A Simple Guide for Self-Publishing a Children's book

(Photo : A Simple Guide for Self-Publishing a Children's book)

Publishing your work on a platform without the assistance of a conventional publishing company is referred to as self-publishing.

Creating a book on your own is a big achievement, and we are very excited that you've reached the next stage of the process, which is sharing your book with the rest of the world. Although it may seem overwhelming at first, breaking down the stages into manageable tasks can help you make it through successfully. Yes, it is quite achievable, even if you have no previous experience in the publishing industry. Just take one step at a time, and you are good to go. 

So, let us discuss the publishing methods.

Ways of Publishing

There are three ways of publishing a book.

Self-Publishing

Self-publishing is where you locate a printing facility and then sell your books directly to the public. It takes more effort to get your book into shops, and it may have a smaller audience. However, it is a wonderful method to get your book out fast and cheaply, and anybody can do it with ease. You can always start with self-publishing with Palmetto Publishing and subsequently move to traditional or indie publishing if you change your mind.

Traditional Publishing

It is a process in which you first get a literary agent who assists you in finding a publishing firm to print and distribute your book. Depending on the terms of the agreement, you may still be required to perform a significant amount of marketing on your own. This method will take much longer to get your book published because you will first need to send query letters to secure an agent. After that, you can submit it to publishers. It is a fantastic way to get your book published for a larger audience.

Indie (independent) Publishing

The indie publication is quite similar to the procedure of submitting and working with traditional publishers. But you don't have to go through. 

In many ways, this is comparable to the process of submitting and working with traditional publishers. But you do not need to go through a literary agent first. Most of the independent publishers will take inquiries directly from writers. To find out if a publication company needs an agency or not, check the submission rules for that particular publisher.

Reasons For Choosing Self-Publishing

There is no such thing as absolute perfection. Self-publishing is no different as it has some advantages and drawbacks. Though self-publishing takes a significant amount of effort and commitment, the potential benefits are enormous. It's usually a good idea to know what you're getting yourself into before committing to a certain publication route.

So, what are the advantages? Let's find out!

Advantages

●       You are in full command of your artistic and creative vision.

●       You are not restricted to industry standards in any way.

●       The capacity to publish promptly.

●       You don't have to be dependent on the efforts of someone known as a "gatekeeper."

There are some drawbacks as well.

Disadvantages

●       You will be responsible for the costs of editing, illustrating, printing, distributing, and promoting your book.

●       It is necessary to locate proper tools and experts while also avoiding frauds and scams.

●       You won't be able to use the resources of a publisher to help you with your launch.

Assuming that all of this seems reasonable and you are ready to self-publishing your book, let's go to the next plan of action.

Steps to Self-Publish Your Book

Follow these steps below to manage and self-publish your book.

Scan Your Illustrations at High Resolution

Let's assume you did all the illustrations. So, when it comes to digitizing and transferring pictures to a computer, high-resolution images are required. A large size scanner will be required if you have big illustrations. You can accomplish this by contacting companies that specialize in high-resolution scanning. And a thing you need to remember is that you are publishing a book for children, so you need to focus on a kid-friendly illustration.

Get Barcodes and ISBN Number

International Standard Book Number is an abbreviation for International Standard Book Number. The ISBN is a lengthy number linked with a barcode, and it can be found on the back of every book you purchase at the bookstore. 

Some publishers and other businesses may offer to get your ISBN on your behalf. Still, it is better to obtain your own barcodes/ISBN so that no one else may claim ownership of them, even if you decide to go with a bigger publisher in the future.

Make a Layout

It is the stage at which you start to overlay the words from your narrative with the pictures and watch how it all begins to come together. If the layout is easy to catch, kids will love it, even if they barely understand its purpose. It is common for designers to use Adobe InDesign or another design software recommended by their printer. However, most people employ graphic designers to take care of this since it is a highly technical aspect of the process and is also extremely important in ensuring that the book prints out properly. 

Make a Copyright

Nobody will be able to duplicate or publish your book unless you permit them to do so. Art, film, photography, and, of course, books are all protected by copyright.

The copyright office will give you a certificate that contains all of the information about your book once you have completed the online form and paid the cost. It is that simple, and you should keep it for the record.

Print your Book

There are three major options for printing: print on demand (POD), book printers, and digitally as an eBook.

POD is a fantastic place to start since there is no minimum order requirement. However, one disadvantage is that POD is much costlier per book than buying in bulk from a bigger book printing business. To ensure that you could sell enough books to cover the inventory cost, you can place a minimum order of $1000. The initial investment would be much more, but the entire experience is great.

Conclusion

There is a lot of hard work that goes into writing and publishing a book. But there is no better feeling than seeing all of your hard work come together and sharing it with people.

The essential thing to remember is to follow your heart. Every single individual has a unique and compelling story to share. As long as it's coming directly from your heart, kids will connect with you.

We are sending you all of the best wishes and positive energy for your self-publishing journey! ALL THE BEST!