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7 Essential Elements to Self-Publishing

A lot of people are self-publishing, but many get discouraged. Having a book coach would help control the fears and process of producing a book. Publishing a book demands a lot of steps. Over the years, I've developed a system to publishing. Here are 7 essential elements to self-publishing for the new indie author:

  • Collaborate with a book coach.
  • Develop an outline.
  • Write the rough draft.
  • Get an editor.
  • Design the book cover.
  • Create a marketing plan.
  • Publish the book.

Collaborate with a book coach. To control the intimidation of creating a project of this magnitude I worked with a book coach. My book coach helped me publish my first book. Working with a coach enabled me to bypass a lot of mistakes. I was able to complete tasks effectively and faster. We developed my book from A to Z in less than six months.

Develop an outline. Every day is a brainstorming session. Therefore, I keep a journal handy at all times to record ideas and incorporate them into the development phases. Creating an outline cuts overwhelming thoughts. The outline sort ideas and reduces writer's block. Throughout my process I aim to see how the parts of the book work together. My outline gives me a glimpse of my book from the Table of Contents to the final section: About the Author. I account for every element of the book in my outline.

Write the rough draft. I direct spirit onto motivation. Occasionally, I go for a brisk walk to rejuvenate my energy level and put on my thinking cap. Listening to motivational talks on entrepreneurship and self-improvement activates my power thoughts. To get started, I review the post-its on my computer screen which reads empowering affirmations and uplifting statements. 

After looking over the outline I dive into my work. Getting started is important because it's tempting to master procrastination when there's always an obligation to be fulfilled with work or family and friends. Yet, I focus on rekindling my flame and go to work on the book. To minimize writer's block I review my outline, affirmations and envision my finished product.

Get an editor. Once you've written your book it is vital to get an editor to review your work. The editor wears many hats because they look for more than grammatical errors. The editor will identify the tone of the narrator. Ensuring the proper past, present or future language is in place and might perform some ghostwriting and rearrange parts of your story. Selecting an editor is crucial to the process. We don't want to overlook this aspect of self-publishing. As an indie author it's important to reinforce an upright appearance which demands professional editing.

Design the book cover. Some authors may work with a graphic designer to create the book cover. Yet, it's not required. Personally, I use the book cover creator through the Amazon publishing platform. Looking at the book's cover further motivates me to finish the work. Sometimes, I create the cover earlier during the writing phases to reinstill enthusiasm and minimize writer's block.

Create a marketing plan. The marketing plan should be considered during the writing process of your rough draft. I encourage you to develop an author media kit. This includes a variety of elements including your biography, a book excerpt, an author's interview with questions and answers, a press release and your professional image and headshot.

Publish the book. Publishing the book requires a few steps. This demands getting the book's fingerprint or ISBN which identifies your book's total page count, book size, and date of publication. This process will vary based on the platform used to publish.

Conclusion

We've identified the key steps to self-publishing. Having a book coach would help you with the writing process. I want to emphasize the many benefits to working with a book coach; complete the writing process efficiently, staying motivated to finish, overcoming writer's block and getting to the finish line faster. While the editor will ensure your book reads well. Some of us might collaborate with a graphic designer for the book's cover illustration. Self-publishing encompasses a lot of work but it's manageable.

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