You are taking the publisher role
Self-publishing is not simply uploading a file. Someone still has to make decisions about editing, design, formats, identifiers, metadata, pricing, distribution, proofs, legal obligations and publicity.
You can commission specialists for those tasks without giving up the publisher role.
Separate service providers from publishers
A company may sell editing, design, printing, distribution setup or a bundled publishing service. Paying for a service is not the same commercial relationship as a publisher selecting a work and investing in publication.
Understand exactly what is being bought, what rights are granted, which files you receive and whose accounts control retailer listings and income.
Plan backwards from the publication you need
- print, ebook or both;
- target reader and sales route;
- editing still required;
- cover and interior requirements;
- images/permissions;
- ISBN and metadata plan;
- printer/POD/platform;
- proofing;
- distribution and fulfilment;
- budget and break-even assumptions.
Keep control of your publishing assets
Retain organised source files, final production files, identifiers, account access, metadata and agreements. A future correction, reprint or change of supplier becomes much harder if the creator cannot access the assets used to make the book.
Before you move on
- Define which publishing tasks you will do and which you will commission.
- Know what rights and files remain yours.
- Use accounts you control where practical.
- Build a real production/distribution budget before setting a price.
- Keep all source files, metadata and agreements.