👋 WELCOME!
📃 SELF-PUBLISHING CHECKLIST + WORKBOOK + BONUS WORKSHEETS
What Makes a Good, True, and Beautiful Book?
Overview of Self-Publishing
-
Video Overview (11:03)
-
My Story & Getting on the Same Page (13:17)
-
The Different Types of Publishing
-
Setting Realistic Expectations
-
Why Should You Self-Publish?
-
What Makes a Successful Author?
-
Why Self-Publishing is Anything But the Self
-
📃 Worksheet
-
The Fiat Self-Publishing Model (4:22)
-
⭐Favorite Self-Publishing Resources
Discerning God's Will for Your Book
-
What is Discernment?
-
Discernment Overview (5:43)
-
Discernment Tips from Charbel Raish (5:47)
-
A Constant Process
-
Discernment Tips that Apply to All Stages
-
Helpful Tips and Quotes from Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers
-
(Supplemental Video) Discernment Tips from Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers (67:16)
-
📃 Worksheet & Video Walkthrough (16:01)
-
⭐ Supplemental Resources
Sanctity: Keeping God at the Center of Your Work
Creative Spark: Finding Inspiration for Your Book Idea
-
Finding Inspiration and Clarity for Your Book Idea
-
Finding Inspiration Video Overview (3:01)
-
Tips for Finding Inspiration
-
10 Book Ideas to Get You Brainstorming (7:01)
-
Examples of Innovative Books
-
Exploring Amazon Book Categories (6:22)
-
Browsing Bestsellers (14:42)
-
Auto-Populating Ideas Using the Search Bar (5:26)
-
📃 Worksheet
-
⭐ Supplemental Resources
Validating Your Idea: Is This Worth Pursuing?
Unique Value Proposition: Determining What Makes Your Book Unique
Goal Setting
Why It's Helpful to Think About Printers Now
Financial Considerations
-
Financial Considerations Overview
-
Perform a Skills Assessment and Set a Budget
-
Consider How You Will Fund Your Book
-
Interview with Stephanie Petters: Cut The Financial Risk By Crowdfunding Your Book (57:19)
-
Presentation by Stephanie Petters: Key Components to a Kickstarter Campaign (62:01)
-
Track Your Expenses
Start Your Author Platform Now
-
What is an Author Platform?
-
Interview with Cathy Knipper: Author Branding, Platform Building, and Book Marketing (58:37)
-
Develop Your Author Brand & Aesthetic
-
Interview with Dominic de Souza: Brand Archetypes (56:43)
-
Build Your Email List
-
Presentation by Greg Johnson: Email Marketing & Author Newsletters (69:30)
-
Start Using (Or Being Intentional About) Social Media
-
Interview with Molly Balint: Social Media Tips + Getting Started On Instagram (62:54)
-
Author Websites
-
Presentation by Kristina Romero: Overview of Author Websites (60:41)
Outlining Your Nonfiction Book
Outlining Your Fiction Book
Special Considerations for Outlining Highly Visual Books
Prioritize Your Writing
The Writing Process
-
Introduction
-
Style Guides
-
Where to Find Images in the Public Domain
-
Where to Find Books in the Public Domain
-
But What If I'm Not Finding What I Need in the Public Domain?
-
Book Funnel Considerations
-
Interview with Lisa Canning: Book Funnels & Turning Your Book into a Business Card! (57:02)
-
Choosing a Title
-
Feedback: Alpha and Beta Readers
-
Front and Back Matter
-
Copyright Page
-
Back Cover Blurb (12:32)
The Editing Process
-
Introduction
-
15 Tips for Self-Editing
-
What Types of Editing Do You Need?
-
Interview with Jody Benson: Different Types of Editing & How to Work with an Editor (54:02)
-
Additional Considerations
-
Tips for Hiring an Editor
-
You've Hired an Editor... Now What?
-
I Got My Editor's Feedback... Now What?
-
Interview with Lindsay Schlegel: Receiving Feedback, Strategizing Your Time, and Building a System for Managing Edits (61:29)
Translation
Formal Review Considerations (After Finalized Manuscript & Before Publication)
-
Introduction
-
What Does Canon Law Say?
-
What Do the Terms Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur Mean for Your Book?
-
How Do I Know if I Need an Imprimatur?
-
How Do I Get an Imprimatur?
-
What If I am Unable to Pursue an Imprimatur, But Still Want Formal Review?
