STEPS TO SELF PUBLISH

INTRO First time presenting Learned a lot by executing the process Self published, did all the work except editing Very grateful for all the knowledge that was shared at last year’s conference Give back by sharing what I have learned Hopefully you will pick up some helpful tidbits

PRESENTATION GOALS Provide a PLAN that Identifies the KEY STEPS to self publishing Identifies the DETAILED tasks within each STEP Provide a set of TEMPLATES to guide you Leave you feeling EMPOWERED to move ahead Increase your understanding of self publishing Help you to ORGANIZE Help you to use your time EFFECTIVELY SIGN UP for the package!!!

PRESENTATION LAYOUT eBook Print Launch & Market Resources Questions Overview of Key Steps Identification of detailed tasks Creating Content COVER & MANUSCRIPT eBook ASSEMBLY & SUBMISSION Print ASSEMBLY & PRINTS Launch & Market Resources Questions

High Level Steps Create Content Assemble Submit / Publish Launch Market

High Level Steps – Create Content Assemble Submit / Publish Launch Market

Create Content Create Content Cover Prep Setup Design Manuscript Finish Content Editing Formatting

Plan – Template Demo Demonstrate how to create high level and detailed tasks for each KEY STEP

Create Content – Planning Tasks

Create Content – Cover Tasks

Create Content – Manuscript Tasks

Create Content – Cover Reuse PRINTED BOOK COVER eBOOK COVER Save as Separate File CROP

Create Content – Manuscript Reuse MANUSCRIPT for PRINT MANUSCRIPT for eBook Add TOC bookmark Remove Page Numbering Removed Blank Pages

Create Content - Cover Create Content Cover Prep Setup Design Manuscript Finish Content Editing Formatting

Cover Template – DEMO Demonstrate basics of cover creation in PhotoShop

Creating a Cover – Grid BLEED MARGINE SPINE BAR CODE

Cover Gridline Guide

Creating a Cover – Picture

Creating a Cover – Title & Spine

Creating a Cover – Hue & Brightness

Creating a Cover – Back Base

Creating a Cover – Back Blur

Creating a Cover – Bar Code & Text

Creating a Cover – Remove Bar Code

Create Content - Manuscript Cover Prep Setup Design Manuscript Finish Content Editing Formatting

Manuscript – Identify ALL Content Core – the manuscript!!! Additional Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Author Biography Description Acknowledgements Preface Prologue Optional – maps, pictures, quotes, inside cover page

Inside Title Page

Manuscript - Editing Editor Critique Group Grammarly.com Calgary Freelance Editors (calgaryeditors.com) Go to sessions during this conference!!!

Manuscript Formatting - Layout PAGE WIDTH PAGE HEIGHT MARGIN GUTTER MARGIN

Manuscript Formatting (6x9 Book) PAGE WIDTH = 6.125 PAGE HEIGHT = 9.25 MARGIN = 0.125 GUTTER = 0.625 POSITION LEFT MARGIN = 0.125 Suggestions based on standard recommendations

Manuscript Formatting - Space

High Level Steps – Assembly Create Content Assemble Submit / Publish Launch Market

Assembly Tasks

Assembly – eBook Tasks

eBook Platforms & Assembly Tools Kindle Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) CreateSpace iBook iAuthor, iProducer SmashWords Lulu Kobo Kobowritinglife.com Nook

Choosing an eBook Platform Required Tools and Cost System Requirements Computer, O/S, Space/Memory Royalty Options Popularity of Platform Platforms used by Target Audience You CAN use them all!!!

eBook Assembly Read Publishing Guidelines Set Up Account Tools Perform Test Run Decide Book Price Prep Additional MetaData

eBook Assembly - Testing Assemble (Manuscript + Cover) Upload to Test Environment Preview in Test Environment Update as Required

eBook Assembly - Validation Assemble (Manuscript + Cover) Upload to Device Preview on Device Update as Required

KDP Test Environment DEMO – kdp.amazon.com

KDP Test Environment

KDP Test Environment

KDP Test Environment

KDP Test Environment

High Level Steps – Assembly Create Content Assemble Submit / Publish Launch Market

Publish - eBook Read Agreement Understand Royalties & Taxes Finalize MetaData & Price Confirm Publishing Rights Choose Territories Submit

Royalties & Tax – Quick Overview Royalty Some platforms offer more than one option (KDP, KDP Select) List Price Delivery Cost Cost for downloading data Depends on size of book (E.g. $0.15/MB) Dependent on Region Tax May be remitted on your behalf (most regions) Some regions you must remit WHAT YOU GET = % Royalty x (List Price – Delivery Cost – Tax)

High Level Steps – Assembly Create Content Assemble Submit / Publish Launch Market

Assembly – Printed Book Choose Printer Setup Account Preview Obtain ISBN Decide Book Price Prep Metadata Finalize

Choosing a Printer Options: Some Examples Online, Local Printer, etc. Blurb.ca CreateSpace Ingram Spark BlitzPrint

Choosing a Printer – Things to Consider Cost of Printing (color usually costs more) Cost of Shipping (handling, duty) Can I print in bulk? Do I get a discount? Do they provide proofs? Is Print on Demand (POD) Available? Do I have to sell them through the printer only? Do they may have a distributor network? Is there a Royalty? Reader experience: Cost of Shipping, Wait Time

Assembly – Printed Book Assemble Manuscript & Cover Convert to Required Format (e.g. PDF) Preview (soft copy) Update

High Level Steps – Assembly Create Content Assemble Submit / Publish Launch Market

Publish - Proofs Order Proofs Review Proofs Update as Required Upload Preview Online

Simple Calendar – Print Proofs

High Level Steps – Launch Create Content Assemble Submit / Publish Launch Market

Launch Guest List Venue Invitations, Advertise Leverage network Social Media City networks, clubs, groups Venue Collaborate, vision Invitations, Advertise Prep – Books published, pre-orders done Make it FUN!!!

Launch - Invitation

Launch – Advertising

High Level Steps – Market Create Content Assemble Submit / Publish Launch Market

Marketing Ideas – Audience Identify your Audience Who would be interested in the content? Identify Influencers Influencer Map – Quick Demo Come up with Ideas of how to engage these people – be creative !!! Inspiration series on my blog site Highly Recommend Angela Ackerman’s Session!!!

Influencer Map

Marketing Ideas – Events Signings – Chapters, Owls Nest, other local Readings – Owls Nest Think outside the box Events relevant to your audience My example – Fitness expo My example – Bike race

Marketing Ideas – Promotional Items Cards – Share contact information Flyers, Pamphlets Signs to advertise events Signs to increase visibility at events Printing Services VistaPrint.com Creative Tools Smilebox

Marketing Ideas – Author Website Share other writing – blog Share content related to book content My example - Climb Pages My example - Fitness, Nutrition Advertise your book Newsletter sign-up

Marketing Ideas – Publishing Platform Leverage resources provided by platform Amazon author page Amazon.com/author/juliehiner Authorcentral.amazon.com KDP Select Submit your book Free book giveaway Promotions and Advertisements

Author Page

Marketing Ideas – Social Media Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc… Don’t get overwhelmed Start with one Choose what makes sense for your content Spend time interacting Be creative and HAVE FUN!!!

Resources Book Baby KDP resources OneStopForWriters.com www.bookbaby.com/free-publishing-guides KDP resources Building Your Book for Kindle Formatting Images with your Kindle Book Simplified Formatting Guide OneStopForWriters.com WritersHelpingWriters.net Other Author Websites and Newsletters!!!