As the owner of an Amazon Kindle, I get asked a lot about self-publishing and online book publishing. People want to know what it’s like, if it’s right for them, and what they should expect. In this article, I’m going to answer all of those questions and more. It’s going to cover everything from pricing to royalties so that you can put your mind at ease and get on with living your life.

Is Self-Publishing Right For Me?

The short answer is yes, self-publishing is right for you if:

• You want to try something new
• You want to be your own boss
• You want to make your own schedule
• You want to do what you want when you want
• You want to write what you want
• You want to be creative

If you can say yes to any of these questions, then you’re probably going to enjoy the freedom that comes with self-publishing. If you want to know more, here are a few solid posts to get you started:

• The Oatmeal’s Guide to Self-Publishing
• Medium’s Guide to Self-Publishing
• The Art of Self-Publishing

What Should I Expect From Self-Publishing?

Expectations are always important when you’re deciding to take the leap into the unknown. When you self-publish, you’re basically putting your book out there on your own without the protection of a traditional publisher. That means that:

• The chances of it being successful are mostly up to you
• There’s no set formula for success
• You might have to spend a lot of money to get it right
• You have to work hard to improve your chances of success
• There will be plenty of opportunities to improve your book’s chances of being popular

So, if you’re expecting that publishing a book will be easy or that you’ll instantly become rich and famous, you’re going to be disappointed. The good news is that you don’t have to become a bestselling author to enjoy life as a full-time writer. You just have to be willing to put in the work. Once you get that, the opportunities are there for you to write the book that you want to write. If you want to know more, here are a few solid posts to get you started:

• Medium’s Guide to Self-Publishing
• The Oatmeal’s Guide to Self-Publishing
• How to Become a Professional Blogger (Using Free Blogging Platforms)
• Everything You Need to Know to Get Started With Ebook Publishing

How Do I Publish My Book?

In case you’re wondering, there are several different ways to publish your book. You can do so through a traditional route or you can choose to do so digitally through self-publishing. Let’s examine both options and see which one is right for you.

Traditional route:

If you want to venture down the traditional route, the first thing you’re going to need to do is find a publisher. There are plenty of traditional publishers out there that specialize in fiction and non-fiction books alike. Just perform a quick search on Google and you’ll see that there are many options.

The next thing you’re going to need to do is negotiate a contract. Just remember that, legally, publishers have to make at least some of their money back from your book. So, you want to be sure that you’re making the right deal for you. Luckily for you, we’re here to help. When it comes to contracts, there’s a simple solution that can help you get everything you need without needing to worry about any legal jargon.

Here’s the deal: At BookLocker, we want to make sure that you have everything you need to publish your book. And since so many of you have asked about contracts, we’re happy to announce that we now have a legal consultant on staff who’s available to help you with your book contract negotiations. Just drop us a line at legal@booklocker.com and we’ll get your contract sorted out in no time.

As for the actual process of publishing your book, you’re going to need to do some research on the best platform to use depending on the nature of your book. Here are some of the most popular options when it comes to self-publishing digital books:

• Amazon Kindle: This is probably the most popular and the most well-known option when it comes to e-readers. If you’ve ever shopped for an e-reader, you’ll know that Amazon has the widest array of e-readers and apps available. Plus, all of their e-readers and apps are completely free. This is the perfect option for writers who want to try self-publishing.
• Apple iBookstore: The iBookstore is the app that comes with the Apple App Store. It’s a lot like the Amazon Kindle, but it’s also available on a number of other devices. Like with Amazon, you’ll mostly be in the Apple iBookstore if you want to self-publish your book. It’s the most popular app store on the planet, so the chances of you seeing your work on the platform are pretty high.
• Nook: The Barnes and Nobles of the world have a whole other line of e-readers that they sell separately. If you love getting your books in physical form, the Nook is a great option as well. It’s the middle ground between digital and physical for those who want some of both worlds.
• Kobo: If you’re looking for a sleek and stylish device, check out the Kobo. It’s sleek and modern in design which makes it the perfect fit for those who want to try self-publishing.

Should I Self-Publish My Book In Print Or Digital Form?

There’s no wrong answer here. It really depends on what you want out of your book. If you’re looking to make a quick buck, go with digital. If you want to make the most of the book’s potential, go with print. Here’s the thing: In today’s world, books aren’t exactly what they used to be. Thanks to technology, we have all the e-books that we could ever need. Which means that there’s no reason to buy books if you don’t have to. If you’re serious about publishing, grab a contract lawyer and go at it. But, for the time being, don’t fret too much about it.