Self-publishing means you handle the writing, design, and distribution yourself instead of working with a traditional publisher

Self-publishing puts you in control of your book's timeline, cover design, pricing, and how it reaches readers. You keep a larger share of the revenue — typically 35 to 70 percent depending on the platform and format — but you also pay for editing, cover design, and marketing out of your own pocket. The process involves writing and editing your manuscript, formatting it for print or digital, creating or commissioning a cover, uploading to a platform, and then promoting it.

The main platforms for self-publishing are Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), IngramSpark, Draft2Digital, and Smashwords. Each handles different formats (ebook, paperback, hardcover) and reaches different audiences. Most authors use more than one platform to maximize visibility.

Key Takeaways

  • You will need a finished, edited manuscript before you start — most self-published books fail because the writing itself is not ready, not because of platform choices.
  • Amazon KDP is the largest platform for ebook and print-on-demand paperbacks, but IngramSpark reaches bookstores and libraries if that matters to your goals.
  • A professional cover design costs $300 to $1,500 but directly affects whether readers click on your book — this is not the place to save money.
  • Formatting your manuscript for print and ebook are different processes; most authors use templates or hire a formatter rather than doing it themselves.
  • You will need an ISBN (International Standard Book Number) for print books; KDP provides one free but it ties the book to KDP, while IngramSpark ISBNs are more portable.

Preparing your manuscript before you upload anything

Your manuscript should be finished, edited, and proofread before you move to any platform. This is the step most self-published authors skip, and it shows. Hire a professional editor or at minimum have someone outside your family read it and give detailed feedback. Developmental editing (structure and story) costs $40 to $100 per hour; copy editing (grammar and clarity) costs $30 to $80 per hour. A 70,000-word novel typically needs 40 to 80 hours of professional editing.

After editing, format your manuscript as a clean Word document or Google Doc. Remove all manual formatting — don't use tabs, don't press Enter multiple times for spacing, don't use multiple spaces between sentences. Use styles (Heading 1, Normal, etc.) so the platform can convert your file correctly. Save it as .docx or .doc, not .pdf.

Choosing between ebook, paperback, and hardcover

An ebook costs nothing to produce once your manuscript is formatted; you only pay if you hire someone to do the formatting. A paperback through print-on-demand (POD) costs nothing upfront but the per-unit cost is higher, so your royalty per sale is lower. A hardcover through POD is even more expensive per unit and rarely makes financial sense unless you are selling directly to readers at events.

Most self-published authors start with ebook and paperback together. Ebook reaches readers immediately and has no printing cost. Paperback takes longer to set up (formatting is stricter) but gives you a physical product to sell at events and reaches readers who prefer paper. Hardcover is optional unless you have a specific reason — libraries sometimes prefer it, or you want copies for yourself.

Ebook formatting requires a narrower file: margins are irrelevant, font size is reader-controlled, and images must be embedded correctly. Paperback formatting requires exact page dimensions, bleed areas, and spine width calculations based on page count. Use a template from your chosen platform or hire a formatter ($200 to $500) rather than guessing.

Designing or commissioning a cover

Your cover is the first thing a potential reader sees, and it determines whether they click. A professional cover design costs $300 to $1,500 depending on the designer's experience and your genre. Fiverr and 99designs have designers at lower price points ($100 to $300) but quality varies widely. Look at bestselling books in your genre and hire someone who has designed books that look like that.

If you cannot afford a designer, use Canva Pro ($120 per year) or Book Brush ($99 per year), which have book cover templates. These tools are not professional-quality but they are better than no cover at all. Never use a generic stock photo or a cover you made in 20 minutes — readers judge books by their covers, and a weak cover tanks sales.

Your cover needs to work at thumbnail size (as small as one inch on a screen) and at full size. It needs a back cover with a description (blurb), author bio, and barcode area. The spine must include your title and author name if the book is thick enough. Most designers handle all of this; if you are using a template tool, check the platform's cover specifications before you start.

Uploading to Amazon KDP or other platforms

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing is the largest platform for self-published ebooks and paperbacks. You create a free account, upload your formatted manuscript and cover, set your price, and your book goes live in 24 to 48 hours for ebook or 3 to 5 days for paperback. KDP gives you a free ISBN for paperbacks, but that ISBN is tied to KDP — if you later want to sell the same book through IngramSpark or another distributor, you will need a different ISBN.

