Publish Like a Pro: The Complete Guide to Successful and Profitable Self-publishing

Publish Like a Pro: Ensure Self-publishing Ssuccess with the Ultimate Guide

Publish Like a Pro is the most comprehensive guide to navigating the world of self-publishing today. Written by two publishing experts, Vanessa Wilson and Georgina Hatch explain in detail exactly what one should consider when choosing the self-publishing route. Their aim is to empower authors to create better-quality products and help them avoid costly mistakes along the way.

Why the ultimate guide?

Every aspect of the publishing process is explored, from making the decision to publish and what will be required of you as an author, to all the processes needed to create a finished, sellable product. Professional advice and best practices are provided along the way.

Acquire the right knowledge to publish like a pro

Equipped with the ‘insider knowledge’ that Publish Like a Pro offers, self-publishers have what they need to make better decisions for their project. They are also better positioned to reap the rewards and profits that self-publishing can offer.

This book:

• investigates traditional publishing and independent publishing, highlighting their pros and cons;
• guides you on how to find a publisher and prepare your manuscript for publishing (traditional and self-publishing);
• examines different independent publishing models and budget requirements;
• explains the production process in detail, offering advice and practical know-how;
• explores printing processes and book specifi­ca­tions, and shows you how to prepare your book files for print;
• discusses ebooks and outlines the options for ebook conversion and online distribution;
• looks at the economics of publishing and shows you how to work out your publishing budget, set your retail price, and calculate your profit margin;
• explores sales channels, the distribution chain in South Africa, marketing strategies, and how to make your book a success;
• offers practical know-how, tips and advice throughout, with convenient worksheets and templates to help you plan, budget and prepare your files.

Who can benefit from the book?

Publish Like a Pro is aimed at empowering authors in the business of publishing. It encourages them to take informed, pro-active control of their projects. This is only possible with the right information. This book will also benefit authors who choose to go the traditional publishing route. It reveals how publishing works, how to prepare a manuscript before sending it to an agent or publisher, copyright, and how royalties are calculated.

Other handy stuff

Jam-packed with advice, tips and practical know-how, Publish Like a Pro also provides handy templates and worksheets that authors can use to make the job easier.

• brainstorm possible book titles and subtitles
• identify your target market/audience
• plan your book structure
• create a copyright page
• formulate your publishing budget
• set up your production timeline.

There is a handy glossary-come-index at the back of the book that explains all the publishing and production terminology that may have you baffled.

By the time you’ve finished working through this book, you will be publishing like a long-time professional.

* * *

“I have been involved in the book trade for more than 40 years as a book selector for a National Library Service and as a selector for the Leisure Books and Leserskring catalogues and online bookselling business. Yet, this very professional and practical guide has opened my eyes to the amount of work that goes into producing a good book. I never knew! That is exactly why this book would make such a compelling difference in the life of a budding author. To produce a high-quality, self-published book is of paramount importance for the serious author who has a lot to offer and needs to be heard. There are some works on self-publishing in the international arena, but for authors in South Africa, this very comprehensive and detailed book will make their job so much easier. I have not seen anything else as all-encompassing as this practical and useful book. I encourage all would-be authors to read it and learn!”
– Lana Barnett, CEO Leserskring/Leisure Books

“This is the most comprehensive and practical guide of its kind – essential reading for all authors. Follow the advice and you’ll be well on your way to success.”
– Nelisa Lunika, Community Publishing Programme Co-ordinator, Centre for the Book, National Library of South Africa

Also available as an ebook from leading online retailers

Get the Kindle ebook and paperback on Amazon,

Visit other major online retailers such as Apple’s iBookstore, Barnes & Noble and Kobo books for the fixed layout ePub format, or buy it here (select ePub instead of paperback under “Format”).