How to Self-Publish a Book in 2022

Guest post by author Tina Marie.

So, you want to write and publish a book? My advice to you is this: just do it. How? By following these steps.

1. Tell Yourself The Story

AKA, write your first draft. Get the words out on paper. Remember this is just draft one. Only after you’re done with this should you even begin to worry about editing it to the best of your ability.

There are a couple of free programs you can use, including Grammarly and Pro Writing Aid. They aren’t as good as hiring a professional, but you shouldn’t be doing that at this stage in the process anyway.

2. Develop Your Platform

Now is a good time to start growing your social media following. That can look like a Facebook page or group, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok etc. Yes, it may feel odd to have a social media following when you don’t even have a book published yet, but that’s okay.

Share a paragraph at a time to your followers
Post about your daily life
Create engaging or inspirational posts

3. Write Your Second Draft

This is when you can add or remove anything that doesn’t quite make the cut. Polish it up as much as you can.

4. Write Your Blurb

5. Create Your Cover

If you can’t afford a cover designer, I recommend making your own. Search for books in your genre on Amazon to get inspiration.

To create your cover, check outKDP. Once you upload your manuscript, it will offer you the option to make a cover on their platform. Or, upload a readymade image, if you have one. It’s free to use and allows for different fonts.

Canva is another great tool that you can use to make your own book cover. You even have access to some of the photos in their library for free.

Note: Do not steal a photo off of the web! Photographers don’t appreciate this, and theywill come after you.

For royalty-free photos, check out Shutterstock and Unsplash. [Editor’s note: we also love Pexels.]

6. Format Your Book

When I published my first book, I had so much trouble formatting it that I had to hire someone. But, now, KDP formats your eBook, and gives you printing options (paperback, hardback, e-book) with Kindle Create.

All you have to do is download it and follow the prompts.

7. Copyright Your Book

8. Your Digital Sales Page

Book Description

Keywords

ISBN Number

Pricing

A Word Of Caution

Never pay a publisher to publish your book. They sound convincing enough, making you believe your book will shoot to number one. Do not believe them.

They won’t market your book like you think they will. (Or, likely at all.) Nor will you make money. They will, of course, because you already paid them!

So, you still want to write a book? Don’t be afraid of failing. Be afraid of not trying.

Just do it.

Tina Marie’s overactive imagination was cultivated in a tiny farming community in Southwestern Ontario. Her Pearl Lake series is receiving rave reviews!