Writing Stack Exchange
Writing Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [self-publishing]

Any effort by the author to produce his own work, whether it be in print, electronic, or other format.

Self-publishing covers any effort by the author of a written work to have his/her own work made available to the public. In a print format, this could include vanity or subsidy publishing, print on demand, or printing and binding one's own books.

In an electronic format, this would generally refer to the creation of e-books in various formats that can be sold through online venues. It may also refer to electronic files such as PDFs that are made available to download from the author's web site or other sources.

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What's the distinction between "vanity publishing" and "self publishing"?

This question came up on the pros and cons of publishing avenues question; when I tried to look it up, I found the results confusing. For example, SFWA's explanation of publishing types gives the following distinction: A vanity publisher prints and…
Standback
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Does self publishing via Amazon or similar services make your book ineligible for later acceptance by a publisher?

I have a non-fiction book that is ready for publishing, and I am weighing between whether to self-publish via modern methods made available by the internet, or go the more traditional route of searching for some kind of agency or publisher. My…
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Is there a way to know who bought my books on Amazon?

I self-published some books on Amazon. I find it frustrating that I cannot contact my customers to ask for feedback on the books / ask them if they are interested in further products and use the book as a way to build a community. Is there a way to…
Andrew Welch
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Cheapest way to self-bind a large book

I'm finishing up a 350 page book that I will self publish. I plan on printing my book at a local printing store but they charge $6 to bind each book. I'm paying my tuition with the profit of this book and would like keep my expenses to a minimum.…
Amuna
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Is CreateSpace 100% free for self-publishing?

I looked all over CreateSpace, but cannot find anything to tell me if the service is 100% free to use. I wonder if there are hidden costs. I read that some people paid for a printed copy to make sure there are no errors in the printing. Is that…
Village
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Are there agents or representatives who only specialize in book promotion and not distribution?

I am currently leaning toward self-publishing my book via Amazon services. However, before I do, I am considering the pros and cons of searching for an agent or publisher. Please note that everything I am saying here is particular to my own…
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Will bookstores order a self-published book if customers request it?

If a book is not returnable, has a wholesaler discount of 45% and costs £10.99, does a book store sell this book if a customer comes into a store and wants to order it? In short: Is a book still available in a book store if a customer requests it,…
del4y
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How much does it cost to self-publish?

If I've finished my book, had it professionally edited, and am ready to self-publish my book, how much would it cost for a paperback, 300 page novel? I've already hired an editor, and I'd like paper copies. The length of the manuscript is 78,649…
fi12
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How to home print a novel?

For some time I have been trying to write a novel.Then I did.Now I want to print it. The problem is being an extremely DIY guy I want to print it from my home and also because there are no options available.I know the task is daunting.Finding…
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How critical is selecting an imprint for a self-published book?

I'm about to self-publish a book through CreateSpace and they want me to give them an imprint. (I know, I know, "you're not likely to make any money by self-publishing" and all that, but for the sake of this question, let's assume that I'll be able…
rbwhitaker
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What are the dangers of self publishing?

I’m not sure if this has been answered yet, but I always have people tell me that self publishing might not be safe. What are the dangers of self publishing? Also, a question to the published writers: what do you think is better? Self publishing or…
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Recommend binding for book to stay open

I would like to self-publish a book with a binding that allows for the book to stay open if you put it down on a desk. What would be an affordable way of accomplishing this? Perhaps you need to know the size of the book in order to answer this. 8…
aparente001
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Self-publishing on Amazon

How does publishing on Amazon work? Do I retain my rights and can I later send it to a print publisher if any becomes interested, and rescind from my obligations towards Amazon?
user
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Is self-publishing a good option?

Is the self publishing route one that is considered acceptable these days? Specifically, I am writing short stories, and there is no real chance of getting a publisher to look at short stories without some previous history. Additionally, I don't…
Schroedingers Cat
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KDP publishing margins and gutters

KDP gives margins for an 8.5" X 5.5" book that don't look right at all. What do I do? Also, I'm using Libre Office and I can't figure ut how to create a gutter. Help! Thanks. Matthew
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