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New Year Launch Sale! Get 40% off!

What a Way to Start the New Year!

What You Save:

Let us use as an example a 30 000-word non-fiction book, with no index, but with 20 pictures. It requires both proofreading and editing. It must also be converted to an eBook and uploaded to Amazon.
Proofreading & Editing – 30 000 words @ $0,03 = $900,00
+ Formatting = $300,00
+ Cover Design =  $200,00
+ Picture Work: 20 pictures @ $5 = $100,00
+ Create an eBook = $200,00
+ Upload to KDP/Amazon = $100,00
Total = $1800,00
Less 40% - YOU SAVE $720!

Ask for your Free Estimate Now, and get our Free Self-Publishing Guide!

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Get 40% Off in Our 2024/2025 Launch Sale!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Self-publishing?

In the purest sense, self-publishing is when an  author is responsible for all aspects of the publication process, from writing and editing to design, marketing, funding and distribution. Also known as “Indie” (Independent) Publishing.
Other forms of self-publishing include: Self-Publishing with Assistance
Authors who publish with the help of a self-publishing facilitator such as Write-On are also self-publishing. This is because the author is financing the publishing process. This is the model we use here at Write-On.

What does it cost to Self-publish a book?

The answer is that there is no definitive answer. The cost to self-publish a book depends on a large number of variables, including but not limited to: The size and complexity of the book, the number of illustrations, the number of specialist services you require, whether you are publishing for print only, or for an eBook only, or both, the number of illustrations in the book, the number of books you would like printed, and more. You can get an idea of how much you book will cost bys using Cost Estimator. 

What are the benefits of Self-publishing?

Total control – design, content, cover.
Total Ownership and Retention of your rights.
You can publish quickly.
You can publish in paperback, hardback, and as an eBook or audiobook.
Print-On-Demand means financial risk is reduced
You have numerous non-traditional distribution options, especially online.
You can target your niche market.
You earn royalties on every sale.
You are guaranteed to see your work in print!
Your book will never go out of print!

What is the downside to Self-publishing?

Even the best things in life sometimes have a downside:
You have to do your own marketing and distribution
You have be an entrepreneur and business person
Very few “Indie” authors make it big

Do you provide marketing and distribution Services?

No, I do not. I simply lack the resources to do that, and to a large extent, you are on your own. However, even in traditional publishing, a large part of the onus to market the book rests with the author,
However, here are some ideas you could use:

Here are some ideas on how to promote your book:

  • Have your own blog, or website
  • Use Social Media
  • Approach independent booksellers
  • Utilise the promotional tools offered by Amazon and other platforms
  • Get reviews for your book
  • Pay for book promotion services and/or advertising on Google, Amazon and similar sites.
 

What is Print on Demand and how does it benefit me?

Traditionally, self-publishing authors would have to order large numbers of books to be able to get an affordable "per copy" cost - this almost inevitably led to stockpiles of books in the author's garage, and a huge capital outlay! However,  thousands of books are now being self-published annually all over the world, at far lower cost to the authors.
What caused the change?
The development of Digital Printing technology, as opposed to the Lithographic process, has been one of the contributing factors.
We all know laser printers and a commercial Digital Printer is simply a very large laser or inkjet printer.
This allows for:
Fast, quality short-run printing
Economical pricing for short printing runs
No expensive book inventory
Print-On-Demand - digital printing means you can produce one book “on demand” - ie when the reader orders it. This has become the basis of how Amazon and other platforms sell books online - Amazon has set up "Print-On-Demand" facilities at numerous locations around the world. 
Another benefit of Digital Printing and Print-On-Demand is that you can make corrections and changes to your book between print runs at minimal extra cost.

Do you have any contractual rights over my book?

No, I do NOT! You retain complete ownership and control of your book at all times. Look at me as if I was the builder you hired to build your house - once he is done, the house is yours to do with what you will. Once I have "built" your book, you are free to take any action you wish. For example, if it starts doing well, you may want to take it to a traditional publisher. You don't even have to ask or tell me!

What is an ISBN and do I need one?

ISBN stands for International Standards Books Numbers, and is an internationally recognised identification number for books, which is mandatory for commercially available books. It is a publication’s fingerprint, a world-wide identifier that helps publishers, suppliers, and libraries locate, order, and track published material. It is also used as the basis for the book’s barcode, which is mandatory if the book is going to sold in a retail environment.
You will need a separate ISBN for every version of your book: Print book - softcover, print book - hardcover, eBook and audibook.

Where can I make my book available for sale?

There are numerous online platforms to which you can upload your book. The best-known ones are KDP/Amazon, IngramSpark, Barnes & Noble, Draft2Digital, BookBaby, and many more. Some of these also make your book available in physical bookstores. Each of these online platforms has its own criteria for accepting books and paying royalties, and some charge an upload fee. I will assist you where I can.

What file formats do you prefer for submitted manuscripts?

We prefer all manuscripts to be submitted in a Microsoft Word document. However, we will accept a wide range of other document types. PDFs, RTFs, ODTs or InDesign files. However, some of these file types may cost an additional fee due to the added work needed to convert them.

Can I take my finished files to a printer and print my own books?

Of course! Your files are your own property! I provide an “author’s copies” print facility as a service to authors, based on a quote, but you are not required to use this service. Just let me know what your printer’s specific requirements are before ordering, and I will be able to deliver a print-ready file to you.

What will happen If I require changes or edits to be made after you finish formatting my book?

I understand that often, there are going to be corrections that authors wish to make to their manuscript once they see it in "book" format. I include one free formatting/layout/design revision with my formatting package. However, you will only receive one free set of edits for changes to text, headings, errors or typos unrelated to the formatting and layout process. After this, edits or “author’s corrections”, will be charged for.

Can I provide pictures/illustrations for my book, and what format should they be?

Yes, of course! All graphics should be Jpegs or PNGs, ideally at a minimum of 300 dpi. However, I pride myself on my ability to manipulate and improve pictures, especially very old photos digitally, so do not be too concerned about the quality of the pictures you provide. It is important to let me know where each image must be placed in the manuscript and to provide captions. There is a graphics handling fee based on the number of graphics supplied.

Get my Free Self-Publishing Guide

You will be able to download both my Free Self-publishing Guide and my latest newsletter when you request a Free estimate for your book. 

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