Ian Leaf Discusses Seven Self-Publishing Best Practices

Self-publishing a book can be a great way to get your work out in the public eye without going through the hassle and expense of traditional publishing. But it’s essential to do it right if you want to be successful. Here are seven self-publishing tips from Ian Leaf that will help you produce a high-quality product that will be well-received by readers.

1. Have Your Book Professionally Edited

You’ve spent weeks and weeks carefully crafting your book and painstakingly formatting and editing it to perfection. At this point, it’s time to step outside of your comfort zone and enlist the services of a professional editing service.

This is one of the most significant tips to help your book reach its potential, but many authors overlook it. Even if you’ve combed through your work multiple times, having a fresh set of eyes look at it can make all the difference. A good editor will help you catch missed mistakes, improve your writing, and ensure your book is ready for publication.

When choosing an editing service, be sure to do your research and select a reputable company. Ask for samples of their work, and read online reviews from other authors who have used their services. Once you’ve found a good editor, clearly communicate your vision for the book and give them specific instructions on what you’d like them to focus on.

2. Choose The Right Publisher

There are many different options for self-publishing, and it can be tough to decide which route to go. Should you work with a traditional self-publishing company? Or go the indie route and do everything yourself?

The best way to make this decision is to assess your needs and figure out what you’re looking for in a publisher. A traditional self-publishing company will handle everything from editing and design to marketing and distribution, but they also typically charge higher fees. Traditional self-publishing is a good option if you’re looking for a hands-off approach and are willing to pay for it. This option is also beneficial if this is your first self-publishing experience and you want some guidance along the way.

On the other hand, if you’re on a tight budget or prefer to have more control over the publication process, then indie self-publishing is the way to go. With this option, you’ll be responsible for everything from editing to marketing, but you’ll also have complete control over your book. Indie self-publishing is a good option for experienced authors like Ian Leaf, who are comfortable handling the publication process themselves.

Regardless of your route, be sure to do your research and select a publisher that’s a good fit for you and your book.

3. Invest In Professional Design

Your book cover is the first thing potential readers will see, so making a good impression is essential. A professionally designed cover will help your book stand out from the competition and give it a polished, professional look.

When choosing a book cover design, be sure to select an experienced designer who understands the self-publishing market well. They should be familiar with the latest trends and what’s selling well. Be sure to give them a clear idea of your vision for the cover, and ask to see samples of their work before you make your final decision.

If a professional book cover design feels out of reach due to budgets or time constraints, some great DIY options are also available. Canva is a popular online design platform that offers easy-to-use tools and templates for creating professional-looking designs. With time and effort, you can create a beautiful book cover to help your book stand out from the crowd.

You could also consider hiring a graphic arts student or recent graduate to design your book cover. This can be a great way to get a professional-looking cover without breaking the bank.

4. Format Your Book For Print And Digital

Once your book is edited and ready to go, it’s time to format it for publication. Correct formatting ensures that your book meets all print and digital publication requirements.

Formatting your book for print is relatively straightforward, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Make sure your pages are the correct size, and your margins are correctly set. You’ll also need to add page numbers, headers, and footers as appropriate. Many helpful guides are available online if you’re unsure how to format your book. You could also hire a professional to take care of this step.

Formatting your book for a digital publication is a bit more complex. In addition to ensuring that your book meets all the requirements for print, Ian Leaf advises that you’ll also need to format it specifically for the different eBook platforms. The two most popular eBook platforms are Amazon Kindle and Apple iBooks.

5. Choose Your Printing And Distribution Options

After your book is edited, designed, and formatted, it’s time to choose your printing and distribution options. If you’re going the traditional publishing route, your publisher will handle all of this for you. But if you’re self-publishing, you’ll need to make these decisions yourself.

Two main printing options for self-publishers are print-on-demand (POD) and offset printing. Print-on-demand is the more popular option for self-publishing, as it’s more affordable and doesn’t require large print runs. Offset printing is more expensive and is typically only used by publishers who are printing large quantities of books.

Once you’ve decided on a printing option, you’ll need to choose a printer. If you’re going with print-on-demand, there are many online POD printers. You’ll need to find a local printer to handle your print run for offset printing.

After your book is printed, you’ll need to distribute it to retailers. If you’re using a POD printer, they will typically take care of distribution for you. But if you’re doing an offset print run, you’ll need to handle distribution yourself—the two main book distribution options for self-publishers are IngramSpark and BookBaby.

Final Thoughts

Self-publishing a book can be a daunting task, but if you follow these best practices, you’re sure to see success. Invest in professional editing, design, and formatting services to ensure that your book is of the highest quality. And be sure to carefully select your printing and distribution options to get your book into the hands of readers. Following these guidelines, you can self-publish a high-quality book that readers will receive well.