Simply Self-Publish

All course content including tutorials, exercises, tasks, and reading lists, will be uploaded to the course platform on the same day each week.

Each week, you’ll be set three tasks to be completed by the following week. Your tutors and peers will then give you feedback on your work.

Each course has 10 students that engage in discussion and peer-feedback every week. Students tend to form strong and lasting bonds, which means the exchange of ideas, friendship and support lasts beyond the course itself.

Once you’re enrolled, you’ll have full access to all tutorial content permanently. So there’s plenty of time to fit the course around your everyday life.

The course comes with a year-long Jericho Writers membership, granting you access to exclusive self-publishing resources and discounts on editorial products.

We’ll start off our first week by looking at the history of self-publishing and how it became so popular. We’ll dive deep into the different forms of publishing and what it truly takes to become a self-published author. What does self-publishing success look like and how can you achieve it?

Outcome: Outline the process required to become a self-published author and start editing your finished manuscript accordingly.

In our second week, we’ll learn all the tools to make our manuscripts the very best they can be. We’ll cover the fundamentals of how to self-edit, the differences between beta readers and ARC readers (including when to use them), and how to write a professional blurb. Want insight on professional editing? We’ll also teach you how to choose, brief and work with editors effectively and what each kind of editing involves.

Outcome: Be confident self-editing your work, outsourcing and working with editors and writing a blurb for your own book.

So, you know you want to self-publish, but in which format? It’s important to know about the different formats, their place in your catalogue, and the common elements across all formats. But what’s the point in self-publishing if no one can find your book? You’ll need to consider all available publishing platforms and optimise categories and keywords if you want to reach a large audience!

Outcome: Have a comprehensive plan for the order in which you will publish your book formats, including categories and key words.

An eye-catching cover matters just as much in self-publishing as it does with traditional publishing. Some authors decide to go down the DIY route, but for those who want some extra help, that’s where the professionals come in. We’ll explore production needs for eBook and print and give tips on how to choose, brief and work with a cover designer.

Outcome: Have a written cover brief for your book and know whether you want to go down the DIY or professional design route.

There will be no new tutorial this week. This week will focus on editing your manuscript and getting it really for self-publication.

By now, you’ve edited your manuscript and have a cover design to make you stand out against your competitors. Now it’s time to think about how you’re going to reach your target audience. Where will they be able to buy your book? There’s a lot to consider here, but by the end of the week, you’ll be an expert in distribution options.

Outcome: Understand why it’s so important to publish books in both eBook and print, different models, and have an account set-up with KDP.

Wondering what your best marketing tool is? You don’t need to look far, it’s you! Your readers want to know all about you as an author. We’ll provide you with the tools to develop your author brand and get your name known.

Outcome: Create a website with either a mailing list or blog post to interest your target readers.

Word of mouth is important in any industry, but particularly when it comes to books, and no one loves to shout about the books they’re reading as much as reviewers. But how do you connect with the right people to review your book?

Outcome: Know where to find your target audience and how to approach them for reviews.

To become a successful self-published author, you’ll need to know how to properly market yourself and your books. We’ll take a closer look at Amazon’s Author Central and how to make social media work for you.

Outcome: Create an author central profile and find a social media that fits your needs.

Where do people find out about new books? There are many ways to promote your book either in-person, traditional media or even on broadcast media. This week focuses on advertising and finding the right outlets to promote your new book.

Outcome: Find ways to pitch your new publication to journalists, editors and book bloggers.

You’re ready to self-publish your manuscript, but what happens next? During our last week, we’ll talk about the possibilities that come after, including publishing new books, book sets and serialisation, and audiobooks. We’ll also look at inspiring case studies and what other successful authors have done.

Outcome: Learn about the next steps and how you can make self-publishing work for you long-term.