Every writer dreams of seeing their book on bookstore shelves and online stores. However, this dream is not easy. It requires consistency, dedication, willpower, and a great deal of hard work. For seasoned writers, selecting a book publishing company is comparatively easy due to previous experiences. However, this article is just for you if this is your first rodeo.
This blog will guide you through the publishing process in 10 easy steps.
A 10-Step Guide from Pen to Publish
The steps are easy to remember but require much commitment to complete. Don’t try to skip any step since each one is a crucial block in building the next bestseller. The following section briefly explains the infamous 10-step guide.
Choose A Publishing Route
The first step is the most difficult one to choose. The two most dominant book industry standards are traditional and self-publishing. Both have their pros and cons, which is necessary to evaluate before choosing anyone.
Briefly, traditional houses take a more significant percentage of royalties, and it takes years to publish your book. Conversely, they advance your book and handle the marketing, distribution, and designs. In contrast, self-publishing offers a more significant royalty portion and takes weeks to publish on various platforms. However, you must do its marketing, distribution, and cover designs from your pocket.
Edit the Draft
Editing is essential before submitting your manuscript. No self-respecting author will publish their book or send it for review without editing the draft. It isn’t easy and takes time, but luckily, some American book publishers offer complete editing and proofreading services. They also edit and format the book according to the specific publishing house guidelines.
Get Feedback from Editors and Critique Circles
Personal bias is a killer of many great books. It’s hard for a writer to judge its creation. For authors, their words reflect the best of their ideas; only after a critique does the fog of bias clear up, and fundamental changes take place. However, not all critiques should be entertained; only people who understand the idea of your book can give you an excellent critique. To narrow down the list, here are some places where you can find the best critiques
- Writing Community
- Friends and family
- Professional Editors
Title Your Manuscript
Titles are easy to write but challenging to master. They are the essence of your book and must reflect it appropriately. The best time to write the book title is after editing and changes. Many title generators also help you find the right title for your book. That said, brainstorm 10 to 20 titles and ask what people think after reading them.
Format Your Book for Publication
All self-publishing platforms require a particular formatting style for the book; without it, your book will not be accepted. Many paid software programs are available that help you format the interior of your book. You can also opt for free platforms such as Reedsy Studio, Kindle Create, or Apple Pages. However, different formatting platforms only cater to their store, creating a mess. Therefore, choosing a licensed software or professional editor is the best bet.
Design a Book Cover That Converts Readers
The cover designs of books attract readers and buyers. A great cover design highlights your book’s message, intriguing readers to take action. That said, self-publishers must either design the cover themselves or hire a professional book cover designer. The better approach is to find American book publishers who provide cover design services under budget.
Write a “Publisher-Ready” Book Description
The book description must captivate, intrigue, and awe readers enough to make them hit the buy button. Some factors to consider when writing killer book descriptions.
- The Hock in the description and header
- Brief description of the conflict in the book
- End on a question or continuity of a story or adventure
- Use keywords to maximize your search result
- Add Genres and categories for better visibility
8. Create a Book Launch Plan
The book isn’t going to sell itself; you have to make an effort to highlight its uniqueness from the rest. This brings us to the book launch plan, which ensures the three aspects of your book publishing journey: pre-, mid-, and post-book publishing. The plan must be elaborate and factor in all the marketing channels. Here are some quick things that you can do to create a hype around your book
- Hire a team of micro-influencers to promote your book
- Build a website and mailing list by creating book-related content, such as behind-the-scenes
- Target bloggers who can review your book
- Throw a virtual webinar or master class on writing a book because now you’re an expert.
9. Publish Your Book on Online Retailers
Book publishing is an easy step. If you have followed everything to the letter, the only thing left to do is publish your book. However, there are some guidelines concerning the file format, which can be found on the respective publishing platform. The question arises about the selection of a publishing website. To answer this question, you’ve to evaluate your requirements and assess which platforms best suit them by doing research.
Some well-known book publisher’s platforms are:
- Amazon KDA
- Barnes & Nobles
- Lulu
- Ingram Spark
10 Market the Book to Increase Sales
The book is published and pulling in readers – congratulations. The final step is to market, market, and market your achievements and sales. Do book tours, get blog features, and stay relevant to the readers and publishing houses. Hiring third-party promotional services to increase your book visibility is the best way to leverage this.
The Final Thought
Publishing a book is an enormous task, regardless of your choice. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be quick. Take your time, save money, and work on your writing. When the time is right, invest in book writing properly without any financial or mental constraints. This marks the end of the step-by-step guide.