Self-publishing a book is simpler than most people think. Not easy. There are real decisions, real investments, and real work involved. But the process itself is straightforward. Based on 12,000+ books published through Books.by since 2014, we can tell you the authors who succeed aren't more talented — they're more prepared.
This guide walks you through every step, from polishing your final draft to making your first sale. Costs, timelines, tools, common mistakes — all of it. We've watched thousands of authors go through this process, and the patterns are remarkably consistent. The roadmap below reflects what actually works.
Here's the timeline:
Before you invest a dollar in editing, cover design, or anything else, your manuscript needs to be as good as you can make it on your own. This means completing your final self-edit and getting feedback from beta readers.
Self-Editing Checklist
- Read it aloud. You'll catch awkward phrasing, repetition, and pacing issues that are invisible on screen.
- Check structure. Does every chapter earn its place? Does the narrative arc (or argument, for nonfiction) flow logically?
- Kill your darlings. Cut scenes, sentences, and words that don't serve the story — no matter how clever they are.
- Consistency check. Character names, timeline, facts, formatting — make sure everything is consistent throughout.
Beta Readers (Free)
Beta readers are early readers who provide feedback on your manuscript before professional editing. They're not editors — they're target readers who tell you what's working and what isn't. Find them in writing communities (r/BetaReaders, genre-specific Facebook groups, Goodreads groups) or among friends who read your genre.
Aim for 3–5 beta readers. Give them specific questions: "Did the pacing lag anywhere?" "Was the ending satisfying?" "Did any character feel underdeveloped?"
This is the single most important investment in your book — and the one most authors skip or cheap out on. Professional editing separates books that earn 4–5 star reviews from books abandoned at chapter three. After helping 20,000+ authors publish, we can tell you: the number one predictor of poor reviews is skipping professional editing.
Types of Editing
- Developmental editing ($800–$3,000): Big-picture — structure, plot, character, pacing. Best for first-time authors or complex narratives.
- Copy editing ($500–$1,500): Sentence-level — grammar, style, consistency, word choice. The minimum for any serious book.
- Proofreading ($200–$500): Surface-level — typos, punctuation, formatting. The final polish.
Budget approach: Use beta readers for structural feedback (free), then hire a copy editor ($500–$1,500). This gets you 80% of the value at 30% of the cost.
Where to find editors: Reedsy (vetted marketplace), the Editorial Freelancers Association, or genre-specific editor recommendations from author communities.
📖 For detailed pricing and tips, see our Self-Publishing Costs guide.
From our team: "We've seen authors spend $5,000 on editing and earn it back in their first month of sales. We've also seen authors skip editing to save $500 and end up with 2-star reviews that killed their book permanently. Editing is not optional." — Ash Davies, Founder
Your cover is your book's #1 marketing tool. Full stop. Online, your cover is a tiny thumbnail competing against thousands of others. We see this in our Books.by analytics constantly — books with professional covers convert at 3–5x the rate of amateur designs.
Two Approaches
- Premade covers ($200–$400): Pre-designed, customized with your title. Fast and affordable. Great for genre fiction with established visual conventions.
- Custom covers ($500–$2,500): Designed from scratch. Better for unique concepts, series branding, or non-fiction.
Timing tip: Start your cover design while your manuscript is with the editor. These two processes can run in parallel, saving you 2–4 weeks.
Formatting turns your manuscript into a properly laid-out book — with correct margins, page numbers, chapter headings, and a professional interior. You need different files for print (PDF) and ebook (EPUB).
Recommended Tools
- Atticus ($147 one-time): Most popular. Handles print + ebook. Drag-and-drop. Works on any browser.
- Vellum ($250, Mac only): Beautiful output. Loved by romance/literary fiction authors.
- Reedsy Book Editor (free): Web-based. Clean output. More limited but costs nothing.
- Books.by (included): Accepts DOCX and PDF files and handles print-ready formatting automatically.
📖 Our formatting guide covers margins, bleed, gutters, and print-ready specs in detail.
An ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is required for print books that you want in bookstores and libraries. Each format (paperback, hardcover, ebook) needs its own ISBN.
If you're not using Books.by, you can purchase ISBNs from Bowker (US): $125 for one, $295 for ten. Some countries provide free ISBNs through government agencies (UK, Canada, Australia).
📖 For the complete rundown, see our ISBN guide.
This is where your book meets the world. Your platform choice determines how readers find and buy your book, how much you earn per sale, and how quickly you get paid.
The Smartest Approach: Use Multiple Platforms
- Books.by ($99/yr): Your own branded storefront. Direct-to-reader sales with 100% royalties, daily payouts, and customer data. Best for: all personal traffic (email, social media, website, podcasts).
- Amazon KDP (free): The largest book marketplace. 35–70% royalties, 60-day payout delay. Best for: organic discovery and Amazon search traffic.
- IngramSpark ($49/title): Wide distribution to bookstores and libraries. Best for: authors who want physical bookstore presence.
- Draft2Digital (free, 10% commission): Wide ebook distribution to Apple, Kobo, B&N, libraries. Best for: wide ebook reach.
