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How to Write & Publish a Book for Free

by Contributing Writer

Overview

Once upon a time, the only options for an author to publish her own book involved shelling out hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars up front to have copies printed in advance, and then hitting the pavement trying to sell them, orr else paying even more to have a "vanity publisher" do the job. However, this is the digital age, and it's now possible to obtain quality publishing services not only quickly but free of charge. If you have a manuscript you've written, just follow these easy steps, and you can be a published author virtually overnight.

Step 1

Decide on a name for your publishing enterprise, even if it's just your own name, and list it in the front of the book, along with contact information. This may lead to future sales.
Step 2

Create an account with one of the new on-line self-publishing services like lulu.com, CreateSpace.com or blurb.com. It's fast, easy and free to take advantage of these revolutionary new services.
Step 3

Decide on the cover price of your book. You should consider what will be a reasonable profit, what customers will be willing to pay, and what your cost for each printed copy will be.
Step 4

Upload your manuscript. Make certain that your formatting is transferred correctly. Sometimes problems can occur, but Lulu in particular offers prompt and efficient customer service to iron out any bugs. (There is a fee, however, if you want the book formatted for you.) You should also provide a cover design of some type, unless you want a generic cover supplied, or unless you want to pay to have a cover custom designed for you
Step 5

Decide whether you want your book imprinted with an ISBN (International Standard Book Number). You definitely should do so if you want the possibility of your book being sold in stores or stocked in libraries. The ISBN is a must for widespread distribution. There is a fee for it, however (about 100 dollars).
Step 6

Voila! You're a published author. The public will be able to order your book online almost immediately, and you will start receiving periodic royalty checks. You should order at least one copy to proof it before you begin promoting it..

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Although your book can be purchased online, it's a good idea to have copies of it on hand to sell directly. The shipping for online orders can be rather high, and this might prevent some people from buying. Additionally, you can get a bulk discount and make even more profit on the copies you sell.
Although your book can be purchased online, it's a good idea to have copies of it on hand to sell directly. The shipping for online orders can be rather high, and this might prevent some people from buying. Additionally, you can get a bulk discount and make even more profit on the copies you sell.