The Cost of Self-Publishing (2024)

[@YoungXclusive]

Tbh Dale, the title undervalue the indepth details and advice that you gave in this whole video. We really appreciate it.

[@DaleLRoberts]

Oh really? Out of curiosity, what would be a better title? I’m legitimately curious.

[@YoungXclusive]

@DaleLRoberts I'm going to be honest, lol I'm really not sure. But the video holds so much more information that I didn't think I was getting just by reading the title. Maybe "How to Self-Publish a book with any budget" or "Advice on Self-publishing a book with YOUR budget" or "Self-Publishing a book with YOUR budget" Something along those lines. Hope I helped.

[@DaleLRoberts]

Hey, thanks! That's helpful, for sure.

[@YoungXclusive]

@@DaleLRoberts no problem

[@y.siddiqui1686]

Wow! This was a rollercoaster ride. A lot of useful information, delivered in a burst-mode! Overwhelmed but happy to have watched your video. Thank you.

[@DaleLRoberts]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@theresamcevoy6120]

I been lucky with my covers, everyone loves them and my cover designer is awesome and he doesn't charge me an arm and a leg.

[@DaleLRoberts]

That's excellent!

[@mlp4apc]

I love this. This is just what I need. I made notes and all. Thank you, Dale.

[@DaleLRoberts]

You're very welcome and I’m so glad you found it helpful.

[@DovieRuthAuthor]

This is a much needed topic for discussion. There was so much disinformation floating around in regard to Becky Hill’s self-published book. Even newscasters were stating that it costs 35K to have a book edited/published on Amazon. Becky might have spent 35K, but it sure wasn’t on Amazon. Maybe for ghostwriting or publicity?

[@DaleLRoberts]

$35k?! Holy crap! If that’s for editing, she must not be very good at writing. Haha wow! Or her editors charge her a lot. Geez! Thanks for sharing.

[@DovieRuthAuthor]

@@DaleLRobertsShe’s good at copying. I’m sure you heard about her plagiarizing a BBC writer’s work.

[@DaleLRoberts]

No, but wow! She spent that much money on a book only to have plagiarized the content??? haha What a dunce!

[@stevewalker9664]

$550. for a cover, formatting $120. editing $450

[@DaleLRoberts]

Well done!

[@Tremendous027]

Outstanding video as always! I wouldn't call my notes brutal, just given in a way that can't be ignored and keeps your magnificence humble. 😁

[@DaleLRoberts]

Hahaha I stand corrected…again. Hahahaha

[@syenite]

I would really like to see you review Novelcrafter and the way they integrate AI. I've really been enjoying Novelcrafter as a sort of successor to Scrivener, especially since I'm an android user and I have given up on Scrivener ever coming to Android. What I like about Novelcrafter is that the AI is optional. You can get it w/o AI integration for $4/mo and w/ AI for $8-$14 depending on what AI features you want. Their Matrix view and Plan feature feels like the best parts of corkboard with an upgrade.

[@DaleLRoberts]

I’m putting it on my list. I’m certainly curious. I believe I saw the Nerdy Novelist cover Novelcrafter in a KZbin video. Great channel, by the way.

[@ilkercolakoglu]

I would love to see a Google Ads for Self Publishing video; having finished GAds course recently. 😅😇

[@DaleLRoberts]

Great suggestion!

[@quietdeluxe]

Thanks for the shout-out!

[@DaleLRoberts]

You bet!

[@laroyfergueson4508]

When publishing a booking through KDP, do KDP copyright your book for you, or do I have to get them copyrighted myself and then publish them?

[@DaleLRoberts]

No, they won’t register your copyright. Here’s a short video series explaining it: How to Register a Copyright for Your Book kzbin.info/aero/PLXCkkWHluK4DvF2HtSldA6On7kcejMxyA

[@davidwarren7279]

You retain the copyright yourself. Amazon say this on their website. Lulu are the same

[@ilkercolakoglu]

Something I havent asked hundreads of time xD Nice content bro!