Our recommendation: Start with Books.by + Amazon KDP. More than 70% of Books.by authors also sell on Amazon — we're not anti-Amazon, we're pro-author. Use both, and add IngramSpark as your catalog grows. See our platform comparisons: vs Amazon, Books.by vs BookBaby, Books.by vs Draft2Digital.
Ready to start? Steps 1–6 prepare your book. Steps 7–10 make it sell.
Books.by handles steps 5, 6, and 7 in one platform — free ISBNs, print-on-demand, and your own storefront.
Start Your Books.by Store — $99/yr →This is the moment. You have your edited manuscript, your cover, your formatted files, and your ISBN. Now you upload everything to your chosen platform(s) and hit publish.
What You'll Need
- Interior file: Print-ready PDF (for print) and/or EPUB (for ebook)
- Cover file: High-resolution cover with correct dimensions and spine width
- Metadata: Title, subtitle, author name, book description, categories, keywords
- ISBN: Your assigned ISBN for each format
- Price: Your retail price (research comparable books in your genre)
On Books.by, the average store goes live in 8 minutes from signup. Upload your files, fill in your book details, preview your book, and publish. Your storefront goes live immediately.
Your book description (blurb) is your second most important marketing asset after your cover. It's what converts a curious browser into a buyer. Most authors underestimate its importance — and it shows.
The Blurb Formula
- Hook (1–2 sentences): Grab attention. Pose a question, create intrigue, or establish stakes.
- Setup (3–4 sentences): Introduce the protagonist, their world, and the central conflict.
- Escalation (2–3 sentences): Raise the stakes. What will they lose? What stands in their way?
- Call to action: End with a cliffhanger or question that compels the reader to buy.
📖 See our complete book blurb writing guide for templates, genre examples, and common mistakes.
Publishing your book is the beginning, not the end. Marketing is what determines whether your book finds its readers. The good news: you don't need a massive budget — you need a strategy.
Launch Week Essentials
- Email your list. If you have an email list of any size, this is your highest-converting channel.
- Social media announcement. Post across all your platforms. Share behind-the-scenes content, excerpts, and your "why."
- Ask for reviews. Reach out to beta readers, friends, and fellow authors. Early reviews on Amazon and Goodreads are crucial.
- Share your Books.by link everywhere. Instagram bio, Twitter/X profile, Facebook page, email signature, business cards.
Ongoing Marketing
- Amazon Ads: Start at $5–$10/day. Target keywords and comparable authors. Scale what works. (See our marketing guide)
- Build your email list: Offer a free chapter, bonus content, or related resource in exchange for email signups. This is your #1 long-term asset.
- BookTok / Bookstagram: Create content around your book, your writing process, and your genre. Authenticity wins.
- Newsletter promotions: Services like Written Word Media and Freebooksy promote discounted ebooks to readers ($20–$200 per promotion).
📖 Our complete book marketing guide covers all strategies in depth.
Self-publishing is a long game. Your first book is just the beginning. The most successful indie authors treat their writing as a business — analyzing data, optimizing, and continuously producing new work.
Post-Launch Optimization
- Monitor your data. Books.by gives you real-time sales analytics. Track which marketing channels drive the most sales.
- Test pricing. Try different price points. Some genres perform better at $4.99, others at $14.99. Let the data guide you.
- Update keywords and categories. Amazon's algorithm responds to well-chosen keywords. Revisit quarterly.
- Collect and respond to reviews. Reviews are social proof. Engage with readers (without being defensive about criticism).
The Most Important Step: Write Your Next Book
Your backlist is your best marketing tool. Each new book drives sales of your previous books. According to the Written Word Media survey, authors with 3+ books earn 5–10x more per title than single-book authors. Start your next project as soon as you've launched this one.
You've got the roadmap. Now take the first step.
Books.by gives you free ISBNs, print-on-demand, your own storefront, 100% royalties, and daily payouts — everything you need to self-publish professionally.
Start Your Books.by Store — $99/yr →100-day money-back guarantee · Cancel anytime
Word Count → Page Count Calculator
Planning your book? Estimate your page count, printing cost, and spine width based on your word count.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow these 10 steps: finish your manuscript, hire an editor, commission a cover, format your interior, get an ISBN, choose a platform, upload and publish, write your description, launch and market, then optimize. The process takes 4–12 weeks from finished manuscript.
$500–$5,000 for a professional-quality book. The biggest costs are editing and cover design. See our detailed cost breakdown with an interactive calculator.
4–12 weeks from finished manuscript to published book. Compare that with 2–4 years for traditional publishing.
For print: yes, effectively required. For Amazon ebooks: no. Books.by includes free ISBNs with your $99/year subscription. See our ISBN guide.
Use multiple platforms: Books.by for direct sales (100% royalties), Amazon KDP for marketplace visibility, and optionally IngramSpark for bookstores. See our platform comparison.
Yes, through IngramSpark distribution and by approaching local bookstores directly. A professional cover, ISBN, and industry-standard trim size are essential.
