by May Plaige

Created on: February 04, 2009   Last Updated: February 09, 2009

With the advent of the World Wide Web and the connections it provides to book publishing companies, self-publishing has never been easier. Self-publishing and print on demand sites have grown quite successful in recent years, leaving you with plenty of options regarding how to go about self-publishing your textbook or academic work.

1.) Choose a publisher: Gone are the days where a publisher chooses you! Once you've made the decision to self-publish a work, it is now your decision as to who will be the one printing and producing your final product. Try perusing sites like Lulu.com, xlibris.com, and iuniverse.com. All of these are well-known self-publishing sites which will guide you through the process and offer you extra services along the way. Do some research and choose the one that fits your needs.

2.) Specify your needs: Once you have chosen a publishing site, you will be asked to specify what your needs are. What size book will you need? What kind of binding? Hardcover or paperback? Lulu.com has specifications for textbooks and dissertations, and is highly recommended if this is the type of project you are undertaking.

3.) Upload your writing: Assuming you've already written your work, publishing with these sites is quick and streamlined; you are able to upload your writing to the site, and it will automatically size your work up, fit it to your page size specifications, and allow you to preview the work. You can make adjustments as needed and re-upload if needed nothing gets done until it looks just right to you.

4.) Design a cover: Most of these sites host an array of customizable cover design options, but if you already have an image you want to use or a full cover already designed, you can submit that as well. You will be prompted to make sure that your cover is attractive and represents the contents of your publication accurately; the sites may try to sell you cover-developing tools or direction, and it will be your choice whether or not to accept it.

5.) Decide how widely to publish your book: Do you want to have sole control over all published copies having them shipped directly to you so that you can pass them out or sell them as you please? Or do you want the book to be made available in bookstores, including the publisher's online bookstore and sites like Amazon.com? Can it be made available in eBook form? There are all questions you will have to answer for yourself, choosing what publishing option fits you and your budget best.

6.) Publish, and enjoy!

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