-
Conformity of Catechetical Materials to the Catechism
-
Endorsements
-
Trade Publication Reviews
-
Advanced Reader Copies
An Overview of Publishing Platforms
Publishing Platforms for Printed Books
-
What's the Best Publishing Platform for My Printed Book?
-
Print on Demand Versus Printing in Bulk
-
Selling Printed Books on Amazon KDP
-
Selling Printed Books on IngramSpark
-
Selling Printed Books on Bookvault
-
Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, and Bookvault Print Quality and Capabilities
-
Selling Printed Books with Amazon (Outside of KDP)
-
Selling Printed Books on Etsy
-
Selling Printed Books on Your Own Website
Publishing Platforms for Ebooks
Publishing Platforms for Audiobooks
Understanding Distribution Options
Publishing Terminology & Specifics
-
Introduction
-
Metadata (and the importance of keywords)
-
ISBNs
-
Barcodes
-
Library of Congress Control Numbers (LCCN) & Publisher’s Cataloging in Publication (P-CIP) Data
-
BISAC
-
Copyright Registration
-
Mandatory Deposit
-
Marking of Country of Origin on U.S. Imports
-
Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)
Working with Printers
-
Introduction
-
How to Find a Printer
-
Interview with Danielle Hitchen: The Logistics of Printing Your Book Overseas (41:06)
-
Getting Quotes From Printers
-
Printing Terminology and Important Considerations
-
Obtaining Printer Specs
-
Working with a Printer
-
Types of Printed Copies
-
How Many Printed Copies Do I Order?
-
Using Pre-Orders to Make More Accurate Purchasing Decisions
Pricing Your Book
Design (The Beautiful)
-
Introduction
-
Types of Designers You Might Need (Not All Designers are the Same)
-
What Questions Should You Be Asking A Designer?
-
Design Briefs: What Your Designer Should Be Asking You!
-
Books are Judged By Their Covers
-
Interview with Benita Thompson: How Your Book Cover Can Make or Break Your Success as an Author (60:25)
-
What are the Parts to a Book Cover? (Front, Back, Spine, & Dust Jackets)
-
Special Considerations When Working With Illustrators
-
Typesetting & Interior Design Tips
-
Designing Ebooks
-
Tutorial: How to Format an Ebook Using Microsoft Word (44:50)
-
Additional Design Tips
Business Responsibility
-
Disclaimer
-
How to Use this Section
-
You are in the Business of Selling Your Book
-
Presentation by Tammy Hyska, CPA: Top 3 Financial Mistakes Business Owners Make (49:07)
-
Interview with Henry Kutarna: Your Book as a Business & Thinking Like a CEO (66:01)
-
Interview with Henry Kutarna: Exploring the Concept of a Catholic Economy within Book Publishing (33:19)
-
Developing a Business Plan (8:12)
-
Project Management Tips
-
Should I Sell Under My Own Name or a Company Name?
-
Business Set-Up Tips
-
Choosing a Business Name
-
Business Bank Accounts
-
Sales Tax
-
P.O. Boxes
-
Business Insurance
-
Tips for Tax Season
-
Contracts
-
Interview with Lawyer James Olsen: Self-Publishing Contracts (59:25)
-
Interview with Lawyer James Olsen: Legal Considerations of Self-Publishing (60:34)
Setting Up Your Book on Various Platforms
Shipping & Order Fulfillment
Marketing
-
Introduction
-
Presentation by Kate Sell: Understanding the Catholic Landscape when it Comes to Marketing Your Book (58:21)
-
Marketing with Distribution Channels in Mind
-
Presentation by Greg Johnson: Book Launch Marketing Strategy (54:31)
-
Creating a Marketing Plan
-
Book Photography / Mock-Ups
-
ARC / Book Launch Team
-
Tip for Sharing Amazon Links
-
Email Marketing
-
Instagram - Overview & First Steps
-
Instagram - Favorite Hashtags
-
Instagram - Making Connections
-
Instagram - Influencer Marketing
-
Instagram - Giveaways
-
Facebook Groups
-
Blog & News Site Reviews
-
Sample Press Releases
-
TV, News & Radio: Top 50 Catholic Media Outlet List with Contact Info
-
Gift Guides
-
Vendor Booths
-
Podcasts
-
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
-
Interview with Jacqueline Brown: Amazon Ads, BookBub, Marketing Strategy (66:22)
-
Is My Marketing Working?
Special Considerations: Children's Books
