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A comprehensive guide to self-publishing, with 5 essential steps to publish a book the professional way! Industry-expert with 30 years experience gives tips, do's and don'ts on how to prepare, edit, design, proofread your manuscript and upload it to print-on-demand. 5 steps from raw manuscript to published book. Must read for writers of all levels . This book is written for writers: who want to self-publish who want a professionally published book who want a book that makes them proud In this book, the self-publishing process is narrowed down to five steps from raw manuscript to published book. Five steps which are essential basics for self-publishing novices who want to publish professionally and credibly. Information on self-publishing and POD is easily available in print and online--so much so that the process has become confusing and overwhelming for a writer with no previous experience in publishing. Newbie self-publishers are stumped by the terminology, by what the various options entail, and whether they need all that is offered. This book helps to demystify the process. Self-publishing has become the preferred option for writers over the last decade. More recently, it is acknowledged in literary circles as a legitimate form of publishing for serious writers. The caveat to this acceptance is that authors who choose to self-publish must ensure their books meet industry standards in content and design. The onus is on YOU the writer to keep your book PROFESSIONAL--in editorial and design. The adage 'if its worth doing, its worth doing well' should be the cardinal rule in self-publishing. There are too many sub-standard books vying for attention on global bookshelves--don't let yours be one of them! Take ownership and pride in your work. Your content should be accurate, concise, and relevant. Keep it professional! The aim of professional editing is to ensure accuracy and readability. Not everyone who calls themselves an editor has the expertise to do a book edit. Hence, opting for free editing by a non-professional to save money is risky. In self-publishing, the power is always in your hands. You have control over what is edited out and what stays in. Use that power wisely. An experienced proofreader catches mistakes that often escape the editor, designer, and even the writer. Traditionally, a book editor checked editorial content; while a proofreader focused on overall design and page layout. With the advent of electronic- and self-publishing, you will often find both functions being performed by one individual. You need to be careful of conflicting messages from amateur DIM-ers (Did-It-Myself-ers). Ebook conversion software is becoming increasingly user-friendly. It may be worth your time/money to order ebook conversion through your POD service. I use IngramSpark to publish, as I feel it is worthwhile to just click on the 'ebook conversion' button and let them automatically convert the files, do a back-end check, and upload the book directly to their database. POD companies are updating to user-friendly methods all the time. What is available today could be streamlined out of existence tomorrow.