SELF PUBLISHING GUIDE BY TELL TELL POETRY We make self-publishing easier! TABLE OF CONTENTS

Determine the Type of Book You’re Working On 4 Format Your Collection 5 Format Your Copyright Page 6 Format Your Title Page 7 Write Your Acknowledgements Page 8 Format Your Table of Contents 9 Format Your Foreword 9 Choose a Platform 10 Set Up the Interior 18 Set Up the Exterior 18 Front and Back Covers and Spine Design 19 Get an ISBN 22 Congrats! You did it! 23 Overwhelmed? Don’t do it alone! 24

TELL TELL POETRY SELF-PUBLISHING GUIDE 2 SELF-PUBLISHING GUIDE

You have written a poetry book. Woohoo! Congrats! You did the hard work, typed up all your poems, and maybe worked with an editor. But now you want to get it out in the world. You want to share it with your friends and family. You want to sell some copies. You want to set up a reading. We get it! It can be hard to know where to turn, so we wanted to give you a free self-publishing guide to help you get started.

TELL TELL POETRY SELF-PUBLISHING GUIDE 3 DETERMINE THE TYPE OF BOOK YOU’RE WORKING ON

Before you actually get moving, you’ll want to establish some goals. Your goals will determine the type of book you publish. For example, are you 5 MOST COMMON looking to incorporate high-quality photos into your TYPES OF BOOKS collection? Do you have a series of images? Are you hoping to add some illustrations? You may want to look into publishing an art or photo book. Do you Art Book have black and white pages with no illustrations? A 6x9 Print Paperback trade paperback might be the best option. Once Landscape Book you understand what you’re working with, you’ll be able to make a more informed decision about the Hardcover type of book you want to publish. And there are a Pocket-sized Book variety of companies that can help.

TELL TELL POETRY SELF-PUBLISHING GUIDE 4 FORMAT YOUR COLLECTION

Just because you finished writing the book, doesn’t • Use style guidelines set out by the Chicago mean you’re finished with the whole thing! You still Manual of Style have to properly format your collection. • Create an alphabetical style sheet to help you remember which words you capitalized, Formatting will depend on which self-publishing which you italicized, and which you platform you use. No matter what you go with, formatted in a different font you’ll want to make sure that you do the following: • Proofread title page • Brainstorm back jacket copy • Create a copyright page • Format your titles properly • Proofread for spelling errors • Check for typeface issues • Proofread table of contents • Check for page number issues • Check for style inconsistencies in headers, subheaders, titles, and index

TELL TELL POETRY SELF-PUBLISHING GUIDE 5 FORMAT YOUR COPYRIGHT PAGE

According to the Copyright Act of 1989, a • Author bio copyright page is not legally required for published • Address of publisher texts. It is still standard procedure to include one. If • Copyright notice (“All rights reserved” etc.) you choose to include one, you’ll want to make sure • Date of publication you’re incorporating the correct information: • Country where printed [if your book will be printed in multiple countries, use the country where it was first published] • Add the printer’s key to indicate the print run • International Standard Book Number (ISBN) • (If applicable) International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) • Language title was first printed in, publisher, and copyright information (If a translation) • Acknowledgements, permissions and grant notices • Any statements about paper and/or font

TELL TELL POETRY SELF-PUBLISHING GUIDE 6 FORMAT YOUR TITLE PAGE

Your title page is a single page in your collection • Title and, when applicable, subtitle of book that states the title of your book. • Author name • Publisher address

TELL TELL POETRY SELF-PUBLISHING GUIDE 7 WRITE YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS PAGE

Acknowledgements pages aren’t necessary, but they sure are lovely.

WHAT IT IS The acknowledgements page is a place where you can give thanks to all the people who have helped or supported you during the writing process.

WHO TO THANK Thank any magazines where your poems have previously appeared. Thank any companies that provided you with grants or funding. Thank any mentors or colleagues who provided support for your work.

TONE This is the one time that you can write in your own voice. Feel free to explore some published acknowledgements pages to see what the options are. We suggest keeping it simple by using a gracious tone.

LENGTH Keep it under one page. Don’t worry about making your second cousin feel bad. Thank the people or magazines you need to and leave it at that.

PLACEMENT The Chicago Manual of Style suggests that the acknowledgements section should go either in the front or back of the book. The choice is yours.

TYPEFACE The acknowledgements page should be the same typeface and size as the body text.

TELL TELL POETRY SELF-PUBLISHING GUIDE 8 FORMAT YOUR TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Start table of contents on page v or vii • Leave out chapter or poem subheads • List titles of poems and corresponding • If poems don’t have titles, you can omit beginning page numbers a ToC, though keep in mind that it’s not common and could annoy your readers • Include section titles, but leave out corresponding page numbers • If illustrations are closely tied to the text, omit them from the ToC • Include front matter, back matter, and index

FORMAT YOUR FOREWORD

• A foreword is an introductory text written by a person other than the author • A foreword usually ends with the name of the author who wrote the foreword • The text uses the same style as the interior manuscript’s text

TELL TELL POETRY SELF-PUBLISHING GUIDE 9 CHOOSE A PLATFORM

Choosing a platform first will save you from a headache later on. Once you know which company you want to work with, you’ll be able to properly format the interior of your collection. Let’s look at some popular options.

