Read all you can about self-publishing. There are many differentaspects of the business to consider before you even startwriting your book.
Join St.Louis Publishers Association (SLPA), Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), or other professional publishingassociations.
Research your market. Be sure your book fills an existing need.
Compare. Spend a couple of hours at a bookstore studying books that are similar to the one your plan to write. Check for price, size, number of pages, overall appearance, and tone.
Enlist the help of other professionals, especially in areas where you lack expertise.
Get several bids for each job-printing,artwork and such-you’re going to have done by an outside contractor.Get references and be sure terms are in writting.
Find out from those with some experience what questions to ask before getting those bids.
Hire someone else to edit your manuscript, regardless of the strength of your editing skills. Writers are not good editors and proofreaders!
Make every effort to send an error-free book to the printer. Correcting your errors during the printing process will be very costly.
Have your book cover professionally designed.
Send bound galleys or advance copies to reviewers and possible endorsers several months before you go to press.
Be sure your distribution plans are in place BEFORE you get your books back from the printer.
Don’t be affraid to ask”Would you explian what that mean?”
