The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing: Everything You Need to Know to Write, Publish, Promote and Sell Your Own Book [Paperback]

Marilyn Ross (Author), Sue Collier (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 9, 2010 | ISBN-10: 1582977186 | ISBN-13: 978-1582977188 | Edition: 5

Take Control of Your Destiny!

Bottom line: You want to get published. You want to control the future of your manuscript and your writing career.

Best-selling author Marilyn Ross and publishing expert Sue Collier show you how to make your own success - whether you're a published author, entrepreneur, corporation, professional, or absolute newcomer to writing. In this expanded and completely revised 5th edition of the "bible" of self-publishing (over 100,000 copies sold), they empower you to publish your own work with minimal risk and maximum profits.

You'll find:

• Complete step-by-step guidance on publishing and marketing a book
• Ways to leverage social media marketing to build your platform and make yourself stand out from the crowd
• A thorough explanation of the difference between POD self-publishing, subsidy publishing, and true self-publishing - and how to decide which is the best option for you
• Practical advice on making the decision between offset printing and print-on-demand
• How to leverage the Internet to create "buzz" and promote your book with killer PR
• The latest information on e-publishing
• A detailed marketing plan and timetable to keep you on track
• Proven marketing strategies to get free publicity, reach nontraditional buyers, and sell books
• Information-packed appendices with marketing contacts, organizations, and vendors, complete with names, addresses, and websites
• Valuable case studies and examples of how other publishers excel
• An in-depth discussion of exclusive distributors, plus coverage of the most recent changes in bookstores and the book-selling industry
• Thirty-one creative ideas for generating capital to launch your publishing company

The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing is the one book you need to take control of your writing career.

Read it. Believe it. Do it.

Your future depends on it.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Marilyn Ross is an internationally acclaimed self-publishing authority who has helped thousands of authors sell millions of books. She has been quoted in a multitude of magazines including Publishers Weekly and Newsweek, and has appeared on scores of radio and TV shows, including NPR's All Things Considered.

Sue Collier has an extensive background in writing and editing having ghost-written a half-dozen books and edited hundreds more. The two have been collaborating for the past 15 years on a myriad of projects, but most recently focused their efforts on Self-Publishing Resources, a writing, marketing, and publishing consulting firm that assists authors in surpassing their personal and professional publishing goals.

Product Details

• Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: Writer's Digest Books; 5 edition (August 9, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582977186
• ISBN-13: 978-1582977188
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.5 x 8.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #66,676 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Available Today October 9, 2010

By Gary VanRiper

Format:Paperback

When we began self-publishing our books over a decade ago, we were looked upon as second-class citizens by most in the publishing industry. Then came incredible advances in desktop computer technology and a struggling economy and e-books. Now ten years and 100,000 copies of our own books sold later, even traditionally published authors have begun to approach us for direction. There are many resources on the subject available in print and on-line available, but it is this comprehensive and up-to-date Complete Guide to Self-Publishing which we highly recommend as stop number one.

Gary VanRiper
[...]

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars 5th Edition is Truly Everything You Need to Self Publish Now September 7, 2010

By Carolyn Schrader, small business sustainability evangelist

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

The new 5th edition (Aug 2010) is a gem. I judge business help books by how many flags/stickies I add - this one is bursting with flags for my quick reference.

The book's cover tag line is true - eveything you need to know to write, publish, promote and sell your own book. Today's publishing industry is vastly different that just a few years ago. Writers have options to publish paper books, ebooks, booklets, and more. Authors Ross and Collier walk you through the options and point out the pitfalls and issues to consider. There is an entire chapter on cyber options plus a recommendation for a book that focused exclusively on epublishing.

The promotional guidance is outstanding also. The authors discuss nontraditional ways to market your new book - blogs, podcasts, virtual author tours.

I found the suggested timetable to be comprehensive and a very useful tool to map out my new book project.

This book one of the few I have read that also provides information for people interested in becoming publishers of books other than their own. Ross and Collier clarify that with today's technology and online resources, it is feasible for you to start a niche publishing company without a large investment.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Terribly out of date December 19, 2011

By Joseph P. Yager

Format:Paperback

This is a resource book. I went through most of the links and found they don't exist. And with the sites that are there (after I google them), they don't even do what the authors say they do. It's all fluff and no substance. I deeply regret this purchase.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Too much (out of date) information May 15, 2012

By CharlotteSimmons

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

The subtitle for this book is "Everything you need to know to write, publish, promote and sell your own book," and it truly does cover everything. From getting your ideas, to writing, to taking your author photo, to securing ISBNs, to filing tax forms, to promoting your book- everything is covered here.

I actually gave up on this book 36% in, because it was such heavy going. It's not the kind of book I recommend reading cover-to-cover, it is definitely more of a reference book. I would buy the paperback (because I much prefer hard copy non-fiction to Kindle non-fiction) and keep it on my desk as I wrote, referring to it at each stage throughout the self-publishing process, if I was anything more than a lowly reviewer!

The book is very heavily focused on printing your book, and getting it into bookstores. That may have been fine in 2010, when this fifth edition was released, but I think it's a little out-of-date now. All self-published authors that I know personally are e-focused, and have largely given up on getting into bricks-and-mortar bookstores.

It's also largely focused on non-fiction works, and is very heavily geared towards North American readers. I found myself asking more questions like "How would that work over here?" than I have with any other book or article on the subject.

There is also a crazy amount of self-promotion in this book. The authors each have quite a few other titles to their names, and take every opportunity to hawk them.It's annoying, but a minor detail.

Overall, I thought this book was a pretty decent reference book, if you're based in North America. It gets very technical, which I actually like- it's very in-depth on the printing process, for example.... It covers every single aspect of the self-publishing process in incredible, accessible detail, but it's irrelevant to anyone outside the United States (perhaps the information applies to Canada, too, I don't know, but the authors do tell Canadian readers to basically do their own research into taxation), and fiction writers will have to search for the parts which are relevant to them.

There is a lot of valuable information in this book, but if you are interested in buying it, I would wait until the next edition. Read more ›

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Doin' It Yourself October 5, 2010

By Kiki

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you're a self-starter or you don't like the cuts the big boys are slicing out of your hard work, read this. You can do it yourself.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book - very helpful. October 4, 2010

By M. Sfakianos

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

All you need to know is in this book! They also have their contact information in there and answer emails! I got so much out of this book. I just can't say enough about it.The 4-1-1 on Life Skills: Essential Tips on: Home & Money Management; Personal Care & Safety; and More! (Volume 1) Author - Michele Sfakianos

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars disappointing July 17, 2012

By bix

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book had an interesting beginning, but then turned into a text on how to run a business with very little usable information concerning self-publishing. It did have some interesting contact information, but basically said, "the self-published writer is going to lose money." After that, why bother?
There is a new publishing world out there, but this book does not come close. Most books of this ilk are stuck back in 1972.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Companion You Need January 3, 2011

By Passionman

Format:Paperback

When I self-published my first book, this Complete Guide to Self-Publishing was my constant companion - I have it next to me as I type, and I see it is plastered from front to back with yellow stikies, pencilled comments, yellow highlights and red ink. In short the book wasn't just read, it was used.

But this new edition is better. It is more clearly presented, has more light relief with its whimsies sections and has been brought right up to date in the fast changing world of ebooks and POD publishing.

If you are to self-publish, you can not afford not to have this book as your companion.

Vaughan Evans, business and career strategist
Author, BACKING U! A Business-Oriented Approach to Backing Your Passion and Achieving Career Success