Self-Publishing Basics
Learn the basics of self-publishing your book, from ISBNs and copyright to rights and the steps that get your book ready to print and sell. Clear, honest answers to the questions every new author runs into.
Getting started with self-publishing
Self-publishing puts you in control of your book, but it also means making decisions that traditional publishers usually handle. Do you need an ISBN? Should you copyright your book? What does it mean to be your own publisher? These questions trip up many first-time authors, and the answers are not always easy to find in plain language.
This section breaks down the fundamentals in clear, honest terms, without the jargon and without pushing you toward services you do not need. The goal is to help you understand your options so you can make confident choices for your book.
If you have a specific question that is not answered here, contact our team and we'll be glad to help.
Articles in this category
Do you need an ISBN to print or self-publish your book?
You do not need an ISBN to print a book, but you do to sell through bookstores and retailers. Learn when you need one, where to get it, and how many you need.
6 min readDo you need to copyright your book?
What copyright protection you already have, what registration adds, and whether self-published authors need to register their work.
Coming soonWhat is a publishing imprint and do you need one?
What an imprint is, how it relates to your ISBN and publisher of record, and whether creating one is worth it for self-publishers.
Coming soonHow to write a book description that sells
How to write the back-cover and online description that turns browsers into buyers, with structure and examples.
Coming soonOther help categories
More categories coming soon as we expand the help center.
Still have a self-publishing question?
From ISBNs to getting your book ready to sell, our team is happy to point you in the right direction. Contact us with your project details and goals.
Contact our team