Become a Writer: How much does it cost to self-publish a book? (2020)

How much does it cost to self-publish a book? In this video, I go over the cost of editing and cover design, and how much you should expect to pay.
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[@DrewAveraAuthor]

Don’t forget formatting. Some people struggle with it. Especially with paperbacks. I’ve formatted for several authors and most know how, but don’t want to deal with it.

[@AuthorLevelUp]

I mentioned it in the original take but my rabbit kept stomping so I had to cut it. LOL. But yes you are correct.

[@Amanda-rd8fl]

I did indeed fall out of my chair!

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Hope you’re okay! LOL

[@smokeymoment3124]

Thank you for continuing to put out great content. So very needed. Thanks for sharing. You are a godsend. Glad I found your channel at the time I did. I had just started my craft. You were instrumental in my growth. Thank you

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Thank you. :)

[@mrsiz218]

I did my own covers in Canva and they weren’t bad, BUT there are font-y things I don’t know how to do so I hired a designer on fiverr for $25 per cover but the guy I REALLY wanted is $350 per cover. The $25 ones are actually quite lovely but what do I know? I figure it can’t hurt. And I can always upgrade. For now they will do. They look a helluva lot better than mine, even though i had more than one person say they liked mine better. 😂😂 Yes I do have a background in art but cover design is not quite the same. Great content!! Thank you or all you do!

[@turtlecheese8]

Found your channel on accident doing a college assignment. Getting into the final phases of self editing my book before sending it to a professional, this is great stuff, thanks!

[@paulusbornzocken3761]

Typeface and Fonts: software for producing typeface is referred to as font software. Software gets copyright protection (long story). Typeface isn't copyrightable because it is a useful article and falls under the patent laws (since the 1840s in the US). Specifically, design patents. If a typeface is drawn onto an image and there is no design patent for it, there is no violation: neither copyright nor patent. If you use copyrighted software to draw that typeface, then the use of that software is a violation if you don't have a license.

[@jacklabloom635]

This is an informative video. New writers should watch this video, before they start spending money.

[@pencilwritingeditingresear6947]

We are professional editors and proofreaders. With all due respect, $120 to proofread a 50,000 word book is incredibly cheap. Proofreading is the lowest and requires the least amount of work of all editing. In addition, $400 to copy edit a 50,000 word book is incredibly cheap. That's less than 1 cent per word, which is incredibly cheap, especially nowadays. You also forgot to mention line editing. It is true that editor's prices will vary depending on experience. However, the least a trained editor should be charging is 1 cent per word. That's another important factor. Most professional editors will charge per word, per page, and/or hourly. The lowest hourly rate that one should to pay for a college-educated editor is $20/hour. Education and/or experience also play major roles in the pricing of editors/proofreaders as well. Please visit the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) website for more information: www.the-efa.org/rates/

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Thank you for sharing your experience!

[@pencilwritingeditingresear6947]

@@AuthorLevelUp Thank you for allowing us to. :)

[@Lesandira]

I would love to see an updated version of this video as I feel a lot of the prices for editing and also cover design have changed a lot.

[@bobnolin9155]

I know my way around Photoshop quite well, well enough to know I am not good enough to produce a great cover. As you say, ten years ago I would've done it myself. But now, you need a professional-quality cover to succeed. Thanks for these videos, Michael! Very helpful.

[@Zadonis1]

Michael La Ronn, you are the best!!!

[@Teckno72]

I used to be a high school English teacher. I edited the book for myself. The publisher I used suggested using the Garamond font and created a nice-looking (to me) marble angel statue on the cover. I lost the angel cover when I went to another publisher. I paid about $1,000 for the whole thing. Don’t buy too many add-ons.

[@Teckno72]

I also worked at a book store that actually carried my title on their shelf, and they let me advertise the book and have a book signing in their food court. I’m just not that good at merchandising. I enjoyed the experience, though! 🤭

[@MichaelSeanComerford]

Huge thanks!!

[@p0i50nd4r72]

Thank you for the great information! I'm still stuck in the phase of trying to understand every aspect before even beginning on my new novel ideas but your videos with the nitty-gritty really help me feel like it's an achievable goal. I might luck out on cover design, my wife is an artist and she's willing to give it a shot when it gets that far. Keep up the good work!

