Self-Publishing Guide
How to Self-Publish Your Book
A plain-English walkthrough — from finished manuscript to copies in hand. Whether you're uploading to Amazon KDP or ordering author copies for a local signing, we cover each step.
Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing
Neither path is right for every author. Here's an honest comparison to help you decide.
Traditional Publishing
- Publisher covers editing, design, and printing costs
- Royalties of 8–15% of list price
- Publisher controls cover, title, and release date
- Rejection and acquisition can take 1–3 years
- Built-in distribution to major bookstores and libraries
Best for authors seeking the widest retail reach and willing to give up creative control.
Self-Publishing
- You pay upfront for editing, cover design, and formatting
- Keep 35–70% royalty on ebook sales
- You control every creative and business decision
- Publish on your own timeline — weeks, not years
- Distribution via KDP, IngramSpark, and local direct sales
Best for niche topics, platform-first authors, and anyone who's moved past the query-and-wait cycle.
The Self-Publishing Process, Step by Step
Six stages from finished draft to copies on sale — with notes on where local printing fits in.
Write and edit your manuscript
Finish your draft, then invest in professional editing. A developmental editor addresses big-picture structure and pacing; a copy editor handles grammar and consistency. Self-published books compete directly with traditionally published titles — readers can tell.
Format your interior pages
Set your margins, headers, footers, chapter titles, and page numbers for print. Reedsy Book Editor (free, browser-based), Vellum (Mac), and Microsoft Word templates all produce clean print PDFs. Deliver a PDF with embedded fonts and 0.125" bleed for printing.
Design your cover
Your cover is the single biggest factor in whether a browser becomes a buyer. Hire a professional designer or use Canva's print templates for a competent DIY option. You'll need a full-wrap PDF — front, spine, and back in one file — where spine width is calculated from your page count.
Choose your publishing platform
Amazon KDP is the default starting point — free to upload, global reach, strong ebook royalties. IngramSpark adds bookstore and library distribution for a setup fee. You can and should use both. Neither replaces physical copies you keep in hand.
Order a proof and author copies
Before your launch date, hold a physical copy. POD proofs from KDP or Ingram take 1–2 weeks to ship. Local printing at Rocky Heights gets you a proof — or a box of author copies — in 1–3 business days. Inspect binding, color, and paper before you go live.
Launch and keep local inventory
For book signings, local bookstore consignment, and direct sales, you need copies on hand. Short-run local printing gives you inventory without the per-unit markup of POD. Reorder quickly when you run low — no minimums and fast turnaround.
Self-Publishing Platforms Compared
Most authors use more than one. Here's what each option actually does and where it falls short.
Amazon KDP
Largest ReachFree to upload. Ebook royalties up to 70%. Print-on-demand paperbacks and hardcovers ship to buyers worldwide. The default starting point for most first-time self-published authors.
Best for:
Ebook sales, global distribution, beginners
Keep in mind:
Free ISBN is locked to Amazon. POD quality is acceptable but you can't inspect before it ships to the reader.
IngramSpark
Bookstore DistributionConnects your book to over 40,000 retailers and library systems including Barnes & Noble and Overdrive. Better production quality than KDP print. Setup fee around $49 per format.
Best for:
Bookstore placement, library distribution, serious authors
Keep in mind:
Steeper learning curve for file specs. Worth it if getting into physical bookstores matters to you.
Local Print Shop
Author Copies & EventsShort runs of 10–250+ copies for author signings, bookstore consignment, direct sales, and gifts. Better quality control than POD — you inspect the finished product. Fast turnaround from a shop you can actually call.
Best for:
Book signings, local sales, bulk author copies, proofs
Keep in mind:
Not a distribution channel — designed for physical copies you sell or give directly. Works alongside KDP and Ingram.
Already publishing on KDP or IngramSpark?We work with your existing files. Bring your cover PDF and interior PDF and we'll produce author copies for events, local sales, and gifts — often within 1–3 business days. Request a quote or call us at (205) 983-8040.
Self-Publishing FAQs
Do I need an ISBN to self-publish?
In the US, an ISBN is required for most retail and library distribution. Amazon KDP offers a free ISBN, but it's owned by Amazon and usable only on KDP. Bowker (myidentifiers.com) sells ISBNs you own — $125 for one, $295 for ten. If you plan to sell through IngramSpark, in bookstores, or want separate ISBNs for print and ebook, owning your own gives you control and portability.
What is the difference between print on demand (POD) and printing locally?
POD (used by Amazon KDP and IngramSpark) prints one copy at a time when a customer orders. It's efficient for distribution but costs more per unit, you have no quality control before it reaches the reader, and fulfillment takes days. Local printing produces a batch at once — better unit economics for quantities of 10–500, 1–3 day turnaround, and you inspect the finished copy before anything goes out.
Can I use Amazon KDP and also order print copies locally?
Yes — most active self-published authors do both. Upload to KDP for global ebook and POD sales, then order short runs locally for author events, bookstore consignment, and direct sales at full margin. Your KDP cover and interior files will work for local printing with minor adjustments to bleed and spine width specs.
How much does it cost to self-publish a book?
Uploading to Amazon KDP is free. The real costs: editing ($500–$3,000 depending on length and type), cover design ($200–$800 professional, free with Canva DIY), interior formatting ($50–$200 or free with Reedsy), ISBN registration ($125+ for your own via Bowker), and physical author copies for events and local sales. Print copy costs from Rocky Heights vary by page count, binding, and quantity — request a free quote for exact pricing.
What file format do you need for book printing?
A print-ready PDF with embedded fonts, 0.125" bleed on all sides, and color mode set to CMYK for color interiors or grayscale for black-and-white. Your cover must be a single full-wrap PDF combining front, spine, and back — spine width is calculated from your page count and paper stock. Contact us before you export and we'll provide exact trim and bleed specs so you don't have to redo the file.
Related Services
Ready to hold your book in your hands?
We print short-run author copies, proofs, and signing inventory for self-published authors across the Birmingham area.