How do I publish and eBook?

I want to publish an eBook sometime in the future. What should I do? What do I do first?

Thanks to everyone! Every comment helps! xo

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assuming that you are all finished with your book, probably a good first step would be to buy a step by step "how-to-book" on how to publish your own eBook . There are lots of those "how-to" books for sale.

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@ArmandInezian Thanks so much for the help and commenting. You gave me a good starting point.

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A good book to have, and not just for uploading there, is the Smashwords Style Guide: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/52

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@RobertLCollins Have you ever used that site?

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@juicyluci This article should help:

http://reviews.cnet.com/how-to-self-publish-an-e-book?tag=mncol;txt

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@juicyluci Oh, it's in the article I provided the link to above, but just in case you miss it, Mark Coker, the founder of Smashwords, has a free eBook called "The Secrets to Ebook Publishing Success." The link is in the article, but here it is as well:

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/145431

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@juicyluci Yes. I use Smashwords to get into various stores, including B&N, Apple, and Kobo. I also get a few sales direct from SW as well.

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@RobertLCollins I see. So smash words can put you eBook on all iBooks, Kindel and etc. or only one?

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@Blayde Thank you!

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@ArmandInezian @RobertLCollins Who makes you covers for your ebooks?

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@juicyluci You can opt in to as many distribution channels as you want at Smashwords. That gets you into the various stores. You can also choose to have your ebook uploaded into any or all the formats that they offer. They're not yet distributing to Amazon, but having your ebook in Kindle format means you can send a Kindle copy to reviewers.

I do my own covers, with a couple exceptions. I've worked closely with small presses on my other books, so I learned a thing or two about cover design before self-publishing my ebooks.

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@RobertLCollins I see. Thanks so much for your help

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I would not buy any books about self publishing. 90% of what you want to know you can find for free online with a little searching.

I directly upload my books to Amazon and am also using Smashwords. I can't say too much about Smashwords yet except that it is very easy to use.

For covers I get my images from 123rf.com and I use the CreateSpace cover maker. That also lets me have a print edition of the book available incase I have people who really want a dead tree edition. It is print on demand so there's no cost to you, though you do have to be aware that it often will price a book out of people's reach. Fantasticon is 60,000 words and I had to work to keep the print price under $10.

Lastly, and I say this with love for the indy industry: If you have a good book, a good story, try to go the traditional route. Self publishing successfully requires a lot of marketing and networking far more than just having a good book. If what you have is really very good, then it's possible to get a publisher to consider it.

If nothing else it gives you ~options~.

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@MrOsterman "Self publishing successfully requires a lot of marketing and networking far more than just having a good book." I have to agree with JA Konrath and Dean Wesley Smith, that this is just a myth. There is only one thing guaranteed to sell more books for you, whether you are self-published, indie-published, or traditionally-published, and that is WRITE another book! The more books you have, the greater the visibility. Of course, you still have to write a GOOD book. Though, even bad writers sell a ton of books when they write a ton of books. Put your book out there, make sure it's listed everywhere you can possibly list it. Set up your facebook pages and goodreads profile and blog and other social networking sites so people CAN FIND YOU(not so you can find them). And then, go write the next book.

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You can also check out lulu.com. The quality of their print books is very good (if you want to publish print books too) and they have very good instructions for how to format MSWord files so you can upload them to their e-pub converter program. They can get your e-book listed on iTunes/iBookstore and BN.com/Nook Bookstore as well as on their own retail site. Amazon's Kindle store you have to upload to directly through the Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) website. Amazon distributes a free Kindle guide (which you can read on your PC with an app if you don't have a Kindle). The book guides you through formatting an MSWord document for Kindle. KDP's converter converts your MSWord document to the .mobi file for Kindle after you upload to the site. Self-publishing is a very fiddly business and you have to pay close attention to the details to do it right. Most of the companies that provide those services also have pay per use services too. If being detail-oriented isn't a strength, you might consider paying them to convert your files for you.

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@SJFaerlind Before you pay for services at Lulu, read the comments in the following wattpad thread:

http://www.wattpad.com/forums/discussion/259156/the-woes-of-self-publishing/#Item_85

I know a lot of people who are very happy with Lulu, but they did it on their own and didn't pay Lulu a dime. @juicyluci

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I have had 0 problems with Lulu so far. It's unfortunate to hear that others have had issues with them.

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@SJFaerlind Haha I see. I'm still deciding which site to go with. Could I do both?

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Read the fine print in the member agreements and check the forums at the sites too. All kinds of people have that question and I think it depends on what options you select. If you sign up for "KDP select" for example, you have to leave your e- book solely on Kindle Direct Publishing for 90 days without publishing it in any other format. As tedious as it is... read the fine print.

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One site: Createspace.

I have published my first book through it and it shall be on Amazon in three or one days, or in three/two bussiness days. I am not that sure anymore. XD. But it does help because you get to recieve a proofread copy and make the cover yourself on there.

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i have a question.... after publishing and ebook should i take it off wattpad ?

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@Booksaregreat If you mean a draft, yes. Otherwise, keep something posted here. New users are coming to Wattpad all the time. Your book will be new to them, and that might help you sell more copies.

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@RobertLCollins What is the best option for a teen to publish an ebook? Like what sites are the best but not really that pricey but expensive enough to get quality work?

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@Swissgirl10 First, you need to be old enough to sign contracts. If you're not old enough, you'll need a parent or guardian to sign for you.

Publishing an ebook is easy. Amazon has a service for publishing ebooks. Smashwords sells and distrubutes. Barnes & Noble and Kobo have services. They are all pretty simple: upload the book file; upload the cover file; check for errors; then click the publish button.

What you can pay for are services to prepare your ebook. You can hire an editor, a cover designer, even a formatter (if you want special features in your ebook). The Writers Cafe at the Kindleboards Forum has a thread listing those who offer such services.

The best advice I can give you is be professional. Make sure your work is the best it can be. Keep writing. Be patient. Learn. Over time, you will get to where you need to be as a writer.

Good luck!

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