Self-publishing is now a realistic alternative to traditional publishing. In this series, Antony Quinton looks at the challenges faced by any writer hoping to self-publish.
This month, he looks at the self-publishing platforms available.
Which platform do I publish my book on?
- Kindle Direct Publishing: This is the most well-known with a worldwide reach. In my experience it can also be the most infuriating. However, it is the largest online market and it would be churlish to ignore it
- Draft2Digital: is a flexible, well-designed and efficient method of distributing your book. There are a couple of really useful features, although its formatting process can be erratic
- Google Book Partners: In terms of ease of use, I found this self-publishing platform the least intuitive. However, if you want to get your book available in the widest range of markets it is worth considering
ISBN : International Book Standard Number
For self-publishers of printed books these are an essential purchase. Unfortunately, they were unattainable on my budget, so this was not an option for me. I used a Draft2Digital ISBN which meant I couldn’t use it outside their distribution network, however for my purposes it was fine. Both Amazon and Google create their own catalogue number for each ebook, so an ISBN is not needed.
British Library Non Print Legal Deposit
For any title published in the UK it is a legal requirement to send a copy to the British Library. If you self publish an ebook this is via an electronic portal. Since the cyberattack on the library last year, the portal is currently inactive. They hope to reopen the deposit portal in August 2024.
If you print physical copies, you are required at your own expense to send a copy to the Library for their records. The British Library also handles the Public Lending Right (PLR) for libraries. Make sure you register and set up an account with them, because it's another possible revenue stream.
Tax
Sales of your books will be subject to taxes and because all three are American companies you are usually required to submit to an online tax interview by the IRS. This sounds scary, but all it means is that, because the UK has a reciprocal tax treaty with the US, once the form is complete you won't lose 30 per cent of any sales to the US IRS. All you need to provide is your Tax Identification Number (TIN) which for UK citizens is your National Insurance number.
Draft2Digital
The 27th of May 2023 is an important date in my writing journey. I published my first ebook, a middle grade science fantasy called
Jayne and the Patchworlders.
The easiest decision I made was to use Draft2Digital to distribute the title as an ebook. They will take you step by step through the self-publishing process and distribute your book to a variety of online booksellers and library services like Borrowbox and Overdrive.
I was also able to produce a paperback version using Draft2Digital. This was especially thrilling. I’ll be looking at the options in more detail in future articles.
Using Draft2Digital, I was able to compile publishing metadata, write a blurb and author bio and upload my manuscript and format it into ebook format using their automatic processing software. I did not have a laptop so I had to do all this using a phone, which was tricky!
The work is done on an online site and you are able to change steps at any stage. Once you are happy with your finished formatted title, you can export it as a PDF or ePUB to read on your favourite reader app.
The best thing about D2D is the distribution and flexibility of pricing. D2D will send your ebook to Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, library services and European ebook vendors such as Vivlio, Thalia and Mondadori.
D2D also has a nifty book link feature and creates a professional looking author page so readers can easily find and buy your ebook.
Kindle Direct Publishing
Kindle Direct Publishing or KDP is Amazon’s platform for self publishers. Once you have a finished manuscript, you can set up an account, upload your manuscript, decide pricing, and publish.
I would advise downloading and using their Kindle Create software to format your manuscript to Amazon’s exacting requirements.
The software enables you to create professional looking formatted ebooks with ease. Using this software does mean it’s more likely to be accepted by Amazon for publishing.
Dave Chesson’s Kindlepreneur site is a guide to using Amazon KDP. His articles cover everything you could possibly need to know about the platform.
Google Book Partners
I only discovered this platform recently and have one title published here. I found it the least accessible to use.
However, as with Amazon, because Google is the basis of the Android ecosystem on tablets and mobile phones, it is still worth exploring.
The procedure is similar to the other two platforms, although their approval process can take up to a week.
Also, Google only accepts ePUB files, so I had to create an acceptable EPub file. Google also requires a separate cover file to be uploaded too in JPEG format.
I’m still exploring this platform and how to use it effectively.
In conclusion, it does take a while to get used to each platform’s requirements. However, I do feel that for ebooks in particular, it can be worth investing your time in. Perhaps you have a manuscript that you’d like to share but a traditional publisher isn’t interested. Why not put it out as an ebook? Perhaps a reader in Italy might buy it, or someone in an American library in Utah might download it onto their system.
Due to the huge amount of books out there, you won’t make a fortune, but I write because I’d like people to read my stories.
These platforms have the potential to get your stories out onto the ocean of books. Let them set sail and see what happens.
Next time: Get Set…
Resources:
KDP:
https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/
D2D site:
https://draft2digital.com/
Kindlepreneur:
https://kindlepreneur.com/about/
Google Book Partners:
https://play.google.com/books/publish/
Information
Nielson Book Data
British Library
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Ell Rose is the Illustration Features Editor of
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Tita Berredo is the Illustrator Coordinator of SCBWI British Isles and the Art Director of
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