As the owner and president of self-publishing company MindStir Media, I hear from many authors each week. Some of those authors are confused and understandably so. They’ve heard the term “self-publishing” and assumed they’d have to do everything themselves. But, really, there are a couple forms of self-publishing…
The first type of self-publishing is what I like to call “true self-publishing.” The author finds his/her own printer and distributor, his/her own book cover designer and professional book editor, and then publishes the book. Then there’s “assisted self-publishing” or “full-service self-publishing,” which means that the author hires a company to help with the entire self-publishing process, including the actual act of publishing the book. Many of those companies, such as MindStir Media, offer self-publishing packages, intended to give the author everything needed to put the book on the market successfully without having to piece it all together him/herself. Assisted self-publishing is no doubt the easier path to self-publication.
Regardless of whether or not an author understands the different types of self-publishing, they will almost always require some hand-holding and plenty of information on self-publishing. I’ve helped thousands of authors throughout the years with self-publishing consultations and services, so I do know a thing or two about the process. I’ve tackled some of the most important factors in self-publishing via some articles listed below.
Self-Publishing Articles:
- 5 Surprising Facts About Self-Publishing
- Top 10 Self-Publishing Tips Revealed
- 10 Ways to Get Your Book Reviewed
- Authors Need to Provide Exceptional Customer Service
Oftentimes authors will also ask me questions about the actual act of writing. I’ve devised a fantastic article that includes 50+ writing resources for authors. Some highlights include:
- Advice from Stephen King
- Michael Connelly: Tips for Young Writers
- Top 5 Writing Lessons from Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling
- and more.
Self-Publishing Services:
When an author wants to get started with “true” self-publishing I recommend the following services:
- Professional book cover designers with years of experience in designing the covers for bestsellers. If budget isn’t the author’s concern, there’s also Erik Hollander, cover designer for some big-name publishers and production companies. He’s amazing but doesn’t always have availability and his fees are usually outside the realm of possibility for most self-publishers.
- Book designer Dave Moratto does a nice job designing book interiors for print. 1106 Design is also quite good at interior page design.
- The best book editors I know.
- For children’s book authors: I highly recommend these children’s book illustrators. They’ve illustrated hundreds of picture books throughout the years. Unlimited revisions are allowed and included in the price.
- Contact Bowker to get an ISBN and bar code.
- Locate a printer (MindStir Media can act as a printer without actually being the “publisher”).
- Setup distribution (again, MindStir Media can distribute a book without being the book’s publisher). The two big names in distribution are Ingram and Baker & Taylor. The author should make sure the book is available through those two wholesale distributors one way or another. Virtually every reputable bookseller in the country (including Amazon and B&N) sources books from Ingram.
When an author wants to go the assisted self-publishing route I recommend:
- The self-publishing packages of MindStir Media. They start at $1199 and include custom book cover design, interior layout, ISBN/bar code, printing and distribution, mentoring and marketing, and more. Purchasing a MindStir Media package is the most cost-effective way to self-publish a book…in my opinion.