How to Publish My Book Free
You wrote your book and now you want to see it in print. You want to be in control of your own marketing and sales, going the independent route, or you haven't had much luck breaking into traditional publishing. Traditional publishing requires a lot of time and patience and it's hard to get your foot in the door. How do you go about publishing your book for free?
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Things You'll Need
- Computer
- Internet access
- Your book's computer file in .doc, .rtf, or .pdf format
Instructions
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Lulu.com is the most popular choice for self-publishing your book for free. You need to edit your book well, because you are the only one who is going to do it. Go to Lulu's website and make an account. Read all the disclaimers and guidelines on their page. This is a print-on-demand process, meaning you will create everything for your book and each time it is ordered it will be printed and shipped out.
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Next, select the size and binding of your book. If you are using a .pdf, you will have to pick the notebook size or else your formatting will be off. You can use Word to resize your manuscript to the size book you are choosing. The FAQ section on the site will give you step-by-step instructions on how to do this. Your binding, type of book (hard cover or paperback), and size will all determine how little you can sell your book for while still making a profit.
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Next, upload your edited and correctly sized file to the site.
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Begin to build your cover. There are templates you can choose from, or you can upload your own images. You design the front, back and spine easily by clicking on the areas you wish to alter and putting in text and colors or patterns. Take your time with this. It's what people will see first when choosing to buy your book. You will be able to proof the cover once you are finished, and can go back and change things you are unsatisfied with.
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Price your book. The site has a minimum limit you can set as your book's price. These books cost more than a book you might buy in a bookstore, but you can price it at cost if you want and not earn anything from the sales.
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Tips & Warnings
You can order your own books at a discount from the sale price you set.
Self-publishing is not for everyone. There is a lot of work involved if you want to get your book seen by a lot of people. Research self-publishing before you decide if this is the route you wish to take.
