This post is part of the Publishing Resources Guide.

Welcome to the Publishing Resources Guide! Here you’ll find a collection of all the information, resources, tips and tricks I’ve learned about self publishing.

I began researching self publishing years ago, sometime before 2015. I wanted to write novels and short stories but I didn’t know the best way to go about getting published. I heard about self publishing and thought it sounded interesting, but didn’t know if that was the way I wanted to go. I knew almost nothing about it, and figured I couldn’t make an informed choice without learning more about the process.

I love podcasts, so I began listening to podcasts about both self publishing and traditional publishing, adding on books and courses as I found them. Eventually I decided that self publishing was the way I wanted to go. I loved the hands-on nature of it, and the control it offered me. It’s my first choice, for all the reasons you’ll read about in the other parts of this guide. So I learned to format and commission covers and upload my manuscripts so I could be ready when it’s time to publish my own novels.

There is a learning curve to self publishing – there’s a reason publishing is an industry, after all. It’s not rocket science, though. You can learn it if you dedicate the time to do so. It will take time and effort, but it’s time well spent. Everything you learn is an investment in your author business and career. Getting things right early on will save you time and money down the line. Even if you publish traditionally, it’s still beneficial for you to understand the process so you know what’s happening with your publisher.

If you’re looking at the long list of items on the guide and feeling overwhelmed, stop and take a breath. You don’t have to learn it all at once. And yes, you CAN learn it all. Some of it will be learning by doing, which makes things easier (in my experience). The key is to go slow. Start learning now, no matter where you are in the process. Still writing your first book? Now is the perfect time to read about reader magnets and websites! The thing is, a lot of new writers spend all their time writing their first book (maybe years), then type The End and realize they have absolutely no idea what to do next. Then they spend weeks or months or even a year or more figuring out what it takes to get the book published. It just takes time to assimilate everything you need to know. There are not really any short-cuts to it. If you have a helpful roadmap you can avoid some very costly detours, but you still have to put in the time to learn the basics. And that never goes away. Indie publishing is a rapidly changing business. Tactics from five years ago (even one year ago!) no longer work. You’ll be learning about this business for as long as you’re in it. You might as well get used to balancing your creative time with your business time now, so that you don’t have such a shock when you type The End. Even if you’re still writing your first book you can devote an hour a week, or even an hour a month, to learning and getting your basics set up. This guide will show you how.

One note about the name: indie publishing vs. self publishing. A lot of writers use the terms interchangeably, but some draw a distinction between the two. For some, self publishing is when you complete the whole process yourself, from formatting to marketing, and indie publishing is when the author uses a team of people to get the publishing done, such as by hiring a cover designer and formatter. I like the idea of an author building a team of people that helps them publish, even if it’s a small freelance team. We all need some help along the way, after all.

Whatever you call it, you’re still in the driver’s seat. You have the freedom to make whatever choices you deem best, but you also shoulder all the responsibility for those choices. The process of writing and publishing a book are two of the most exciting things a creative person can do. They can also be two of the most daunting tasks a person can undertake. I’ll offer insight and guidance on your journey to help the process go more smoothly. This guide is a work in progress, so check back for updates.