I have had the privilege of getting to transcribe what I think is probably one of the best introductory courses on how to self-publish through Amazon and especially Kindle, written by parent and children's-book-author-four-times-over, Beau Blackwell. Even if you're not aspiring to publish in that particular genre, this is a wealth of well-organized information for how to digitally self-publish, written with a lot of heart from somebody with experience.

http://letsmakekidsbooks.com/6weeks/

This video course contains footage (recordings for browsing sessions to demonstrate site navigation) and talks about:

- How to handle accountability partners, reward-and-punishments, and other possible methods and systems that you can use to just get your words out already! (This would definitely also be handy for novelists.)
- Fool-proofing tips for working with illustrators.
- Formatting on Word in a way that Kindle will understand and not squish titles up into the last paragraph of the previous page or chapter.
- A software operation guide for Calibre, which converts Word files to MOBI, EPUB, or whatever format you want.
- How to navigate Amazon's promotional programs and copyrights for self-publishers.

And more. I highly recommend checking it out! This particular course doesn't include CreateSpace, which would make physical copies, but elsewhere on that same website is an article or two about paper self-publishing.

Thank you for sharing this.  I am going to write a book and was wondering how I go about getting it published.  How do you earn money from digital copy, do you get a percentage of how much it is purchased for on Amazon?

I want to steer clear of the major publishing companies, like Random House, because I hear it can take a lot of time to get published, even if they think your book is worth it.

Last point first:

Rosyrain (10:34am Thu, Jun 26, 2014)

I want to steer clear of the major publishing companies, like Random House, because I hear it can take a lot of time to get published, even if they think your book is worth it.

I think the slush pile system (you send a manuscript and query letter in, it gets in line and waits for ever) take the longest time, but I suppose making the blurb, choosing the cover art, the font, the paper, and so on can take a while too. Traditional publishing has still got more clout and respectability, although there is the possibility that you could get picked up by a literary agent or traditional publisher if your independent stuff gets popular because that's like pudding first then proof.

Quote

How do you earn money from digital copy, do you get a percentage of how much it is purchased for on Amazon?

First, I think you might still make more money from self-publishing than traditional publishing as in per sale. That said, Amazon will take about 30%-70% of your profits, however Blackwell describes Amazon as "the 900-pound gorilla" that will get the most attention and sales, period.

If you make enough in a month to reach the minimum for sending it out, then Amazon will wire transfer your earnings to your bank account.

While this wasn't in the tutorial, if you don't mind going really indie and niche with all the pro's and con's, then the websites Lulu and Smashwords are a couple of other self-publishing sites that might not take as large a cut per sale but I have zero experience with either of those at all except as a buyer (yay, Paypal) so.

EllyMarks (03:03pm Thu, Jun 26, 2014)

Last point first:

Rosyrain (10:34am Thu, Jun 26, 2014)

I want to steer clear of the major publishing companies, like Random House, because I hear it can take a lot of time to get published, even if they think your book is worth it.

I think the slush pile system (you send a manuscript and query letter in, it gets in line and waits for ever) take the longest time, but I suppose making the blurb, choosing the cover art, the font, the paper, and so on can take a while too. Traditional publishing has still got more clout and respectability, although there is the possibility that you could get picked up by a literary agent or traditional publisher if your independent stuff gets popular because that's like pudding first then proof.

Quote

How do you earn money from digital copy, do you get a percentage of how much it is purchased for on Amazon?

First, I think you might still make more money from self-publishing than traditional publishing as in per sale. That said, Amazon will take about 30%-70% of your profits, however Blackwell describes Amazon as "the 900-pound gorilla" that will get the most attention and sales, period.

If you make enough in a month to reach the minimum for sending it out, then Amazon will wire transfer your earnings to your bank account.

While this wasn't in the tutorial, if you don't mind going really indie and niche with all the pro's and con's, then the websites Lulu and Smashwords are a couple of other self-publishing sites that might not take as large a cut per sale but I have zero experience with either of those at all except as a buyer (yay, Paypal) so.

Thanks so much for this information! Once I have the money saved up for that self-publishing tutorial I plan on investing in it.

I figure checking out the Lulu and Smashwords sites couldn't hurt. I have never bought from either site, but I have bought from Amazon LOTS of times. I have never sold anything on any of them...no experience whatsoever selling ANYTHING online.

Hi Elly,

Thanks so much for the kind words! I really appreciate it.

I just wanted to pop in and add that I'll be adding videos to the course on how to do print versions of books on CreateSpace any day now- hopefully by early next week I've done all of my books on CreateSpace so I've been through the process several times now.

If anybody has any questions about the course or just want to drop me a line with a question, feel free to contact me at beau [at] letsmakekidsbooks.com.

Thanks again for the nice words about my course! I hope it was helpful.

Take care,
Beau

I am SO excited that you popped in Beau! I bet you've set up a Google alert and you're using it pretty darn well if I do say so myself, excellent stuff!!

I'd like to make a suggestion to you to click the resources button in the menu, then select the appropriate categories, and add the hell out of your website so we can cherish it always . I will probably do so later but I figure you know where your tutorials and best things are better than me. Also I am very very interested in them from a personal perspective so yeah, I will definitely be looking at them!

And Welcome to CB, do you like what I've done with the place?

---

HooDoo I would make a list of places and how much they charge/take. Last time I looked (years ago mind you) Lulu took a HUGE chunk, and so did Blurb. Both citing that it was for marketing and what not. Also, sales on them were pretty crappy for some books. Hopefully that's changed.