IngramSpark is the second-largest platform and reaches bookstores, libraries, and international distributors. It costs $49 to set up a title and $25 per proof copy you order. You can use your own ISBN (purchased separately for $100 to $125 each) or buy one from IngramSpark for $99. IngramSpark takes longer to go live (up to two weeks) but opens doors KDP does not.

Draft2Digital and Smashwords distribute ebooks to multiple stores (Apple Books, Google Play, Kobo, etc.) without you uploading to each one separately. They take a smaller cut than KDP but reach fewer readers. Most authors use KDP for ebook sales and Draft2Digital or Smashwords as a backup to reach other stores.

Setting your price and understanding royalties

Ebook prices on KDP range from $0.99 to $200. Most fiction sells between $2.99 and $9.99; most nonfiction between $4.99 and $14.99. KDP's royalty rates depend on your price and whether you enroll in KDP Select (exclusive to Amazon). At $2.99 to $9.99, you earn 35 percent of the sale price; below $2.99 or above $9.99, you earn 25 percent. If you enroll in KDP Select, you earn 70 percent on sales within that price range, but your ebook cannot be sold anywhere else for 90 days at a time.

Paperback royalties are calculated differently. KDP calculates the printing cost based on page count and paper type, then you set a markup. A 300-page paperback costs roughly $4 to $5 to print; if you price it at $14.99, your royalty is around $9 to $10 per copy. IngramSpark's per-unit costs are higher, so your royalty is lower — the same book might earn $6 to $7 per copy.

Do not price your book based on how much money you need to make. Price it based on what readers in your genre expect to pay and what similar books cost. Underpricing does not sell more copies; it signals low quality. Overpricing prices you out of the market. Research comparable titles and price within that range.

Marketing and getting your book in front of readers

Publishing your book is not the same as selling it. Most self-published books sell fewer than 100 copies because the author does not market them. You need a plan before launch: a mailing list, a social media presence, a website or author page, or relationships with book reviewers and bloggers in your genre.

Build an email list before you publish if possible. Offer a free short story, sample chapter, or related resource in exchange for email addresses. When your book launches, you have an audience to tell. Goodreads is free and reaches book readers directly; create an author profile and add your book there. Facebook groups for your genre, Reddit communities, and book blogs are places readers look for recommendations.

Paid advertising through Amazon Ads, BookBaby, or Reedsy costs money but reaches readers actively searching for books like yours. Start small — $5 to $10 per day — and track which ads convert. Most self-published authors spend $500 to $2,000 on marketing in the first three months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an ISBN for an ebook?

No. Ebooks do not require an ISBN; Amazon and other platforms assign their own identifier. An ISBN is only required for print books. If you want your ebook to appear in bookstores or libraries, some platforms ask for one, but it is not mandatory for selling on Amazon or Draft2Digital.

Can I publish the same book on multiple platforms?

Yes, unless you enroll in KDP Select, which requires exclusivity for 90 days. You can publish on KDP, IngramSpark, Draft2Digital, and Smashwords simultaneously. Many authors do this to reach different audiences and reduce dependence on a single platform. Just use different ISBNs for each print edition.

How long does it take to self-publish a book?

From finished manuscript to live book is typically four to eight weeks if you hire professionals for editing and cover design. If you do the work yourself, add two to four weeks. The longest part is usually waiting for feedback from editors and cover designers, not the platform upload itself.

What if my book does not sell?

Most self-published books sell slowly at first. Sales often pick up after six months to a year as the book accumulates reviews and search visibility. If your book is not selling, the issue is usually marketing (not enough people know it exists) or positioning (the cover, title, or description does not match reader expectations). Relaunch with a new cover or updated description and try marketing again.

Should I use KDP Select or stay wide?

KDP Select gives you higher royalties (70 percent instead of 35 percent) but locks your ebook to Amazon for 90 days. "Wide" means selling on multiple platforms but at lower royalties. Most fiction authors choose Select because Amazon dominates ebook sales. Most nonfiction authors choose wide to reach different audiences. Try one for 90 days, measure sales, then decide.