You wrote the book because you wanted to be an author.
That does not necessarily mean you want to become an editor, graphic designer, book formatter, production specialist, distribution expert, advertising manager, and publishing project manager.
This is one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding self-publishing.
Self-publishing does not have to mean doing everything yourself.
Authors can retain many of the benefits associated with independent publishing while hiring experienced professionals to handle the specialized work required to turn a manuscript into a professional book.
If you want to self-publish but do not want to manage the entire process yourself, here is what you should know.
Self-Publishing and DIY Publishing Are Not Necessarily the Same Thing
When people hear “self-publishing,” they sometimes picture an author sitting at a computer doing everything independently.
That is one version of self-publishing.
It is not the only version.
At the other end of the spectrum is professionally assisted self-publishing.
Under this model, the author works with experienced publishing professionals who can provide editing, design, production, distribution, marketing, and project support.
The author does not need to personally perform every publishing task simply because the book is being independently published.
Start With Professional Editing
Your manuscript is the foundation of the book.
Professional editing can help strengthen grammar, clarity, consistency, structure, readability, and other aspects of the manuscript depending on the level of editing required.
The appropriate editing process varies from book to book.
Some manuscripts need relatively light editing.
Others need more substantial work.
What matters is having someone with professional editorial experience evaluate and improve the manuscript before it becomes a finished product.
Hire a Professional Cover Designer
A book cover is a marketing tool.
Readers frequently encounter the cover before they know anything else about the book.
That means the design needs to look professional and communicate the correct genre, tone, and subject.
DIY design tools have made it easier than ever to create a cover.
That does not mean every author should design one.
A professional book designer understands typography, composition, print specifications, genre expectations, thumbnail visibility, and other considerations that go beyond simply creating an attractive image.
Don’t Overlook Interior Design
The inside of the book matters too.
Margins, fonts, headings, chapter openings, page numbers, spacing, images, trim size, and numerous other details affect the reading experience.
Professional formatting helps make the book feel like a professionally published product rather than a manuscript placed inside a cover.
This is especially important for books with photographs, illustrations, charts, tables, footnotes, or unusual formatting requirements.
Let Someone Else Handle the Technical Details
Publishing involves many details readers rarely think about.
ISBNs.
Barcodes.
File specifications.
Print setup.
eBook conversion.
Proofing.
Metadata.
Retail pricing.
Wholesale discounts.
Distribution.
These tasks are manageable, but there is a learning curve.
An author who wants to focus on the creative side of publishing may prefer to have experienced professionals manage the technical side.
Professional Distribution Matters
Making a book available involves more than uploading a file.
Authors should understand how their books will be distributed and where retailers, wholesalers, libraries, and readers can obtain them.
Ask prospective publishing companies to explain their distribution model clearly.
Where will the book be available?
Who handles fulfillment?
How are sales tracked?
How are royalties reported?
What formats can be distributed?
Distribution is one of the areas where professional publishing infrastructure can simplify the process considerably.
You Can Still Maintain Creative Control
Hiring professionals does not have to mean giving up your vision.
In a professionally assisted self-publishing arrangement, the author’s role can remain extremely important.
You can review editing.
You can provide feedback on cover concepts.
You can approve interior design.
You can participate in decisions about pricing and positioning.
The objective is collaboration.
Professionals provide expertise while the author remains involved in decisions affecting the book.
Explore Done-for-You Self-Publishing Help
If you want professional assistance with editing, design, production, distribution, and other parts of publication, you do not have to assemble and manage an entire team independently.
Explore MindStir Media’s self-publishing packages to learn more about the professional services available for authors.
What About Hiring Individual Freelancers?
That is another legitimate option.
An author can hire an editor from one company, a designer from another, a formatter elsewhere, and separate specialists for marketing and publicity.
The advantage is flexibility.
The disadvantage is that you become the project manager.
You are responsible for finding everyone, evaluating them, negotiating terms, coordinating schedules, transferring files, checking work, and making sure one stage flows correctly into the next.
Some experienced independent authors prefer this approach.
First-time authors and busy professionals may prefer working with a company that already has a publishing process and team in place.
What Should You Look for in a Full-Service Self-Publishing Company?
Look beyond the sales pitch.
Examine the company’s track record.
Look at books it has produced.
Review the services included.
Understand the editing process.
Ask whether designs are customized.
Understand distribution.
Review rights and royalties.
Ask who will be your primary contact.
Determine whether marketing services are available.
Read the publishing agreement.
And make sure you understand the total investment.
A professional publishing relationship should make the process easier to understand, not more confusing.
Who Benefits Most From This Approach?
Professionally assisted self-publishing can work particularly well for first-time authors and people whose time is valuable.
That can include entrepreneurs, executives, business owners, physicians, attorneys, consultants, coaches, speakers, and professionals publishing books connected to their expertise.
It can also make sense for novelists, memoirists, children’s authors, and other writers who simply want to focus on writing rather than managing production.
The common denominator is not genre.
It is the desire for professional assistance.
You Wrote the Book. You Don’t Have to Build a Publishing Company.
There is an important distinction between being independent and being alone.
Self-publishing gives authors options.
One of those options is doing everything yourself.
Another is surrounding yourself with professionals while maintaining an active role in your book.
If you want a professionally produced book but have no interest in becoming an expert in every aspect of the publishing industry, professionally assisted self-publishing may provide the balance you are looking for.
Discuss Your Manuscript With MindStir Media
MindStir Media provides professional self-publishing services designed to help authors move from manuscript to finished book without having to coordinate the entire process independently.
Schedule a publishing consultation with MindStir Media to discuss your manuscript, goals, and the publishing services that may make sense for your project.