1. Self-Publishing for dummies
Tarah Valin

2. Finalized format

3. Will there be pictures. How will it be set up
Will there be pictures? How will it be set up? Will it be broken into parts? What is the theme? Finalize title.
There will be pictures in black and white
Cover, title page, copyright page, quote*, content 
It will be broken into three parts: You, Me and The Other Guy
No theme really, just a collection 
Title: Wilting Daisies. (It's the title I really wanted and I am combining it with the YM&TOG for the structure)
*I'm going to send a letter to Julie Martinez (who wrote my favorite poem which I want to quote at the beginning of the book) to ask for permission to quote her

4. Self-Publishing for dummies

5. Part 1: Do it Yourself: Getting Started with Self-Publishing

6. Welcome to Self-Publishing
Compilation of poetry doesn't follow the same format as stories/ longer works of fiction
Edit: grammar, spelling, organization, comprehensibility 
Book needs ISBN number, library of congress card number, copyright notice 
Ways to print: traditional printing & Printing on Demand
Ways to distribute: online booksellers, retail distribution (wholesalers, distributors, independent bookstores)
Marketing: free publicity, paid advertising, the internet 
Self-Publishing timeline: establish publishing company, edit manuscript, choose printing option, apply for ISBN and copyright, set cover price, choose publication date, design book, website, publish, continue marketing 

7. Keep it Legal: Obtaining Permission to Use Other People's Materials
Need written permission to use someone else's material (signed and dated letter that clearly says I'm allowed to use it)
If using pictures, need permission from photographer and people in photographs to use the photos
Need permission to use any copyrighted artwork 
Fair use: can use copyrighted info w/o permission so long as it's under 300 words and credit is given
Give credit to avoid plagiarism 

8. Editing Grammar Proper page numbers Punctuation
Page layout: font, type style & size, paragraph formatting 
Spelling
Typos
Edit, edit then edit again 
Hire an editor 

9. Part 2: Pulling Together the Details: Administration and Design

10. Setting Up Your Self-Publishing Business [I'm not doing this]
Can qualify for small business loans/grants 
Can be operated from home (but needs to be legally established)
All legitimate business expenses are tax deductible 
If choosing Print-on-Demand, creating a self-publishing business isn't necessary 

11. Tackling Book Specific Tasks
Back cover has ISBN, barcode and price 
Right after title page is the copyright page w/ LCCN number 
ISBN-13 is split into 5 parts 
Most POD companies provide an ISBN #, only need to apply for one if establishing my own publishing company 
After getting an ISBN, fill out the Advance Book Information form (if not using POD service)
Get a LCCN number at pcn.loc.gov (if not using POD service) 
Registering copyright: mail in application form, $30 and manuscript or bound book to Library of Congress 
Publication date: date book goes to press, release date: day book is available to public 
If a book is about love/romance, January and February would be the best time to publish

12. Building the body of your book
Text size matters
10-12 point font is standard
The smaller the font, the lower the page count, the lower the production cost
The smaller the font, the harder for the reader to read
Serif font is easier on the eyes and should be used for main text, sans serif is harder than the eyes and should be kept for headings
Margins must be consistent 
Running head can have title, chapter title, or author's name on the top of each page (I might have Me, You or The Other Guy be my running heads)
Page numbers are either at the top right or left or bottom left, right or center 

13. Judging a Book by Its Cover
Keep book title short <5 words (I just searched up Wilting Daisies and someone already wrote a book with that title. The other book has the subtitle "A Collection of Poetry" which is good because I don't plan on having a subtitle)
Title should capture attention
Font style, size and color are important for title (I was considering doing a plain white cover with the title in black – with the only thing on the back being the barcode – but now I am considering all red or all black with white letters)
Color of cover is important 
Back cover should have book description, author bio & picture (optional), barcode, ISBN, price, publisher imprint info (name and logo), reviews and quotes 
Put book title in large print on spine – spine font color & size should match cover

14. Part 3: Start the Presses! Examining Printing Choices

15. Choosing the Features of Your Traditionally Printed Book
Trim size (some popular poetry books I've seen online are 5x 7 inches. I want my book to be smaller than the average fiction book- <5x8)
Paperback is cheaper than hardcover (I'm considering only having paperbacks)
Perfect binding: uses glue – most books are perfect-bound books
Photographs will probably make the book more expensive 

16. Print-On-Demand for Demanding Self-Publishers
Avoids hassle because the POD company takes care of most details 
Saves money because books aren't ordered in bulk
Fast- book publishes in weeks instead of months
Most POD companies don't allow returns and require a minimum (usually 10) purchase for a 40-60% discount – bookstores will be turned off by that
Bookstores cannot buy on credit from POD companies
Money
Book price has to be at least 2.5x the printing cost 
Royalties are earned based off of pre-determined gross profit earned per book 

17. My Takeaways

18. What's Happening I'm going to use Createspace
I'm going to Print-on-Demand
I'm going to ask Julie Martinez for permission to use her poem
I'm going to put "Photographs by ____" on the back of the book 
 I'm going to ask a friend to edit the final manuscript in exchange for a gift card or something 
I need to figure out what font type and size I want
I need to finalize how I want the cover to look 
I need to figure out where the page number will be placed and if I'll have running heads
I need to figure out how/if I'll be able to get into bookstores 

19. Citation
Rich, Jason R. Self-Publishing For Dummies. John Wiley & Sons, 2006.