Self-publishing

Self-publishing: your book, your control

Self-publishing means bringing out your book under your own control, without waiting for a publisher to accept it. It is a chain of stages (writing, editing, production, publication and marketing), not a sprint. This guide shows how the stages fit together.

Publisher or self-publishing?

Self-publishing suits niche topics, quick publication and authors who already have a community. A publisher suits authors who need the classic bookstore trade and have little time for self-marketing. Many authors mix both. For the other route, see our overview of German publishers.

Production and platforms

Production covers editing, proofreading, typesetting, the cover, the file formats and the choice of platform. You decide on each of these, or you hire help. A professional book editing step is worth planning early.

Marketing and visibility

Readers find books through the product page, reviews, social media, press and events. Prepare these while the book is still in production, not after the launch.

Quality assurance

Typos, clumsy sentences and inconsistent formatting end up in critical reviews, and reviews follow a book for years. Plan an editing step before you publish. More advice for writers is on our tips for authors page.