Whether creating children’s books or other types of books, if you are considering self-publishing , we highly recommend reading Dan Poynter’s Self-Publishing Manual as a first step.
At first glance (especially if you listen to other authors and publishers), self-publishing may seem like the easy way to get your book to market. However, the reality is that self-publishing is not a shortcut. The challenges and risks are different with self-publishing, but they still exist. As a result, it is important to educate yourself about these differences before making any decisions or committing significant resources.
Dan’s book provides more detail than any other resource we have found. It outlines everything from writing your book & starting a publishing company to marketing & distribution. As an example of the level of detail included, Dan provides details on book packaging & storage, specific requests for your printer, and even the specific envelopes, packaging, & delivery options to use in distributing books to customers. We found this very beneficial as we considered the level of investment and effort that would be required to self-publish.
As you read through the manual, we recommend keeping notes on your thoughts relative to your project and the challenges you may encounter. After reading through the manual, these notes may prove useful as you decide whether self-publishing is the best option for your project and situation.
Dan has just released a second volume, which we will review (along with other resources) in a future post. Please let us know if you have come across any other self-publishing resources that you have found beneficial. We would be happy to review and discuss them.
