Publishing a book is more than uploading a file to Amazon and hoping for the best. If you want your book to look professional, be taken seriously by libraries and reviewers, and stand a chance in the marketplace, there are steps you shouldn't skip. What follows is a practical, no-fluff roadmap for getting your book from final draft to fully published and discoverable. Whether you're doing it all yourself or partnering with a service like Dilettante Press, this will give you the lay of the land.
Step 1: Write your book.
Seriously, write the book. Or at least get a writer to write it for you.
Step 2: Write a second draft.
If you're going to get an editor (and you really should if you want to sell your book), then cleaning up the first draft will save everyone a lot of time.
Step 3: Proofread with a friend.
At the very least, proofread your work from start to finish. Better still, have a friend or family member you trust to be honest with you to proofread your draft manuscript, too. This will help find the typos and grammatical errors that slip in from time to time, and also find bits that might be dead weight, need more exposition, or need to have the pacing fixed up — just to name a few good reasons.
Step 4: Hire a professional editor.
Editing isn’t just about fixing typos. It’s a multi-stage process that can turn a decent manuscript into a great book. If you’re serious about publishing—especially self-publishing—you need an editor. Even a solid manuscript benefits from professional eyes. Here’s how the process typically stacks up:
- Editorial Assessment (optional, early stage) – Get a clear-eyed evaluation of your story’s structure, pacing, and market readiness in a concise letter.
- Developmental Editing – Rework the big stuff: arcs, flow, clarity—plus in-line notes and a guiding editorial letter.
- Copy Editing – Clean up grammar, sharpen style, catch inconsistencies, and refine your voice.
- Proofreading – The final polish: eliminate typos, layout errors, and formatting slips before publishing.
If you’re on a tight budget, prioritize a Copy Editor for visible improvements, unless your manuscript still needs foundational fixes—in that case, go developmental first.
Need help finding the right editor?
Reedsy has a ton of great info and a well-vetted marketplace of editors, designers, and other book pros. It’s one of the few places where “affordable” and “professional” actually overlap.
Step 5: Get an ISBN - one for each format.
In the United States, the ISBN agency is Bowker. They charge $125 for a single ISBN. An ISBN is required for each format: ePub, Kindle, paperback, hard cover, and audio book. So if you're going all the way, that's five ISBNs. Now, Bowker also sell packs of ISBNs. The next bundle is 10 ISBNs for $295, 100 ISBNs for $575, and 1,000 for $1500. Publishers buy in bulk and those prices are negotiated.
Because Dilettante Press is, in fact, a publisher, we buy ISBNs in big chunks. That way, we can pass the savings on to our authors. For example, we offer up to four ISBNs along with the Dilettante Press imprint, for a flat $175. Additional ISBNs are just $10 apiece after that. You can create your own barcodes, or we'll provide them for no additional charge.
When you assign your ISBN to your title, you'll also fill out the metadata for the book. The metadata is extremely important for discoverability. Check out the article, Facts About Book Metadata and Why It's Critical to Your Publishing Success, on IngramSpark. When you get your ISBN with the Dilettante Press imprint, we handle the metadata for you.
Step 6: Design a cover.
Honestly, this is another place where — if you really want to sell your book — you should hire a pro. People really do judge a book by its cover and a professional cover designer has the skills and experience to understand what readers pick up and what they pass over. Some designers will read the first chapter or more of your book to get an idea of what it's about. Then they'll give you some mock-ups to chose from and you can hammer it out from there.
If money is tight, there are a few good websites that can help you design a cover you like. If you go this route, make a few different ones and get opinions from people you know. I'd also recommend doing a ranked-choice poll just to get it narrowed down tighter.
Be very aware of any graphics and stock photos you use. A lot of the licenses for stock photos and images don't include print. You may have to pay a little more for the right kind of licenses.
I have personally used Canva [referral link] for trying out cover ideas (though I wound up just going with Photoshop and buying some image licenses) and PlaceIt by Envato to create mock-up images.
There are also plenty of software tools like Adobe Photoshop and Affinity Designer. Look around self-publisher forums (like the s/selfpublish sub-Reddit and FaceBook groups).