[@DaleLRoberts]

Any time, buddy. More to come!

[@jproog41]

Dale, thank you for a video like this that provides different options. However, for dictation, why didn't you include Otter?

[@DaleLRoberts]

Never used them. But it sounds like an option you like, so stick with it. 😎🔥

[@KaterinaFerrara]

199 is current publisher rocket cost at link below

[@DaleLRoberts]

Yeah, it just increased in July.

[@PattyWrites]

Banana Bobb sent me! ;)

[@DaleLRoberts]

Heyyyyyy! Gotta love BB! Hahaha thanks so much for hanging out on Discord.

[@LS-uw5cc]

Can one insert images into dibble create?

[@DaleLRoberts]

You sure can. On a blank line, click the plus symbol to the right, then select Insert, then image.

[@nicholaskrohn57]

This question is unrelated, but a friend and I are doing a project together, but we're going to make two versions of the same book. One will have crucial information missing that the other will have and vice versa. Do you know if we can legally do this? I contacted the copyright office concerning this, but I don't think they understood. They just pointed me to where I can submit an application for copyright (which I already know how to do) and never answered my question

[@DaleLRoberts]

It seems like you should be good, but…I hate doing this…consult an attorney about that. A great go-to in our industry is Helen Sedwick. She specializes in the legal stuff around self-publishing.

[@nicholaskrohn57]

@@DaleLRoberts I suppose consulting an attorney would cost me, huh?

[@DaleLRoberts]

It varies. Ask around, you might find someone willing to do a free consult. But, that's usually to get your business beyond that initial consult.

[@ThePerson-cu4rw]

Just a question, but for my first book, I wish to use Kobo to self-publish it, so do I need to pay money for it, how can I take it out(stop selling) if I don't want it anymore, and which of you videos should I watch to use Kobo to publish my book? Also, will I need to pay even a pence for the ENTIRE process even if I sell m book for an entire decade in Kobo?

[@DaleLRoberts]

Kobo Writing Life is free to use and there’s no exclusivity agreement that’d bind you to their platform. Here are two recent videos where I covered KWL: - kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2ill2Wlg8alntksi=dVkzz_bYJb3Dz7_N - kzbin.inforwwwP6Rn4_w?si=HqXsWyuMcpGy7amr

[@ThePerson-cu4rw]

@@DaleLRoberts Thanks, I value your time and thought

[@KaterinaFerrara]

I’m going to be at $5000 or more. First book so some start up costs there

[@DaleLRoberts]

Yeah, that’s a hefty price.

[@rentedthriftedreal]

I'd say about $500

[@DaleLRoberts]

Nice!

[@scifidesign2]

If I don't count, advertising, then £0

[@DaleLRoberts]

Well done!

[@scifidesign2]

@@DaleLRoberts What a lot of people don't understand Dale, is that writing a book is hard work. I am a seasoned veteran now, but I am still learning something new everyday. I have gone down the road of vanity publishing and it cost me a fortune. Something I'll never do again.

[@BruceWayne15325]

$400 on cover artists. ~$60 scrivener ~$10/mo. ProWritingAid so I don't bug my cousin as much for editing $14/mo. for NovelCrafter subscription so I can ask developmental editing questions on a 500+ page manuscript ~$10 in OpenRouter credits for tons of developmental editing questions through Claude Haiku on a 500+ page manuscript I did everything else myself, and I'm lucky enough to be related to an editor, so that was free, otherwise it would have been thousands since my book is over 500 pages. I didn't include ads and promotions here, but that can be expensive as well.

[@DaleLRoberts]

Not bad at all.

[@BruceWayne15325]

@@DaleLRoberts covers and editing are the two things I'd say people should never skimp on since those will both have an enormous impact on your book sales. Unfortunately, they can both be quite expensive.

[@DaleLRoberts]

Totally agreed!