7 Things to Know Before Self-Publishing a Non-Fiction Book
Today’s blog post consists of a simple checklist for educators and leaders who are looking to self-publish a nonfiction thought leadership book on Amazon. But first, let me try to make the process less overwhelming by saying that publishing is just sharing. That doesn’t mean that it’s easy. And it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be intentional with presenting excellent work. It simply means that the point of publishing is to share your expertise with the public. It requires working with others (e.g., book editor, graphic designer, etc.), but it’s ultimately a project management task. And your first time around will be a bit of a learning curve, so it’s beneficial to go into the authorship commitment with a little guidance.
In my 10+ years of self-publishing experience, I’ve refined a list of eight essential things to know and do (in no particular order) before publishing a nonfiction book of quality on Amazon. Can you still successfully publish without following my advice? Sure. But I’ve experienced higher success rates for quality books for not only myself but my clients when this list is taken into consideration. Additionally, my research focuses on the Amazon publishing platform because it is the one with which I am most familiar. Without further ado, here are the to-dos:
Set up your Amazon KDP account.
Hire a professional book editor and finalize revisions before sending the fully edited manuscript to the interior designer (typesetter). Keep in mind that there are four different types of book editing, so choose accordingly. Depending on your need, the editing process may be lengthy as you may need multiple editors. And that’s okay! (Also, here is a shameless plug for my book-editing service.)
Hire a typesetter to format the layout of your book’s interior. Note that the file type for a Kindle eBook is different from that of a paperback. Meaning, you may need to order/request two separate services depending on the typesetter’s offerings.
Hire a professional graphic designer to design your book cover. If you plan on publishing an eBook as well as a paperback, then you’ll need a front and back cover a.k.a. a whole cover. It’s a bonus if the book cover aligns with the standard of other book covers within your genre (categories).
Create a book description that vividly outlines your brand statement as well as your unique value proposition (UVP).
Purchase your very own ISBN. If you live in the U.S., the standard supplier is Bowker: Get the link Bowker link here.
Review proof copies of your book before publishing. If you’re publishing an eBook, you can review it by launching the book preview on Amazon KDP. If you’re publishing a paperback, you can also review your book this way. Nonetheless, I highly recommend that you order a proof copy for your paperback. It’s nice to get an idea of how a physical book will read…by actually reading a physical book. 🙂
I shared the list with minimal details because I wanted to leave room for interpretation. My way is not the only way to publish a nonfiction book. However, if my tips resonate with you and you would like more detailed advice, then I invite you to download my workbook, Bookfluence: How to Write a Book to Position Yourself as a Leader in Your Industry.
Until the next blog,
Nailah