SELF-PUBLISHING - Arabella Sheen

 

WEEK THREE – YOUR PUBLISHING PATHWAY 

SELF-PUBLISHING

 

The words have been written and the story told. Congratulations on completing your novel! That’s a huge achievement. Now that the manuscript is done, here are some key steps an author should consider doing next:

1. Revision and Editing

2. Decide on a Publishing Path

3. Build Your Author Platform

4. Marketing and Promotion

5. Legal and Business Considerations

6. Plan Your Next Steps

 

Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be posting several blogs that cover these steps in more detail, and I hope they'll be useful to you.

Happy writing…

Arabella Xx

 

Choosing to self-publish gives you full control over your book’s life—but it also means wearing many hats. Here's a breakdown of what to consider when deciding on this path:

 

1. Your Goals

Start by asking:

Do you want to make a living from writing?

Is this a passion project or a business venture?

Are you trying to build a long-term brand or publish a single book?

Are speed to market and full creative control important to you?

Your goals will shape every decision—from how much to invest to how you market.

 

2. Full Creative and Business Control

Pros:

Control over cover design, pricing, editing, release schedule, and marketing.

Higher royalties (up to 70% on platforms like Amazon KDP).

Faster publishing timeline—you can release a book in weeks, not years.

Direct access to your audience, email list, and sales data.

Cons:

No advance—you pay upfront for editing, design, marketing, etc.

Steep learning curve—you’re the publisher, so you need to understand the whole process.

Perception bias—some readers, awards, or retailers may still favor traditionally published books.

Time-consuming—you’re running a small business.

 

3. Business and Financial Considerations

You’ll need to manage your own publishing budget and may choose to treat this as a business:

Start-up costs: Expect to spend $500–$3,000+, depending on how much you outsource (editing, cover design, formatting, marketing).

Royalties: Know what percentage platforms take. Amazon KDP, for example, pays up to 70% on ebooks.

ISBNs: Buy your own if you want full publishing control, or use free ones from platforms (with limitations).

Taxes: Consider forming an LLC or sole proprietorship, and track your income/expenses carefully.

 

4. Editing and Quality Control

You’re responsible for producing a professional-quality book:

Developmental editing: Big-picture feedback on story structure, plot, and pacing.

Copyediting: Grammar, sentence flow, consistency.

Proofreading: Final polish for typos and formatting errors.

Beta readers: Gather early reader feedback before publishing.

Skimping on editing is one of the biggest mistakes self-published authors make.

 

5. Professional Design

Readers do judge books by their covers.

Cover design: Hire someone who understands genre expectations.

Interior formatting: Tools like Vellum (Mac), Atticus, or professional services help create polished print and ebook files.

A professional look builds trust and credibility with readers.

 

6. Distribution Options

Decide where and how your book will be available:

Ebook platforms:

Amazon KDP (exclusive via Kindle Unlimited, or wide)

Apple Books

Barnes & Noble Press

Kobo

Draft2Digital / Smashwords (aggregators for “wide” distribution)

 

Print options:

KDP Print (Amazon-owned)

IngramSpark (better for bookstore/library distribution)

Print-on-demand (POD): You avoid inventory costs.

Exclusive vs. Wide: Being in Kindle Unlimited requires exclusivity to Amazon. “Going wide” gives you more reach, but takes more effort to manage.

 

7. Marketing and Promotion

In self-publishing, you are the marketing department.

Email list: Build a direct line to readers.

Author website and social media presence: Essential for visibility.

Book launch strategy: Reviews, ARCs (Advance Reader Copies), giveaways, ads.

Ads: Facebook Ads, Amazon Ads, BookBub Featured Deals or ads.

Newsletter swaps & promotions: Work with other indie authors to expand reach.

Start building your platform before launch if possible.

 

8. Mindset and Workload

Are you willing to learn publishing, marketing, and business skills?

Are you okay managing contractors (editors, designers)?

Can you stay motivated and consistent without external deadlines?

Self-publishing is a marathon, not a sprint—especially if you’re aiming for long-term income.

Happy Self-Publishing...

Arabella Xx

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