Finally, if you're going to publish a hard cover with a dust jacket, I highly recommend a hiring a professional cover designer who will give you print-ready graphics for trade (paperback), hard cover, eBook, and a dust jacket if you're going that route. We can take a single cover design and work it into every format as part of our Core Agreement services.
Make sure you get a bar code! Barcodes are essential for book selling. The barcode must at least be the ISBN of the book, but also the suggested retail price you set (see Step 13 below). You don't have to pay for a barcode. Bowker sells them for $25 each and that's just nuts. Kindlepreneur has a barcode generator you can use for free. When you publish with Dilettante Press, we will make sure your print books are properly adorned with the correct bar code!
Step 7: Design the interior layout.
For most self-published authors, eBooks are going to be the bread and butter unless they're prepared to go full court press on marketing and outreach. A solid interior layout is essential for readability, usability, and compatibility. Sure, you can upload a Word document to Kindle and it will produce a Kindle eBook, but it probably won't look the way you'd hoped. Making sure your readers can adjust the fonts and the pages flow nicely is just a good thing to do for someone who paid you for your book.
Nothing screams "self-published with mediocrity" more than a slapdash interior layout. Title page and verso, dedication, font choices, font sizes, page numbering, table of contents, how chapters start and end, sections or parts if there are any, indexes, bibliography, appendixes. All of those things (and a couple more) go into the interior layout considerations. The typography is a huge choice. Do you pay for a license for a font that's readable and pleasing to your eye, or go with open fonts (Google has tons of free fonts you can use in your books)? What about the font sizes? What about widows, orphans, hyphens (that don't blow up eBooks)? Do you want different fonts for different heading sizes?
We do interior layout as a part of the Core Agreement services. Picture books, and other color interior, image heavy books should be designed by someone with a lot of experience with those formats. We can do them, but it will definitely cost extra.
If you want to do-it-yourself, there are some great software programs available — Atticus and Vellum come to mind. If you're a real glutton for punishment, you can use Affinity Publisher 2, or the same software Dilettante Press uses: Adobe InDesign.
Step 8: Get your book cataloged (optional).
If you want your book to appear in libraries — or even have a shot at being accepted by the Library of Congress — you’ll need a professional cataloging block and a Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN). This isn’t just about appearances; it’s about metadata. The cataloging block tells librarians where your book belongs, how to index it, and how to classify it alongside other works.
The standard used by most publishers is called the Publishers’ Cataloging-in-Publication (PCIP) block. It typically appears on the verso page (the back side of the title page) and contains Library of Congress subject headings, classification data, and catalog metadata. Without it, your book may be ignored by wholesalers, library systems, and academic distributors.
Most traditional publishers have a direct pipeline to the Library of Congress (LOC). Self-published authors do not — but there is a workaround. You can apply for a Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN) before publication. This lets you display a Library of Congress Control Number in your book and, if accepted, deposit your book with the LOC for inclusion in their holdings.
Here’s how the process works:
- Apply to the LOC’s PCN Program
Go to loc.gov/publish/pcn and apply to be recognized as a publisher. Even if you’re a one-person operation, you are the publisher if you are self-publishing. Once approved, you’ll receive login credentials for the PCN system. - Request a PCN for Your Book
Log in at pcn.loc.gov and request a control number. You’ll be asked for your title, author name, ISBN, estimated page count, publication format, and projected release date. If your book is already published, you are ineligible. The LOC will not issue control numbers for books that have already been released. - Add the LCCN to Your Verso Page
Once approved, the Library of Congress will issue a control number. You must include this number on your verso page before the book goes to print. This is your one shot to do it correctly. If you publish without it, the door closes. - Submit Two Finished Copies to the LOC
After your book is published, you are required to send two finished copies to the Library of Congress. These must be the final, printed versions — not galleys or digital proofs. Mail them to:
Library of Congress
Legal Deposit Unit
U.S. Programs, Law & Literature Division
101 Independence Ave. SE
Washington, DC 20540-4330 - Create a PCIP Block (Optional but Strongly Recommended)
The Library of Congress will not generate a full PCIP block unless you’re a registered participant in their Cataloging in Publication Program, which is only available to larger publishers. If you want your book to look fully professional and library-ready, you’ll need to hire a cataloging specialist.
