Self Publishing Support Guide

Self Publishing Support Information

LU-Books Publishing Support & Promoting Self-Published Authors

Dieter Luske - Writer and editor for useNature - Author of It happened in the seventies and Chaos in Brainland

The Self-Publishing Roadmap

Congratulation, you have written a book. - Now what?

Before considering publishing, ensure you have a 'product' worth publishing. - There are a few steps to take before one decides how to publish.

1. The book is written. - I am sure you love your book and think it is ready for the public to see and read. - (and maybe a tiny bit of hope that it becomes a bestseller) -

2. Have you had your book edited? - If you walk the self-publishing road, you may think you can do your own editing to save money. I recommend finding a good editor to ensure your book has the quality it deserves.
   There are different types of editing; the editor will suggest what kind of editing you need and usually will offer a sample edit to help you determine if you have found the right editor for you and your book genre or category.
   

3. The Editing Road - A cost factor -
   Start with Self-editing to make it easier and cheaper for your editor.
   Your book may need 'Story Editing', also called Developmental, Content or Structural Editing. -
   Line Editing can be part of Developmental Editing, aiming to improve the clarity of a piece of writing, line by line.
   You always need Copy Editing; it considers grammar, punctuation and spelling.
   Finally, once all corrections have been made, comes proofreading.

4. Beta Reader - If you are still determining how your book may be perceived, you may have your book read by a 'Beta Reader'. That may incur a fee unless you know people willing to read your book for free and tell you what they think. - A point of warning, don't give your book to anyone closely related. Find someone who would be unbiased.

5. The Book - So far, we have been dealing with your manuscript. The following steps are about designing your book. - Like editing, this is a part you could do yourself, but for some elements like the cover design, unless you are a designer, I recommend getting a professional.
   

6. Internal Design - Layout, size, index, copy info, acknowledgments, author profile, and possibly a page highlighting books you have written before, all have to look good and professional. - If you feel game to do it yourself, I recommend an online program called Atticus. - For straightforward designing, this is perfect. But like everything, there is a steep learning curve if you want something special. - I am not a friend of subscriptions; therefore, Atticus ticks my boxes; it is a budget-priced one-off payment with nothing more to pay. - (www.atticus.io)- Here are their headlines: Write and Format Stunning Books - Create professional print books and eBooks easily with the all-in-one book writing software. - I only use it for formatting. - This program is not for book cover design.

7. Book Cover Design - If you want to try designing your book cover, Cava could be the cheapest option or use any good graphic design software. - I have used Pixelmator in the past; it does the trick, but remember, it's not the program that makes a difference; it's the designer. The design is not just the front cover but also the back cover and what text to place, and the spine needs design. - Before you can design your complete cover, you need to know your book's exact dimensions, including the spine's size.

8. ISBN - To be in control of your book and the whole publishing process, I recommend getting your own ISBN. That will incur a cost but is not a fortune, and if you buy a package of numbers, the price will decrease. - You need a new ISBN for each new book and also for each format, paperback and hardback; you can use one for your e-book as well, but you don't have to. - Amazon KDP will give you a free ISBN, which is tempting but will list Amazon as the publisher. - To publish your book on Amazon KDP is entirely FREE. - And strictly speaking, Amazon KDP is not a publisher but a distributor; you are the publisher.

9. You as a Publisher - To be listed as a publisher, you need to come up with your publishing name, that way, your name is listed as the author, and your publisher's name is listed as the publisher.

I am sure this summary of self-publishing information has opened more questions than answers.

Feel free to message me with your questions - Contact Dieter L. on FB - Direct Message

Promoting Self-Published Authors

LU-Books in association with useNature.com supports by featuring authors and their books.

Featured authors, and writers can apply for free marketing within useNature.com, as well as adding their profile or book to the Self-Published-Author-Directory

Self-Publishing and Book Writing Progress Report:

Chaos in Brainland - A Guide for Creating a Stress and Anxiety Free Zone

In the age of anxiety, angst is a permanent condition for some.
The chaos in society is reflected in chaos between the ears, the territory Dieter Luske calls Brainland.