At this stage, you may decide to hire the services of an affordable freelance book designer to execute the pre-press digital format of your book pages and book cover. Later on, you will need to provide your commercial printer with the digital book files, burned onto a CD. I recommend Adobe Indesign software for professional looking book design. A commercial printer can print a barcode on the back cover, generated electronically from your book’s ISBN.

4. Obtain an ISBN, your unique book identifier

The next piece of business is to acquire a free ISBN from the Library and Archives Canada web site. Follow the links to apply online. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/ciss-ssci/app/index.php?fuseaction=priv.registration&lang=eng.

5. Find a reputable printer, obtain print quotes

Digital printing allows you to order small print runs, rather than storing hundreds of books at home. The printer will need a list of specifications for your print job in order to provide a quote. For example, you need to determine the exact dimensions and number of pages, the brightness and thickness of the paper, whether you prefer hardcover, softcover or coil-wire binding, matte or gloss lamination of the cover, and so on. If you aren’t sure, ask about standard book production and ask to see some samples.

6. Update from Library and Archives Canada: CIP data online

Once you acquire your first ISBN, it was formerly possible to fill in the Cataloguing-in-Publication data for your book. This is a free national listing service and is recommended, although not compulsory. However, this free service is no longer offered to Self-publishers, which I find regrettable. Please see: Library and Archives Canada web site: http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/services/Pages/are-you-a-self-publisher.aspx#cip

7. Create a web page or web site for your book or books

This important task might be a bit of a headache or a lot of fun, or both. If you don’t (yet) have your own web page, you can promote your book at: http://www.InvisibleCitiesNetwork.org

8. Send electronic files to the printer, receive printed books

Once the digital book files have been sent to the printer, you should receive back an advance proof of the book cover, which you must check carefully before authorizing the final printing of the book. If in doubt, seek advice from the in-house technical personnel. Despite your understandable excitement and euphoria when you receive your shipment of printed books, examine each one thoroughly for possible production flaws.

9. Legal deposit

Now it’s time to send your first books out into the world. Library and Archives Canada: http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/services/legal-deposit/Pages/legal-deposit.aspx requests 2 sample copies of your published book (free of charge) for their archival collections. It’s a legal obligation. Ditto for the Bibliothèque Nationale in Montreal: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/services/legal-deposit/Pages/legal-deposit.aspx Complete both downloadable forms, print out and mail them, along with 2 sample books each, to their separate mailing addresses.

10. Open a FREE Bowker account

Open a free Bowker publisher’s account: http://bowker.com and keep it up to date. Your book(s), identified by ISBN(s), should be listed here. This helps to establish your presence on the publishing scene. The U.S.-based Bowker agency runs a global directory of books in print.

Finally

Here is our FREE DOWNLOAD from PRINCE CHAMELEON PRESS: The Self-publishing Workbook.pdf From Initial Concept to Production, a tried and tested handbook for emerging self-publishers, by Christina Manolescu. 88 pages. 8.5" by 11" Revised 2017. PDF SCREEN FORMAT

Now, all that remains is for me to wish you good luck and great success in your first Self-publishing adventure!

Christina Manolescu is the founder of Prince Chameleon Press: http://www.princechameleon.com. She has written, designed, and published children’s illustrated fiction and two novels, Baglady and Waldensong Saturnalia. Excerpts from both these novels were short-listed for the Eastside Stories Competition in London, U.K. She has also undertaken translation, ghostwriting, editorial revision, book design and print management for various clients, one of whose self-published books won a silver Ippy Award in 2009. She founded Invisible Cities Network in 2001 to support and showcase the work of independent artists and self-publishers: http://www.InvisibleCitiesNetwork.org