Why You Need a Plan to Self-Publish Your Book

INTRODUCTION

Why a Self-Publisher’s Book Plan?

The purpose of the Self-Publisher's Book Plan is to explain and simplify book building basics for writers and entrepreneurs who are new to publishing, to offer the best resources currently available on self-publishing, and to demystify the publishing process through a step-by-step action plan called the Self-Publisher’s Book Plan. The concept is similar to a traditional business plan for entrepreneurs, but geared specifically for writers who will soon become “authorpreneurs” once they embark on the self-publishing path.

There are dozens of books on the market that contain overwhelming amounts of information on writing techniques, preparing a manuscript, print-on-demand services, page layout programs, and book marketing. Sorting through the mountains of facts can be daunting to a first-time publisher.

The Self-Publisher’s Book Plan cuts the confusion by guiding you from polishing your manuscript to selling your published book, while allowing for your own pace and personal style. You won’t find a one-size-fits-all approach here, but instead you’ll learn how to reason and determine your own customized plan, and the tools compiled here will guide you to the help you’ll need to complete your book. 

Each section shows you how to build your book, while carefully pointing out pitfalls along the way. Whether your project is a basic short-run book or a potential commercial blockbuster, there’s a plan for you. With today’s new technology and service companies, the risks and the resources necessary to produce books have been greatly reduced. Still, many well-intentioned folks waste valuable time and money to publish books that sell only a few copies or end up in their garage. Before you begin the self-publishing process, it’s best to assess your skills and motivations, to educate yourself by learning from experienced self-publishers what you can expect, and to have a well-reasoned plan of action.

What type of book are you planning? Are there other books on the market similar to yours? How will you sell your books? How does your book boost or complement your current business activities? Your ability to answer these questions while you are still in the planning stages will improve your chances for a successful outcome.

My FREE GUIDE is organized to help you get perspective on the business of publishing, to realistically assess your skills, to create strategies to produce a high-quality book, and to sell and present your book in the marketplace once it’s published. Each section gets you closer to that goal until you feel confident that you have performed due diligence by researching your competition and creating a comprehensive plan.

The plan includes choosing a book model to emulate, developing your manuscript, making a list of competitive titles, comparing the best publishing options for your book, creating a production strategy, preparing a printing budget, planning for distribution, creatively brainstorming how to market your book, and assembling your team of professional advisors and contractors.

By the time you have gone through all the steps in the GUIDE, you will feel confident that you have set the groundwork to publish your manuscript. If you encounter obstacles along the way or are tempted to skip some of the steps, it means you’ve got more work to do. Taking time to vet your manuscript, to build your plan, and to create a solid foundation for your book before publication is the best way to ensure success.

Self-publishing is a labor of love—not a get-rich-quick scheme. On average, most self-publishers sell only a hundred or so copies of their books, so you’ll be lucky to break even. Start to think of self-publishing as an investment in yourself and in your career. For entrepreneurs, having a book can be as essential as having a business card. A book makes you and your business more visible, and published authors can raise their profiles and attract new opportunities by bundling books with their other products and services.

If your passion is writing, speaking, or teaching in order to make a contribution and impact the lives of others, self-publishing can be a richly rewarding endeavor. But if you are truly serious about your new career as authorpreneur, you must make the commitment in time and resources to produce the best books possible if you are to raise your profile and gain credibility.

 At the end of the day, successfully promoting books—whether they are published by a traditional publisher or self-published—comes down to you, the author. You are the most knowledgeable and the most invested. Through your own efforts, you will soon be recognized as a published author and an expert in your field. No one will ever care as much as you do.

Click to get my FREE GUIDE to start your self-publishing plan.

PLAN FOR SUCCESS!