Cassidy Cataloging Services, CIP Blocks, and Five Rainbows are good resources and service providers for PCIP cataloging.
Expect to pay between $50 and $150. The cataloger will provide a fully formatted block including Dewey Decimal and Library of Congress classification, subject headings, and MARC-compatible metadata. This can be copy-pasted directly into your book file before final layout.
Bottom Line: While it isn't going to do much to boost sales, a good books deserves to be cataloged properly. Getting an LCCN and PCIP block is not just a matter of prestige — it makes your book discoverable for libraries, classifiable, and ready for institutional acceptance. Do it before publication, do it correctly, and do it once. If you wait until the book is already live, your chance to be included in the Library of Congress is gone.
Step 9: Select your printer(s) and distributor(s).
There are plenty to choose from and plenty to avoid like the plague. You want to keep it thin, Amazon and one other, or just one. Some of the services out there are all encompassing. BookBaby and Lulu have a one-stop-shop feel But can be a little pricey.
Dilettante Press uses KDP and IngramSpark because they provide the best bang for the buck. We prefer a hybrid approach with Amazon in its own bubble, and IngramSpark handling the rest of the world: libraries, book store, and global print distribution. IngramSpark can do the whole thing, but getting books listed on Amazon can be a bit challenging — so we just avoid the hassle and publish to Amazon directly.
Step 10: Prepare print-ready PDF files.
Each printer and publishing outlet (IngramSpark, KDP, LuLu, BookBaby, Draft2Digital, etc.) have their own way of doing things. Some will take a single PDF with the cover in the front, followed by the book text, others will take a separate PDF for each cover format, book text, and eBook. If you're going to publish a hardcover with a dust jacket, you'll need an appropriately sized print-ready PDF of that, too.
Amazon KDP, IngramSpark (the two main services Dilettante Press uses), and other printing services usually have some kind of formatting built in. They're not great, but they are at least functional.
Step 11: Upload your book files to printers & distributors.
This may seem like the easiest step, and if you're lucky, it will be. But, depending on the platform, it can be a bit challenging. As mentioned in Step 10, different printers/distributors have different methods and requirements. Amazon KDP is probably the easiest I've dealt with. I've read a lot of complaints about IngramSpark online, but my experience was flawless. Then again, I have a few of years experience in pre-press graphics and typesetting, so I started with an advantage.
Step 12: Check your proofs.
You should have access to some kind of digital proof. IngramSpark has a download, KDP has a viewer on its website. Check them thoroughly and don't rush it. You don't have to check ever single page, but be sure to check that everything is where it's supposed to be. For print, make sure the page numbers are right. Make sure there aren't any blank pages on a single leaf. Make sure the cover and title pages are right.
Step 13: Order proof/author copies.
Buy proof copies from every printer/distributor you are going to use. KDP sells "author" copies at cost plus shipping. IngramSpark sells proof copies with a watermark across the front and back cover. Look at your eBook in a couple different ePub readers.
There is a good chance the book won't print just right on the first PDF. Or it won't look as good as you thought. Now is the time to tweak and polish before releasing the book to the world.
Step 14: Pricing & Returns Strategy.
OK. This is where the rubber meets the road and it is by far the most complicated part of the process. Royalties is the magic word and figuring out how to price a book can be a royal pain. With Amazon, it's pretty simple. You price a book, they sell the book, you get a cut of the net — the royalty.
Another reason we use IngramSpark is that it is as close to traditional as self-publishing gets. As the name implies, IngramSpark is a division of Ingram Content Group. They also own Lightning Source printing and distribution services. Lightning Source handles the printing and distribution of books from all of the major publishers and indies alike. Even IngramSpark books go through Lightning Source's print on demand (POD) printing and distribution.
Pricing a book for retail is one thing, pricing it for distribution is quite another. Book buyers for stores are not going to pay full price, and Ingram won't even try to sell to book buyers without a discount. What would be the point? So, you have to figure out just how much of a discount you're going to give. Currently, the discount range is 40-55% — 55% being the standard.
