Self-publishing: the full cost breakdown
Self-publishing a book involves a variety of costs, from editing and cover design to marketing and distribution. For an 80,000-word novel, the total cost can range…
13 Sep 20263 min read
Route: Self-publishing
The Money
Self-Publishing
Craft
Craft
Self-Publishing
Self-Publishing
Self-Publishing
Self-Publishing
The Money
The Money
ISBNs: what you need and what you don’t
ISBNs (International Standard Book Numbers) are essential for selling your book through most major retailers and distributors. While free ISBNs from self-publishing platforms like Amazon KDP…
13 Sep 20264 min read
Working with an editor without losing the book
Working with an editor is crucial for refining your book, but it's essential to maintain its original intent throughout the process. With editorial rates ranging from…
13 Sep 20264 min read
Structural editing vs line editing vs copyediting
Structural editing, line editing, and copyediting are three distinct stages of the editorial process, each serving a unique purpose in refining a manuscript. Structural editing focuses…
13 Sep 20264 min read
Audiobook production: routes and costs
Audiobook production for self-published authors can be approached in three primary ways: royalty-share, pay-for-production, and DIY. Each method has distinct cost implications, with per-finished-hour (PFH) rates…
13 Sep 20264 min read
Distribution: what “wide” actually gets you
Going wide with self-publishing means distributing your book across multiple retailers and platforms, while going exclusive typically means committing to a single platform like Amazon's KDP…
13 Sep 20263 min read
Print on demand economics
Print on demand (POD) economics revolves around understanding the unit costs and margins involved in self-publishing, which can significantly impact an author's profitability. With POD, authors…
13 Sep 20264 min read
KDP, IngramSpark and the rest, compared honestly
When comparing self-publishing platforms like KDP, IngramSpark, and others, the core question is which offers the best balance of distribution reach, print quality, fees, and author…
13 Sep 20264 min read
Cover design: what you should pay and why
When it comes to cover design, a professional cover typically costs between $625 and $1,250, with an average of around $880, according to the Reedsy marketplace…
13 Sep 20264 min read
What editing really costs at market rate
Editing costs for a manuscript can vary significantly based on the type of editing required, with developmental editing being the most expensive at 5.0–7.3¢ per word…
13 Sep 20263 min read