Self-publishing is an exciting journey, but it involves much more than just writing and printing a book. Authors need to consider editing, cover design, formatting, and even marketing. Fortunately, self-publishers don’t have to do everything alone. Various platforms provide professional assistance to help streamline the process.
Professional Editing & Publishing Assistance
- Reedsy (www.reedsy.com) – Connects self-publishing authors with industry professionals for editing, ghostwriting, cover design, and marketing.
- Scribendi (www.scribendi.com) – Offers professional editing and proofreading services for self-published books.
- Upwork (www.upwork.com) – A freelancing platform where authors can hire editors, formatters, and marketing specialists.
Design Templates for Book Covers & Layouts
- Canva (www.canva.com) – Provides easy-to-use book cover templates, allowing authors to create professional covers without prior design experience.
- Adobe Express (www.adobe.com/express) – Offers customizable templates for book covers, social media, and promotional materials.
- BookBrush (www.bookbrush.com) – A tool specifically designed for authors to create book covers, ads, and promotional graphics.
Custom Cover Design & Illustration
- 99designs (99designs.com) – Connects authors with professional designers who create unique, high-quality book covers.
- Fiverr (www.fiverr.com) – A marketplace to hire freelance designers for book covers, illustrations, and formatting services.
- DesignCrowd (www.designcrowd.com) – A design contest platform where multiple designers submit their ideas, giving authors various options to choose from.
Book Formatting & Typesetting
- Vellum (www.vellum.pub) – Excellent software for formatting eBooks and print books for Kindle, Apple Books, and print-on-demand platforms.
- Atticus (www.atticus.io) – A user-friendly book formatting tool for both print and eBooks, offering various design templates.
- Draft2Digital (www.draft2digital.com) – Provides automatic formatting for eBooks and distribution to multiple digital retailers.
Printing & Distribution Services
- inclpress (www.inclpress.com) – Offers professional book printing services tailored for independent authors, providing high-quality prints and international shipping.
- IngramSpark (www.ingramspark.com) – Print-on-demand and distribution service that connects self-published authors to bookstores and libraries.
- Lulu (www.lulu.com) – A self-publishing platform offering print-on-demand and global distribution options.
Marketing & Promotion for Self-Published Books
- BookBub (www.bookbub.com) – A book discovery platform that helps authors promote their books to targeted readers.
- PublishDrive (www.publishdrive.com) – Offers book marketing, distribution, and analytics for independent authors.
- Prolific Works (www.prolificworks.com) – A service that helps authors distribute free copies of their books to gain reviews and readers.
Self-publishing doesn’t mean doing everything alone. By leveraging these resources, authors can access professional editing, design, marketing, and printing services to create high-quality books. Whether you need an editor from Reedsy, a template from Canva, or professional printing from inclpress.com, these tools can help bring your book to life efficiently and affordably.