I think we should get you all nicely set up with a finished book, and then find you some childrens book (specifically) publishers and see if we can get anywhere from there - unless your heart is set on self publishing. Beau's site looks like it will have some fantastic self publishing resources specifically for childrens books so I would definitely look through some of his stuff!

Beau's website (my magic powers of profile snooping mwahahahaha): http://letsmakekidsbooks.com/

ALSO I thought you might be interested in this (old) but hopefully helpful survey we did for writers...well the results anyway....I dunno why I only just thought of it, I think it was the satisfaction thing.


If the size is messed up view it here.

Thanks for the nice welcome, Bunny! It's a great site you've got here- so many good resources and so much content to go through. I'll be back visiting regularly.

I already added my Children's Book Title Machine to the Resources section, as it's a really fun tool I built for brainstorming children's book ideas, but I'll keep adding more soon

To weigh in on the question of Amazon vs other self-publishing options:

I'll be honest and say that I've never used anyone but Amazon yet, but I know many other indie authors and those who've tried other sales channels like Kobo, Nook, iBooks, etc, have all said that the sales they get from those aren't worth it at this point. Amazon still has the vast majority of the buyers, so since I'm trying to get the most exposure possible as an indie author, I focus my efforts there.

Also, their KDP Select program allows you to use some of their promotional tools like giving away your book for free (which is a great way to increase your exposure and get reviews early on), run Kindle Countdown Deals where your book appears in a special section of the Kindle store with a countdown sales timer next to the price (I've found this to be very effective in selling books), and now be part of the Kindle Unlimited program, where subscribers to it can download your book and you get paid as soon as someone has read 15% of your book (which is easy on children's books).

Anyway, that's a long-winded way to say that at this point, I think Amazon brings by far the most benefit to indie authors and has the most reach, so I stick with them above the others. Their fees are very fair for what they provide authors, and it seems to me they're pretty committed to supporting indie authors. Plus there are no costs whatsoever to sell on Kindle or CreateSpace, which is really nice for us

Hope that was helpful! Thanks again for the nice welcome.

Take care,
Beau

I meet with a local writer's group and all the published authors rave about how easy it is to use Amazon's system to self publish. From what I hear it's not too hard to get set up on Createspace also after you are up and running on Amazon and Kindl. The biggest thing with self publishing is needing to be in charge of all the services a traditional publisher does for you (cover and book design, typesetting, editing, etc) but...most importantly marketing!

Most writer's I talk to struggle with this the most, seems like sales and marketing don't come naturally to a lot of authors. Does this course cover any ideas for marketing your book through their system? I am definitely curious to try their system, just gotta finish writing a book (or 2 or 3!).

Wordee,

Yes, Week 6 of the course is all about launching and marketing your new book. It focuses mostly on what to do early on to get reviews, start making sales, hopefully hit some bestseller lists on Amazon, etc, but the same marketing principles apply long-term as well.

I don't really advertise it, but I actually sell just that module separately as well for people who already have their book done and just need the marketing advice. If anyone might be interested in that, just contact me directly and I can give you more info.

Thanks,
Beau

Has anyone noticed the advertisements we have running on CB? You all better have cause we need the funding and if you have ads turned off *shakes fist* . Just kidding, but seriously the service these ads run on is beyond amazing and a PERFECT place for you to advertise your book.

Also, based on my own research and the survey above...the only places worth looking into are, in order:

Amazon
Smashwords
Booksurge/Createspace

I JUST now wrote this post for you. See how much I love you guys? Seriously though I didn't re-read it cause I have a migraine and I should skedaddle!
4 reasons you should advertise your work on project wonderful

BeauBlackwell (08:56pm Thu, Jul 31, 2014)

Hi Elly,

Thanks so much for the kind words! I really appreciate it.

I just wanted to pop in and add that I'll be adding videos to the course on how to do print versions of books on CreateSpace any day now- hopefully by early next week I've done all of my books on CreateSpace so I've been through the process several times now.

If anybody has any questions about the course or just want to drop me a line with a question, feel free to contact me at beau [at] letsmakekidsbooks.com.

Thanks again for the nice words about my course! I hope it was helpful.

Take care,
Beau

Belated welcome! I've been plugging and recommending your course everywhere, it has been immensely helpful Definitely looking forward to the next one!

Bunny (10:49pm Thu, Jul 31, 2014)

I thought you might be interested in this (old) but hopefully helpful survey we did for writers...

I haven't heard about most of these non-Amazon self-pubbing platforms, so this is very cool. Thanks, Bunny!

Thank you so much for all of this great information.  I keep meaning to look into getting published on Kindle but it somehow gets left on the back burner.  Silly really because it looks like a really viable option for those of us who don't want to (or aren't ready) to go down the route of sending our work to a publishing house or literary agent.  And everyone around me seems to be doing it too!!

Every time I think about publishing offline I almost break out in a cold sweat - it seems like so much hassle, yet it's a shame that all my hard work just sits there doing nothing.  I'm sure there are plenty of other writers like me. 

This is a really good avenue though.   

Thank you for the information. I published my book through a good publishing company and it ended up costing me a little more than I thought it would to market outside of where they thought my book would sell. I am also bound to write 3 publishings per year and this stops me from being as creative as I would like to be. Digital publishing is great and to make money for yourself too.