Self-Publishing: Some steps in the process

by Rochelle Manners

1. Write your book (and all the associated steps involved with that, including editing and appraisal!).
2. Find an illustrator / designer or do it yourself.
3. Investigate the cost in creating the book, these include
   1. Printing (colour/b&w, laminate covers, binding technique, artwork, scanning, design, number to print)
   2. Marketing
   3. Design/Illustrations
   4. Business Set Up Costs (unless it is a hobby)
   5. ISBN
   6. Barcode
   7. Legal Deposits
   8. Workshops about writing
   9. Manuscript appraisal services
4. Can you still afford it? There is an initial outlay before any books can be sold and while you may make a profit in the long run, how much is it to start with? (Making a profit is in no way guaranteed!)
5. How will you market it? E.g. website, book stores, libraries, market stalls etc. While considering this make sure that your product will sell. If you want it to go into bookstores then take drafts to them before hand to get a feel for the market.
6. Compare your ideas with other writers.
7. What will your recommended retail be?

For the beginner some ways of consider the above are now listed:

BEFORE YOU PRINT:

ISBN: International Standard Book Number

obtained through www.thorpe.com.au/isbn/index.html They can also supply you with Barcodes, designed to your ISBN. Note: To get into a bookstore you must have these.

CiP: Cataloguing in Publication.

These are codes the libraries organise your book with. After you have your ISBN you can apply for this through the National Library of Australia. Note: This is not necessary for bookstores, but good to have, and free.

Bookstores/Distributor Margins:

Investigate how much the book stores you are interested in want as their profit margin. Most bookstores take about 40%. Distributors can take between 60 – 75%. This is a percentage discount on the recommended retail before GST. For example if you choose a recommended retail of $12.95. A distributor that takes 75% will buy them from you at $2.79 plus GST ($3.07ea). If you choose not to become a business and register for GST you may have some difficulties going through some suppliers, bookstores or distributors.

Ask Yourself:

• What is the book for?
• Why am I doing this?
• Is it worth it?
• Have you considered traditional publishing?

AFTER YOU PRINT:

Legal Deposits:

For every book published in Australia, a copy must be sent to the National Library for their archives. In Queensland you must also send a book to the State Library and Parliament Library Legal Deposits Units.

Then all you have left to do is sell your product!