A checklist for self publishing your book
- M.J. Sahanaja
- Sep 24
- 3 min read
If you're currently writing your book and considering #self-publishing, this article is for you! There are many steps to take before your book is published. Welcome to the world of self-publishing!
There are a lot of steps that need to be taken.
First of all, it is important to create a #checklist for yourself. It is important to know your options and exactly what you want. If you live in a small country like the Netherlands and want your book to be published worldwide, it's useful to be aware of the possibilities.
Make a checklist
Here is my checklist. Please note that these are not all the steps, nor are they in the correct order. There are many more, and some are personal choices to add or delete.
My checklist
Write a story
Get the manuscript edited and copy edited
Hire a professional to create a book cover
Write the blurr for the back of the book
Get a photo for the 'about the author' section
Create a website
Be active on social media: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Goodreads and more
Found your own publishing company
Buy the ISBN numbers with the prefix of your publishing company
Find a printing company
Find a publisher with a connection with Centraal Boekhuis
Or get your own connection with Centraal Boekhuis
Get business cards
Get posters and flyers
Check options for the library
Check options for marketing
Write a press release
Check out book markets for a year later
Set the release date of the book
Create an ebook
Create a soft cover
Create a hard cover
Which platform do you want to publish the book
Set the price of the book
Find a local bookstore for selling inconsigment
Give a book presentation and or lecture
Give an interview at the local newspaper
Tips:
No. 1: My first tip for self-publishing is to create a checklist like the one above. You can use Excel for this. I keep a journal to write everything down.
No 2: Do your #research. Read everything you can about self-publishing on websites. Watch YouTube videos. Don't be afraid to ask people questions. It's so important to educate yourself before taking the big leap into self-publishing.
No. 3: Enjoy the journey! You are going to create something beautiful, and you are going to do it yourself! But remember: you don't have to do everything alone! Hire the right people to help you create this beautiful book! When you see the result, you will realise that it is your creation, and that is the best feeling there is (except for holding my newborn baby — I'm sorry, but that feeling will always be the best for me personally).
No. 4: Make your choice from the very beginning. How much money are you able and/or willing to spend? An #editor will cost you a lot of money. The difference in quality between a cheap book designer and a more expensive one is huge. Set your budget and try to stick to it. If your budget is low, I would advise spending the money on a good editor and perhaps publishing your book via Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) using POD (print on demand).
I hope you enjoyed this article! In my next article, I will discuss the options for self-publishing your book in the Netherlands and internationally.
If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch. I will be happy to try and answer them. Please use the contact form.
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