The term “self-publishing” is rather misleading. Just like making a film, publishing a book professionally requires more than one person. It’s a team effort drawing on the diverse skills of many experts ranging from: editors, designers, promotion, publicity, and distribution experts.

With roughly a million new books entering the market every year (and that’s just in North America) it’s more important than ever that authors ensure their books are as good as they can be, inside and out.

This guide explains how you can take your manuscript from a rough draft to a professionally published book. We touch on some common pitfalls, provide tips for success, and leave you better prepared to publish a book you’ll be proud to sign.

Publishing a professionally edited and designed book is an investment. But what many authors don’t know is that there is a way of easing or eliminating the financial burden of your investment—a path that can also help you sell books and build an engaged readership before you’re published. It’s called crowdfunding.

Dozens of FriesenPress authors have published incredible books after raising the funds through crowdfunding campaigns, but we also know how overwhelming the idea of crowdfunding can be for an author.

That’s why we’ve written the Definitive Crowdfunding Guide for Writers. We’ll guide you through the entire process, from beginning to end. There’s no experience necessary. All you need to get started is an idea that you believe in.

Book proposals are an excellent and under-utilized guiding light for self-publishing writers. What makes them so powerful? They get you thinking about your target audience before you write—what’s in it for your readers? How are you going to find them? How are you going to make them want your book?

You don’t need to have all the answers, nor do you need to worry over the questions. But the earlier you begin to consider your book’s building blocks and your marketing strategy, the better off you’ll be down the road. A book proposal leads to stronger writing which leads to a higher chance of success.

To help you put together a great book proposal, we’ve created an easy-to-follow template for writers of fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books. Whether you’re in the idea phase or you’re almost finished your first draft, your proposal will be a helpful signpost throughout the writing and revision processes, and well into publishing.

Self-publishing a book is an exciting and rewarding journey, but it’s not without its challenges. Authors have more control than ever and with that control comes the responsibility to navigate each phase of the process. 

Planning your publishing journey with careful attention to detail is especially important because it allows you to manage expectations — both your own and your audience’s. Every step of the process — whether it’s choosing an editor or determining how to distribute your book — affects your final product and its ability to succeed in the marketplace. Without a solid plan, you could find yourself overwhelmed by the many tasks involved, which can delay or derail your publishing aspirations.

Our Self-Publishing Checklist is a free step-by-step resource designed to help you map out your publishing journey with confidence. By following a structured approach, you can avoid common pitfalls like underestimating the time or resources required for professional editing and design or choosing the wrong publishing option that could limit your reach and sales.