Guide to self-publishing
Author: Matt Ravikumar
www.mattravikumar.com
Do you have a yearning to publish something in your lifetime? Are you comfortable in wearing multiple hats from basic writing, art design, content editing, subject research and also able to electronic software tools? There is nothing against professional publishers who add immense value to the publication process. But their time line does not align with your own individual goals. As all-in one person (or) jack of all trades, you have the complete control on the publishing process. You’re writing content since you want to contribute to the world, so there is no need for additional stress in this process by involving third party providers.
The age of writing or scribbling notes in binders or paper napkins are far from over. You will use software tools to organize your thoughts, start writing and complete the editing process. The tool can compile the content into various publication process outputs. You will have your own writer’s account and start the upload process wearing your lucky pajamas. That’s simple!
First Step: You need to buy Scrivener software product. The software is very reasonable but loaded with lot of features that beat Word or any other word processing software application. The software has its own tool to generate the final publication content format like emobi, epub, etc. But if you have budget constraint, word software will do. There is a new editing (called editor) which is very powerful to proof-read. Also download Kindle create tool and import the word doc into the software. You are ready for Kindle version output.
About Scrivner:
Start the project: On the software, start the new project and enter your chapter headers, thoughts within each chapter, reference guides, etc. A word of caution: Use the project title effectively and don’t try to change the project name afterwards.
Update the content: You can start and complete the project within few hours or even few days. It’s better to take complete break and do something totally different. You will get fresh ideas and you can start modifying or adding the content. You can even just update some points in the cork board or index cards as a reminder to yourself.
Edit the content: This is place many people under estimate the time needed. It may take a while to understand the basic formatting and page layouts. Proper usage of words, spell-checks, paragraph alignment and statement duplication do take considerable time.
Cover design: If you need distraction while writing, you can get into websites like www.canva.com to start the cover design. This is free service website and have many colorful options. You can download the cover page in jpg and pdf versions. Download both the versions into your folder.
Compiling: For Scrivner: Once the manuscript is complete, you can output the content into PDF format to check the layout. Then you can start the compile process for epub or emobi format. Save the files locally. For word: use kindle create option
Self-publishing: Start your account in these sites:
amazon.com, which includes kindle, paper-back and hard-cover versions
Kobobooks.com
Both have no-service fee based author’s account subscription. In Amazon, you can upload your book content and walk through online editing process. Amazon will let you know by email on the status of their approval. Amazon will also take you through the kindle version of your publication, that’s the reason you need to compile both these at the time of your upload readiness. Both these upload will take few hours so do not try to make it short to catch up your lunch or dinner time!
Kobobooks for publication outside USA and they also seem to have wider options.
Both these sites will ask for tax details to receive your royalty income, yes royalty is the key word here. Hence it highly suggested to create these accounts even before you’re done with the manuscripts.
Best of luck!
Author: Matt Ravikumar
www.mattravikumar.com
Do you have a yearning to publish something in your lifetime? Are you comfortable in wearing multiple hats from basic writing, art design, content editing, subject research and also able to electronic software tools? There is nothing against professional publishers who add immense value to the publication process. But their time line does not align with your own individual goals. As all-in one person (or) jack of all trades, you have the complete control on the publishing process. You’re writing content since you want to contribute to the world, so there is no need for additional stress in this process by involving third party providers.
The age of writing or scribbling notes in binders or paper napkins are far from over. You will use software tools to organize your thoughts, start writing and complete the editing process. The tool can compile the content into various publication process outputs. You will have your own writer’s account and start the upload process wearing your lucky pajamas. That’s simple!
First Step: You need to buy Scrivener software product. The software is very reasonable but loaded with lot of features that beat Word or any other word processing software application. The software has its own tool to generate the final publication content format like emobi, epub, etc. But if you have budget constraint, word software will do. There is a new editing (called editor) which is very powerful to proof-read. Also download Kindle create tool and import the word doc into the software. You are ready for Kindle version output.
About Scrivner:
Start the project: On the software, start the new project and enter your chapter headers, thoughts within each chapter, reference guides, etc. A word of caution: Use the project title effectively and don’t try to change the project name afterwards.
Update the content: You can start and complete the project within few hours or even few days. It’s better to take complete break and do something totally different. You will get fresh ideas and you can start modifying or adding the content. You can even just update some points in the cork board or index cards as a reminder to yourself.
Edit the content: This is place many people under estimate the time needed. It may take a while to understand the basic formatting and page layouts. Proper usage of words, spell-checks, paragraph alignment and statement duplication do take considerable time.
Cover design: If you need distraction while writing, you can get into websites like www.canva.com to start the cover design. This is free service website and have many colorful options. You can download the cover page in jpg and pdf versions. Download both the versions into your folder.
Compiling: For Scrivner: Once the manuscript is complete, you can output the content into PDF format to check the layout. Then you can start the compile process for epub or emobi format. Save the files locally. For word: use kindle create option
Self-publishing: Start your account in these sites:
amazon.com, which includes kindle, paper-back and hard-cover versions
Kobobooks.com
Both have no-service fee based author’s account subscription. In Amazon, you can upload your book content and walk through online editing process. Amazon will let you know by email on the status of their approval. Amazon will also take you through the kindle version of your publication, that’s the reason you need to compile both these at the time of your upload readiness. Both these upload will take few hours so do not try to make it short to catch up your lunch or dinner time!
Kobobooks for publication outside USA and they also seem to have wider options.
Both these sites will ask for tax details to receive your royalty income, yes royalty is the key word here. Hence it highly suggested to create these accounts even before you’re done with the manuscripts.
Best of luck!
