5 Things Beginner Authors Must Know Before Self-Publishing Your First Book

Are you interested in self-publishing your first book? Congratulations! You’re about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime — one that can be quite rewarding and enjoyable to boot. But, self-publishing a book does not come without its fair share of challenges and hurdles. Here’s our list of five tips for beginner authors before self-publishing their first book.

#1. Create a Good Book

Whether you’re looking to get picked up by book publishing companies or you’re going the self-publishing route, you need to make sure you produce a high-quality product. This means finding highly rated editors, cover designers, and other experts that will make sure your book looks professional, polished, and is attention-grabbing to lure readers and/or book publishers in. If you want to publish book on amazon then here is a complete on how to publish a book on Amazon.

#2. Use Beta Readers

Once your book has been written, reviewed, edited, and put together, finding beta readers is the essential next step. Beta readers read your book from cover to cover and provide their raw and honest opinions. This feedback is invaluable and allows you to make necessary changes to make your book more reader-friendly and appealing pre-launch.  Visit Manhattan Book Group to make publishing of your book super efficiently.

It’s important to find the right beta readers, though. For example, asking your mom or best friend to beta read your book is not recommended because they will be biased and won’t be able to provide you with an outsider’s opinion. Instead, ask any other writers you may know, or reach out to editors and proofreaders who have experience beta reading. They won’t be shy to let you know about what they don’t love about the book, its design or format, and other areas that could use some improvement.

#3. Take Advantage of Available Tools

Thanks to advancements in technology, there are many tools available to help the writing and self-publishing process. Here’s what we recommend:

• Writing Software: Every writer should have writing software that helps them effectively put their stories into words. There are a number of options to choose from, including Microsoft Word, Scribus, and Scrivener, just to name a few.
• Writing Gear: In addition to amazing writing skills and software, you also need writing hardware. Think about how long you will spend writing your manuscript — this is why purchasing a comfortable, ergonomic chair, keyboards, blue-light blocking glasses, and anything else that will increase your comfort and ease during the writing process are well worth the investment.
• Editing Tools: When you choose to self-publish instead of working with a book publisher, you’re responsible for editing your own material. Editing is a step far too valuable to skip as it polishes your writing and ensures your ideas are communicated clearly. Editing proofreads your work and makes sure it’s free of grammatical, spelling, and syntax errors. You can hire an editor or use editing software to get the job done. Editing software combines machine learning, AI, and grammar rules to edit manuscripts and other written materials. There are also a number of editing tools on the market, from Grammarly to ProWritingAid.
• Freelancers: Editing software has come a long way and is super convenient. But, it still lacks the skill, expertise, creativity, and experience of a human editor. You can turn to the internet to find freelance editors who specialize in different styles and types of writing and editing. You can also turn to freelancers for cover design, formatting, and even to help market your book.

#4. Set the Stage for a Successful Launch Day

Launch day can make or break your book sales, so it’s essential to take some time to prepare adequately. To kick off your book launch with a bang, we recommend setting the price of your eBook to 99 cents. We know this may feel like a low price — especially after the months, even years, you’ve spent pouring into your book. But, as the new kid on the block, your launch price should be competitive. This doesn’t mean you will keep your listing price at 99 cents forever. Instead, this special launch price will encourage readers to give your book a shot. 

#5. Use Social Media to Your Advantage

Before and after you self-publish your book, social media is an essential component of your marketing plan. Social media allows you to promote your book to your close friends and family in addition to followers and internet users around the world. With self-publishing, you won’t have a publishing team to handle all of your book marketing. But, social media makes it easy (and cost-effective) to promote your book. You can use social media for many aspects of self-publishing, including finding beta readers, asking for opinions on cover art, counting down to launch day, asking for reader feedback, offering discount codes, and so much more. Social media is personal and allows your authentic voice to shine through and draw in and connect with readers and followers for life. 

For more information on how to get a book published or how to self-publish a book on Amazon, visit our blog. It’s full of resources for people looking to take the jump and start self-publishing. Feel free to reach out with any additional questions about self-publishing your first book.