How to Write Print & Publish Your Own Book From Home
Large publishing companies have the ability to introduce a book to markets worldwide. However, it is often difficult for new and unknown writers to get one of these companies to accept their work for publication. Fortunately, when your book is finished, it is possible to publish it yourself through a self-publishing company. When you publish with this type of company, you have full control of your work and its distribution.
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Instructions
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Develop an idea for your book. In The Author's Toolkit: A Step-by-step Guide to Writing and Publishing Your Book, author Mary Embree recommends writing a short description of your story or non-fiction book and assigning it a temporary title, just to get started.
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Obtain tools you will need to do the work. Modern writers use various methods to capture their work, from typing it on a word processor to speaking into a recorder. There are voice-recognition programs that you can edit to recognize your voice and diction, so that the computer processes what you say into typed words on a page. Of course, there is always the traditional method of recording your work, pen and paper.
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Plan an outline for each chapter of your book, if you wish. Although some writers just write what comes to mind, others find comfort in structure. For these writers, outlines serve as guidelines that can be used to stay on track and complete the book.
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Flesh out your characters, if you are writing fiction. Some fiction writers like to be surprised by their characters abilities as the story progresses. Others prefer to create their characters from scratch, complete with history, skills, goals, desires and motivation.
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Determine a writing schedule for yourself. Many writers plan to write for a certain amount of time or set a goal to write a certain number of pages. In So, You Want to Write!: How to Get Your Book Out of Your Head and Onto Paper, Ann McIndoo suggests making your writing appointment a daily ritual, otherwise you risk losing interest in the work. Follow your schedule daily to complete your book.
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Edit your completed first draft. Look for common mistakes such as spelling and grammatical areas, missing or misplaced punctuation and story agreement. It is likely that you will need to expand some areas of the story or cut portions. This last part is often difficult to do, but you may find that it improves the work greatly.
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Have someone read your work. Keep in mind that family members and friends may feel obligated to give glowing reviews so consider selecting someone who can give you an unbiased review, such as a college professor. Take note of suggestions and perform additional edits to apply them, if you feel that they will improve your book.
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Create an account at a self-publishing website when you are satisfied with your manuscript. These sites make it possible for writers to publish their manuscripts themselves. Some of these include Lulu.com, Xlibris and iUniverse.
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Upload your manuscript. Use the tools provided to select options for the book's appearance, including the type of paper used, and the style of the book cover.
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Order copies of your book if you wish to distribute it yourself. Make your payment with a credit or debit card. If you prefer to sell your book on-line, some self-publishing websites can provide avenues you can use for a percentage of the price of your book. In most cases, this amount is subtracted when a reader pays for a copy of the book.
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Tips & Warnings
When you complete your first draft, give yourself some time away from your work before you begin editing, so you can return to it with a fresh mind. This period of time could be anything from a few days to several months, depending on how you feel.
References
Resources
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