[@_Sonia.S]

Another great video!

[@patriciadanna7433]

Excellent information. Thanks for sharing the average cost of self-publishing. Great advice.

[@IGotBank]

Great information and very helpful. Thank you.

[@madoverlordstudios]

Please do a video on how to find people to help you formatting, doing cover art etc etc.

[@accordioncoversandfolksong9308]

This video was extremely helpful. Thanks so much.

[@godlysigns]

So, where did you giro find your copy editor and proof reader?!

[@ML-py4rt]

Good content as usual sir. Just one caveat - I find the title misleading as I thought you would discuss the costs of actually going through a self-publisher like Lulu or Ingram Spark. Otherwise, I like the way you broke the costs down on putting a book together.

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Thank you for the feedback.

[@IanHollis]

Based on my own personal experiences, it's _definitely_ worth hiring a professional for your cover. Also, unless I missed it, you didn't mention the cost of marketing and promotions.

[@quealthworldwide5458]

Once again the information shared is superb.

[@taliagreene6303]

I enjoyed this very much, Thank you!

[@margaretchase8711]

Can you talk about marketing?

[@flowersister498]

Another great video! You have truly been a blessing. Thanks

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Thank you. :)

[@AkbarJaffer]

What are the top 5 self publishers for business/marketing books? What about Archway?

[@rachelevans6909]

I know that there are different nuances that are unique to certain genres. I am working on an upcoming children's book and editing wasn't a big cost for me (like less than $100 for line edit and proofreading) but illustrations were. I am completely satisfied with my illustrations and don't regret spending the money to hire a professional illustrator. I know that there were a lot of options out there to save on illustration cost, such as doing it yourself, hiring someone on Fiverr, manipulating photos in software to look like illustrations. Everyone has different goals for their book and will need to figure out which route best fits their needs. But for me if you are writing children's books or a book that requires lots of illustrations, then this is an area where I wouldn't cut drastic corners. I just asked myself, if I cut corners with my illustrations and went another route simply to save money, would I be happy/satisfied with the end result. Knowing myself I realized that I wouldn't have been happy so that helped me to both decide what to do about my illustrations and not to feel regret for my decision. Other costs associated with my book I had no problem finding economical cost efficient ways to handle those things.

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Well said.

[@jenniferrosa103]

Wait why do you not recommend developmental editor? Did I understand that correctly?

[@e.jacksone7273]

this was so helpful, thanks man!

[@josephcrews6423]

Hello! So my aunt is actually a writer too, so she started a publishing company just for her books. I'm thinking about asking her to publish my book for me, but do you think it would be better to go with a more established self-publishing company?

[@cesarTeixeiratex]

I missed an excel spreadsheet at the end of the video with all the expenses added up.

[@candymitchell249]

Hello! I am ready to get a cover design for my book, but I am trying to figure out ISBN and if a barcode is needed. I read that I needed a different ISBN for print and Ebook even if it is the same book. I was wondering if you could shed some knowledge for me on what is right. I want to sell ebooks, but I also want the option for it to be printed like through Amazon. Thanks for all the information about everything else. Your videos are great!

[@kathyf3656]

How do you learn to have confidence which idea is right in your story telling? I have several WIPs with multiple outlines, beginnings, endings. I start the story with one idea, then think "that's not believable" then go off on another tangent. I have an outline set, but then think of a better idea, and re-write the whole think, changing direction once again before I finish. I have maybe 6 stories with over 100K words for each, but nothing is completed, just a series of incomplete stories and ideas that don't get me closer to being published again (several articles and a novella many, many years ago, but nothing completed or submitted in at least 15 years). Any advice for the easily distracted writer?

[@AuthorLevelUp]

Watch this video. It may help: Become a Writer: How to Finish Your Story Idea kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKjLhZmngK2Ai6c

[@_Sonia.S]

🙌🙌🙌🙌

[@akinleyeakinrefon6447]

If you are a good story teller but bad writer is a partner or a ghost writer