My rule of thumb for the very minimum amount a book should be priced is to take the cost of printing and add 10%. Then divide that by .45. That will be the lowest retail price you can sell for and still make a few pennies from. For example: Cost of printing is $5 per book. Add 10% for $5.50. Multiply by the percentage of price after discount — in this case 55% — so, 45%. $5.50 divided by .45 is $12.22.
If you’re math savvy and wondering why I used 45% instead of the 55% — because in that example, $11.11 would be the break even point, it’s actually not. The distributor takes a 1-1.5% cut of the full retail price. At $11.11, you’d lose 11 cents a copy. Besides — what’s the point in selling a book to break even? My formula allows for around $1.25 net profit per book after a 55% discount.
As stated on IngramSpark's user portal:
Publisher compensation is what we pay you for each sale made through our wholesale distribution channels.
This figure is determined by taking the wholesale price of your book (your retail price, less your discount) and deducting the print cost and a Market Access Fee equal to 1% of your book's retail price. The amount remaining is due to you as publisher compensation.
So, if you have a book that your price at $15.99, and it's about 300 pages long, perfect bound, trade (6 x 9 inches) paperback, you set a 55% wholesale price, subtract the printing cost and Ingram's 1% of retail, your cut is about $1.25 per book. That's not awful and compares to traditional publishing.
But wait! There's more!
Let’s talk about returns.
If you want your book to be considered by bookstores, wholesalers, or libraries, you're going to have to allow returns. Most retailers won’t order a title—especially an unknown indie title—unless they know they can send it back if it doesn’t sell.
Here's how it works through IngramSpark (which distributes through Lightning Source): a retailer orders your book, pays the wholesale price (typically 55% off retail), and stocks it. If the book doesn’t move, they can return it for a refund. But unlike the old days, Ingram no longer accepts stripped returns (just the cover and ISBN page). Now it’s whole books—cover to cover—returned to the printer or pulped on-site.
You, the publisher, are on the hook either way.
If you choose “return—destroy”, Ingram refunds the wholesale amount to the bookseller (say, $8.80 on a $15.99 book), and deducts it from your royalties. You do not get refunded the cost to print the book. That’s a sunk cost. Your total loss per copy is the wholesale refund + the print cost.
If you choose “return—deliver”, you pay for the book to be shipped back to you (first from the bookstore to Ingram, then from Ingram to you), in addition to the refund. The bookseller still gets their refund, and you're still covering the print cost, but now you're also covering shipping—usually more than what the book is worth.
In most cases, unless you're doing direct sales, have upcoming events, or want to re-sell those copies yourself, “deliver” returns don’t make financial sense. You're paying premium shipping rates to rescue books you could reprint cheaper.
So how does this impact pricing?
If you're offering a 55% wholesale discount and allowing returns, your royalty cushion can get thin fast. Using the same example—a 306-page, trade paperback priced at $15.99 with a print cost of $4.31—your royalty is about $1.25 per copy sold. But on a return, you’re out $8.80 for the refund plus $4.31 for the print cost—nearly $13.11 in losses per copy, not even counting any royalty you may already have received and must pay back.
This is why pricing strategy isn't just about sales—it's also about risk tolerance. A lower retail price might help move books, but it can punish you hard if those books come back. That’s why we recommend a staggered strategy:
- Start with Amazon only—returns aren’t an issue there.
- List on IngramSpark with a full 55% wholesale discount, but no returns.
- Once demand picks up—press, events, media buzz—then consider enabling returns.
For more information, take a look at IngramSpark's article Understanding Book Returns with IngramSpark.
Amazon works a bit differently. While you don’t have to choose return settings for print books the way you do with IngramSpark, Amazon can still deduct royalties if a customer returns a book. According to their Terms & Conditions, Section 5.4.8, if Amazon issues a refund, they can withhold or claw back the royalty they previously paid:
“If we pay you a Royalty on a sale and later issue a refund, return, or credit for that sale, we may offset the amount… against future Royalties…”
That usually just means a small adjustment on your next payout, but it’s something to keep in mind—especially if you notice unusual return spikes. It's rare with print, but it does happen. As always, we're here to help you track and interpret those reports if anything looks off.
