Open Educational Resources

Self Publishing: Introduction

There are several reasons why one would choose to self-publish. Perhaps the main reason is that it offers creative control over the content and appearance of the materials. Also, self-publishing is usually much quicker than commercial publishing as the author controls the timeline as well. If royalties are a priority, authors typically benefit much more with self-publishing than if working with traditional publishers. However, all the editing, formatting, and marketing falls on the self-publishing author. Several third-party service providers are available to support one’s needs; however a self-publishing author should proceed with caution and fully understand the details of any agreement. Niche books that publishing houses may reject can be self-published with few obstacles when self-publishing.

Step one in self-publishing is to write the eBook. However, there are a few key items that should be understood upfront to facilitate the writing and publishing process. Both the file format(s) and the available writing software should be thoughtfully selected. While most people are familiar and comfortable using word processing software such as MSWord, it may not be the best choice when considering the needed final digital format. Understanding the final users and their devices helps one to understand and decide which file format is best for your eBook.

If you have suggestions for how to make this page better, please contact Elizabeth Jerow, Library Director (jerow@msoe.edu).