Publishing Your Writing

By Jack Kean
Posted June 2011

Wow, has it been a month already? How is your writing coming along? Whether you have finished or are still thinking about it, this column will let you know how you can publish your work for the world to see. Take it from one who knows, this doesn't mean the world will see, but they could. If you are not reasonably well versed on using a computer, get some help.

Your first step is to log onto http://www.amazon.com. Go ahead and sign in and create your Amazon account if you don't have one. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on “Self Publish With Us.” On this page, scroll to Kindle Books and click on “Get Started.” This page will offer you an array of options that you might want to use to further acquaint yourself with the process.

The first thing you have to do is put your book in one of the accepted formats. There is a link titled (appropriately enough), “Supported Formats.” Not to worry because two of them include Word and Adobe. There is a good chance your book is already in Word format. Next, click on “Simplified Guide to Formatting Your Book.” Don't be overwhelmed; just take it one step at a time. The instructions are detailed, and you simply follow them.

You will be assuring that your book is in the proper format and then you will download a program titled, “MobiPocketCreator.” Once done, there are specific instructions telling you what to click to use this program to turn your book into an e-book. When that is complete, you will want to download the Kindle Previewer. This will allow you to see your e-book as it will appear on Kindle.

Uploading your book is very simple. After clicking on “Upload and Preview Book Content,” find your file and click "Upload." Your book will be for sale within a couple of days. Okay, it may seem complicated, but after you click "Get Started," look on the left hand side of the page. There, you will find several headings including, "Preparing Your Book," "Publishing Your Book" and "Merchandising Your Book." Start with the first thing under "Preparing Your Book" and work your way down. It really is not as difficult as it will first appear. Remember your goal. You will be a published author, and it will not cost you a cent.

But I want a copy people can hold in their hands. Not to worry. Once you have clicked on the "Self Publish With Amazon" link, you will see a link to "Create Space." Go to that website and create a free account. Follow their instructions, and you will be sending them your book for a print version. Once that is done, they will print one copy, which you have to purchase, normally under $10. After you receive it and approve, your book will be available for online sale at Amazon.

Layout note: In a Kindle, you are only looking at one page at a time. Therefore, it doesn't matter on what page a chapter ends, even if it takes only half a page, or on what page a chapter begins. In a traditional book, you want to avoid ending chapters on odd-numbered pages, particularly if the chapter does not take up the whole page. It is best to begin chapters on odd-numbered pages, even if the preceding page is blank.

You will not have to worry about an ISBN (every published book has one) or the cover of your hard-copy book. You may select from a pretty wide variety of covers for free. An ISBN is also provided without charge.

Available royalties: Kindle books, published as I have described, have two levels of royalties. Within certain price ranges ($2.99 to $9.99), you make 70% of the sales price minus a very small charge for transmitting your work electronically. Outside of those price ranges, you make 35% minus the charge for transmission.

Hard-copy books are published Print on Demand (POD) and are, therefore, more expensive to produce per copy. My book, You May Not Be Old Now But: You Are Getting There Pretty Darn Fast, sells for $8.99, and I make around one dollar per sale. What you make will depend not only on what you charge, but what it costs to produce your book. In both methods, you set your own price.

Writing is hard, and self-publishing can be frustrating, but there is a reward. Holding your book or seeing it on Amazon and knowing it is something you created is very satisfying. Good luck and good publishing.

If you have questions about self-publishing, contact Jack Kean at kean54@yahoo.com. Read more of Jack Kean’s work at www.keanwriter.com or www.itsakeanworld.blogspot.com. His book, You May Not Be Old Now But: You Are Getting There Pretty Darn Fast, can be found at www.keanwriter.com