Step 15: Get ready to launch.
Now that the heavy lifting is out of the way, it's time to get ready to market your book. A simple author's webpage with your nom de plume as the web address, a short bio, and mock-up photos of your work, with descriptions, blurbs, and links to purchase. And, at the least, an author's profile on Goodreads and BookBub.
You'll want to get your books in front of as many people as you can — preferably free. Here's our favorites list, in order of importance:
- WorldCat (via libraries, not direct): You can’t post directly, but getting into WorldCat via an LCCN + Library of Congress deposit is gold. Makes your book discoverable to libraries worldwide.
How to get there: LCCN → LOC → OCLC → WorldCat (This is something Dilettante Press will help our authors with). - LibraryThing: Goodreads’ quieter, more librarian-approved cousin. It’s free and lets you enter your book manually, add tags, and reach actual catalogers.
- Goodreads: The largest public-facing book database. Helps you gather reader reviews, claim your author profile, and appear in reader-curated lists and searches.
- BookBub: Lets readers follow you and get alerts when you publish. Required if you ever want to apply for a Featured Deal. Clean interface, widely used.
- BookSirens: A targeted platform for distributing Advance Review Copies (ARCs) to vetted reviewers. Useful for building early reviews and reader buzz.
- Amazon Author Central: Claim your official Amazon author profile, update your bio, add editorial reviews, and manage visibility across your titles.
- OpenLibrary: A project of the Internet Archive. You can manually submit your book’s metadata and contribute to open access cataloging.
- BookLife (Publishers Weekly): Free listing and potential review exposure in Publishers Weekly. Especially useful for nonfiction, literary, and serious indie work.
- Google Books Partner Center: Upload your book to be indexed by Google Search. Allows preview pages and adds discoverability even if you’re not selling via Google Play.
- StoryGraph: An indie-built alternative to Goodreads with growing traction. Allows you to manually add your book and connect with readers who avoid Amazon platforms.
- ISFDB: For science fiction, fantasy, and horror authors only. An authoritative index trusted by hardcore fans and catalogers alike.
- Bookshop.org: If you distribute via Ingram, your book may appear here automatically. You can claim your author page and link to it as an indie-supporting alternative to Amazon.
- Google Search Console: If you have a website, register it here. It helps ensure your name, book title, and pages appear correctly in search results.
- NetGalley (via co-op or paid): An expensive ARC distribution tool. Only worth it if you’re launching hard and aiming for early trade or librarian attention.
- Readerly: A newer, algorithm-light book discovery tool. Small but growing. Consider adding your book manually if you’re building long-term visibility.
Step 16: Throw a party!
Most of the hard work is done, but there’s still more ahead if you really want your book to sell. For now, though, take a break and bask in the glory of a job well done. Invite your friends and family over, pour a drink, and hand each guest a signed copy of your marvelous new book. And don’t be shy—ask for reviews. Shamelessly.
Now that your book has officially entered the world, the next hurdle is a big one: marketing. You’ve built it—but unless people know it exists, they’re not coming. That’s a topic for another post, but if you’ve made it this far, you’re already ahead of the game.
So good luck, intrepid author. I hope this guide helped demystify the wild world of self-publishing. And when you're ready to take the next step, I genuinely hope you choose Dilettante Press as your imprint and partner.
Why Dilettante Press?
Publishing a book can feel like navigating a minefield blindfolded. We’re here to walk beside you—eyes wide open.
Dilettante Press isn’t a vanity press or a one-size-fits-all package mill. We don’t upsell. We don’t gatekeep. We partner with authors who want to retain creative control while gaining the polish and credibility of a professional imprint.
Here’s what kind of publisher we are—and why that matters.
From ISBNs and metadata to pricing, royalties, and distribution strategy, we help you make informed decisions every step of the way. If you're ready to publish smarter—not just faster—get in touch. Let’s make your book a success.
