How to Self Publish

It's easy to print and publish your own book with Fast Books / Wild & Woolley. Read on...

You've written or are writing a book. You have some idea on how it should look, what the cover is like, what format it's in. But you're not sure just how to achieve this. Then there are the problems of copyright registration, bar codes, ISBNs and a myriad of technicalities. You're beginning to think you need help.

And once your book is written and printed, how do you get it published?

This website is designed to help you.

Over the past 19 years, we've helped over 3500 writers get their manuscripts out of the bottom drawer and into print.

On this website, we present practical, workable information that will enable you to bring your creative work to fruition, and to get it where it belongs, in the hands of readers.

Around half the people in Australia want to write a book and get it published. But with the national demand for new books limited to just 4000 titles, the odds are stacked against your book finding a publisher in your lifetime.

When you decide to self-publish, here are all the steps you should take to design, format, promote, market, publicise and distribute your book.

Who or What is a Publisher?

The pure meaning of 'publisher' is the person or company that takes all the risk.

• Prints the book
• Pays you royalties
• Markets, promotes, distributes

What does it mean to Self Publish?

• You make all the decisions about your book: what it says, what it looks like, where you sell it, and for how much
• You make all the profits, which in many cases will be much higher than royalties
• Depending on the genre, format and style of your book, we can offer you one of our exclusive imprints: Books & Writers, Fast Books, Buffaroo Books, and Wild & Woolley.

Carmel Bird self-published her book DEAR WRITER with us and said: "Fast Books, (is) a Sydney company that specialises in the quick, quality production of self-published as well as other books, (they) did the job. The speed and simplicity of this operation was exhilarating, and something close to magical."

This website will guide you through the process.

Self publishing timetable

• Finish writing your book.
• Print out the manuscript in double spaced type, 12 point, reread, condense, add missing bits. Then: that's it.
• Look at other books in the same field to decide what size and format you want yours to be.
• If you haven't already signed up on this site, get a password ($99 for 12 months), then use the layout and design instructions to format the text pages of your book.
• Get an ISBN number, CIP entry if necessary. We can help you with that.
• Give your book its final title, after considering all the reasons pro and con for all the working titles you've thought of.
• Write the blurb for the back cover, design the cover (take photos). Make a proof.
• Put together your selling kit including publish date, selling price, launch info, author photos.
• Send the selling kit to library suppliers, distributors, important bookshops, special markets. Use the database and your password for names & addresses.
• Print your book.

Book Title, Author Name

is a book (available on this website) by Pat Woolley that can help you step through this process.

Testimonial

"I just had to write and say "thank you" for the copy of "Book Title" that arrived this morning. What an inspiring asset to the book industry as a whole - and (especially) to those of us who wish to "get into print". I have had a number of projects "on the back-burner" for some time now, but your book has inspired me anew - so we'll see what happens from here. I've always been impressed by your enthusiasm and professionalism - well done once again! May you continue to get the success you deserve." Kevin Goddard, 22 July 2004

Top 100 Web Secrets:

1. 39: Publish your own book. Many people dream of becoming an author...but sites like Wild and Woolley can help..."

PC Authority Magazine, May 2005

Please note:

Because we want to stay 'arms length' in the process of assisting you, we will not read the ms or advise you on its worth - good or bad. We do not, unless you wish, edit your ms.

Sometimes, the books we produce contain typographical or grammatical errors or misspelled words. Unless we have been asked to edit or proofread the book before it goes to print, any errors are those of its author.

However, our website is our own creation. Most of the content was written by me, Pat Woolley, and I am very proud of it.

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