The Indie Publishing Pathway

What makes you think your content is actually a book? This isn't meant to discourage you. It's meant to free you. Because sometimes what we think should be a book actually wants to be something else entirely. And that's not failure. It's clarity.

Here's what I've learned: every writer is different. Perhaps you have a business and the expertise to write a book that showcases your knowledge. Maybe you've got several drafts of a fictional story tucked away, or a family history that deserves preservation.

The self-publishing world is wonderfully diverse. There's space for experimental books and commercial page-turners, passion projects and professional ventures, memoirs that preserve legacies and series designed to build careers. How do you set yourself up for success?

Don't wait for the perfect time, the perfect writing space, or until you can afford a fancy laptop. Just pick up something to write with and on. It can be a pen and paper or your phone. Write where and whenever you can. You may be terrible at first, and your room won't look like a Pinterest writer's room.

I have designed books for authors who didn’t want their name on the cover. Writers who wanted me to take it all away and get it published. It doesn’t have to be this way, and the great news is that these authors fell back in love with the words after overcoming their doubts and fears. So can you.

This section of the course helps you to set yourself up for success on your workflow and budgets. The aim is to provide enough information so you can make better choices about the production of your book.

Editing and different types of editing roles can easily be confused and each part is a specialised skill. This lesson explains what an editor and a proofreader do and why their work can enhance the reader’s experience.

Design is another secret superpower, alongside editing. Like editing, it can be a significant investment, so it's important to consider the overall impact of having a designer—or not having one—and how that may affect your book.

For self-publishing authors, understanding book production and print is critical because, unlike traditional publishing, you're responsible for making sure the finished book looks professional and is market-ready.

Whether you're creating an eBook as your main format or as a alternative to your print book, understanding the basics of eBook production will help you make informed decisions about your publishing journey.

There are several ways to get a book to your readers, and authors are fortunate to have more options than ever. This lesson covers what you need to know about distributing your book to readers.

Marketing is letting readers know about your and your work. It is essential in making your books and you visible. It covers all your platforms, your website, the covers, back-cover text, any biographies, media appearances, how you appear online, email lists, newsletters, and physical assets such as bookmarks and postcards.

As you build promotional skills through consistent practice, you'll discover that promotion becomes genuinely enjoyable rather than burdensome

Learn how to choose the right website platform for your needs, understand why author branding matters, and discover how to organise a successful book launch that creates momentum for your publishing career.

You've explored the different paths self-publishing authors can take, learned about the tools and resources available to you, discovered the importance of design in creating a professional book, and gained an overview of the publishing process from manuscript to market. Now comes the exciting part: putting this knowledge into action.