Book Self Publishing Tips
- Thread starter danke
- Start date
I'm slowly writing one myself, what specifically are you asking about? The writing process, or actual printing or submitting to amazon and all that?
This wouldn't go on Amazon due to the :thumbsup:
billing method. So I'm interested in the actual printing part... just things to look out for. Maybe recommended providers, different types of paper...
I've been doing research on this topic as well. Only thing for printing physical copies, that I've found, is also owned by Amazon.
https://www.createspace.com/
https://www.createspace.com/
I just published my first book on Amazon.com this month. I'm no expert but here are the cliffs:
You basically have two publisher options: Lulu or Createspace
I've tried both and Createspace is better. Books are about $5 per copy on Createspace and ~$8 per copy on Lulu. Quality is also better with Createspace IMO.
Most common size is 6" x 9" which I would recommend.
You can submit a word doc or PDF for the actual content of the book (I did a PDF I created with Adobe InDesign).
You submit a single file PDF for your cover (front, back and spine).
Ownership of the book depends. If you want full ownership you will need to buy an ISBN from Bowker: https://www.myidentifiers.com/ for $125.
They say you need a unique ISBN for each book version (Paperback, Kindle, etc, etc) but I don't think you necessarily do.
If you don't want to provide your own ISBN you can have Lulu or Createspace provide it for free where they own certain rights.
When you publish with Createspace it will automatically post it on Amazon.com
You can also get your book on the Kindle easily through Createspace as well.
You pick the sell price for each version and basically profit the sell price - costs (print costs ($5) + Amazon fee). So anything over ~$5 is what you net.
My end result: [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Rule-By-Ignorance-Quinton-Figueroa/dp/0988342715/ref=sr_1_1"]Rule By Ignorance: Quinton Figueroa: 9780988342712: Amazon.com: Books[/ame]
There's still more to it, but that's the cliffs of my experience.
You basically have two publisher options: Lulu or Createspace
I've tried both and Createspace is better. Books are about $5 per copy on Createspace and ~$8 per copy on Lulu. Quality is also better with Createspace IMO.
Most common size is 6" x 9" which I would recommend.
You can submit a word doc or PDF for the actual content of the book (I did a PDF I created with Adobe InDesign).
You submit a single file PDF for your cover (front, back and spine).
Ownership of the book depends. If you want full ownership you will need to buy an ISBN from Bowker: https://www.myidentifiers.com/ for $125.
They say you need a unique ISBN for each book version (Paperback, Kindle, etc, etc) but I don't think you necessarily do.
If you don't want to provide your own ISBN you can have Lulu or Createspace provide it for free where they own certain rights.
When you publish with Createspace it will automatically post it on Amazon.com
You can also get your book on the Kindle easily through Createspace as well.
You pick the sell price for each version and basically profit the sell price - costs (print costs ($5) + Amazon fee). So anything over ~$5 is what you net.
My end result: [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Rule-By-Ignorance-Quinton-Figueroa/dp/0988342715/ref=sr_1_1"]Rule By Ignorance: Quinton Figueroa: 9780988342712: Amazon.com: Books[/ame]
There's still more to it, but that's the cliffs of my experience.
Since you published through CreateSpace, were you ineligible for KDP Select 70% royalties?
Congrats on getting the product launched. Hope you do well.
I’ve sent dozens of books off to press (worked at a publishing company). Recently the work has mainly gone to Everbest or C&C Offset, both in Hong Kong.
They’re very exacting about how PDFs are prepared. You just need to be able to follow detailed instructions.
The most technical part design-wise is the cover. The spine width is calculated based on cover material, stock weight, etc. For some reason they send cover templates in Excel. Book cover design is a specialization of mine. PM me if you want to see examples.
Don’t go with cheap Chinese artboard if you go hardbound. One of my clients had minor warping issues probably compounded by the fact book boxes were stored in a damp place. Request the Dutch stuff to be safe.
Ask the printer for stock recommendations. Unless you have special requirements, it’s nothing to worry about. They know what they’re talking about and will choose what is right for the content.
They’re very exacting about how PDFs are prepared. You just need to be able to follow detailed instructions.
The most technical part design-wise is the cover. The spine width is calculated based on cover material, stock weight, etc. For some reason they send cover templates in Excel. Book cover design is a specialization of mine. PM me if you want to see examples.
Don’t go with cheap Chinese artboard if you go hardbound. One of my clients had minor warping issues probably compounded by the fact book boxes were stored in a damp place. Request the Dutch stuff to be safe.
Ask the printer for stock recommendations. Unless you have special requirements, it’s nothing to worry about. They know what they’re talking about and will choose what is right for the content.
I am pretty sure I was eligible and it asked me that option. I don't remember fully though.
Createspace actually just takes your files and converts what is needed for the Kindle and then allows you download them. They then link you over to Amazon and you set it all up on Amazon.com (and not Createspace) for the Kindle version.
So Paperback added via Createspace.
Kindle added via Amazon with no real connection to Createspace.
Well I ask because I was curious when they state that KDP Select is only available if you offer your work exclusively on the KDP platform. I was wondering if that applied to Createspace since it's part of Amazon as well.