BLURB LULU

BOOK CREATE BABY SPACE

TELL TELL POETRY SELF-PUBLISHING GUIDE 10 BLURB A SELF-PUBLISHING PLATFORM FOR ART BOOKS

FEATURES • Experts available THINGS • Beautiful interface TO NOTE • Easy PDF uploader • Easy-to-use-platform • Supports large files (up to 2MB) • Great for art books, trade books, and magazines • Online previewer makes it easy to review book before printing • Only supports distribution through Amazon • Supports fixed-layout eBooks • Expensive shipping costs • Supports PDF and ePub version • Mediocre matte cover • Layout tools including (if using a dark cover) BookWright, Adobe InDesign Plug-In, PDF to book, Adobe • Manufacturing can be expensive Lightroom, Blurb for iPhone • Takes around 4 months from the and iPad, and online photo sale date to get paid book support • Best for art books • Supports pre-sell through Kickstarter

ROYALTIES 64-page poetry manuscript Royalties: AND Softcover book List Price – (base unit cost + listing PRICING fee + 15% of List Price) Black and white printing $3.99 per book

TELL TELL POETRY SELF-PUBLISHING GUIDE 11 LULU AN EASY-TO-USE SELF-PUBLISHING PLATFORM

FEATURES • Supports Word document or • Publishes eBooks, but doesn’t go PDF uploads through Amazon KDP. If you want to publish an eBook and distribute • Allows single book printings, so it using Amazon, you’ll have to authors can pay to receive only go with a platform that has a one copy of each book. There is connection with Amazon KDP no minimum order requirement. • Provides author services such • Provides extensive knowledge as paid reviews through trusted base that includes articles, video companies like Kirkus and tutorials, and forums to help you promotional author videos learn how to create, publish, and sell a print or eBook • Provides print books on demand so authors don’t have to carry • Provides free tools so you can stock, or have piles of their own create your print or eBook, books sitting around ISBNs, and distribution to online retailers (although both Lulu and • Provides author discounts on third-party retailers will take a large volume orders commission upon sale) • Allows immediate eBook • Supports the creation and sale of publication your book directly through Lulu, • Crafts high-quality covers with the option to distribute to other online retailers as well • Does not charge a distribution fee • If you publish and are assigned an ISBN through Lulu, you will be unable to publish through another company, so if you wanted to publish a hard cover on Lulu and a soft cover on Blurb, it would be a no-go

TELL TELL POETRY SELF-PUBLISHING GUIDE 12 LULU (CON’T) AN EASY-TO-USE SELF-PUBLISHING PLATFORM

THINGS • If you use a Lulu-provided ISBN, TO NOTE you give Lulu exclusive publication rights • Support team is nearly impossible to connect with • Pays royalties to the bank or PayPal, so it’s easy to get paid out • Does not support matte covers on paperback books

ROYALTIES 65-Page Poetry Collection Book List Price: $14.95 AND 6x9 Trade Paperback Base Price: -$2.55 PRICING Self-created Cover Lulu Share: -$1.94 Black and White Interior Glossy Cover Royalty: $10.46 per sale 60-lb paper $2.55 Per Book Total for 60 books: $138

If you sell on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Ingram, you’ll make a little less. The distribution fees will be around $7 per book and Lulu would take a $0.40 share. So you might be able to make $1-$2 if you sell most of your books through Amazon.

TELL TELL POETRY SELF-PUBLISHING GUIDE 13 BOOKBABY BEAUTIFUL ART BOOKS

FEATURES • Takes care of formatting and CONS • Print book costs $199 for sends you a proof for approval global distribution • Offers a 100% money-back • Client must order at least 25 satisfaction guarantee copies to complete distribution set up • Provides free access to “BookShop,” a personal online • eBook distribution costs $249 + storefront for authors that allows $29 for an ISBN you to make more in royalties by bypassing retail middlemen THINGS • Hefty distribution set up fee • Offers free services, allowing TO NOTE authors to upload retail-ready • Expensive eBook distribution fee ePub files • Doesn’t allow pick-and-choose • Takes no commission on net distribution so if you choose eBook sales Global Distribution, you book can appear in all of the stores listed • Supports chats with customer (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.) service agents who are self-publishing experts • Pays authors out via PayPal, deposit (with US bank account), • Provides shipping on most or check book orders • Supplies ISBNs for $19 and • Has largest distribution network requires exclusive rights of retail stores for any self-publishing service • Only supports orders of 1 book or 25+ • Offers marketing services • Prints books on demand • Doesn’t take a selling fee, ROYALTIES Most titles will generate between which can mean more profit AND 10%-30% royalties PRICING

TELL TELL POETRY SELF-PUBLISHING GUIDE 14 CREATESPACE AMAZON’S SELF-PUBLISHING PLATFORM

FEATURES • Provides free “do-it-yourself” THINGS • Does not support hard option, which will get you TO NOTE cover distribution distribution to Amazon, Amazon • Has easy to reach Europe, Kindle, the CreateSpace support services storefront, and more, through the free expanded distribution program ROYALTIES For a 65-page poetry book • Provides free tools for cover and AND 6x9 interior design setup PRICING • Offers paid editing, layout, Black and white design, and marketing services List Price: $14.95 • Claims to offer “some of the highest royalties in the industry” Amazon Fee and Base Price: — you get 60% through Amazon -$8.13 or Amazon Europe and 80% through the CreateSpace storefront (note: there is still a fixed fee for each sale, which will Royalty: $6.82 per book sold depend upon the specifics of your book) • Prints books on demand • Provides free resources on self-publishing, including articles, and a blog • Supports “member orders,” orders for your own book, costs only the fixed and per-page price, plus shipping and handling, meaning CreateSpace takes no extra fees on these orders

TELL TELL POETRY SELF-PUBLISHING GUIDE 15 CREATESPACE (CON’T) AMAZON’S SELF-PUBLISHING PLATFORM

PRICING (For standard trim sizes, books must be between 24-440 pages. For custom trim sizes, books must be between 24-220 pages.)

TELL TELL POETRY SELF-PUBLISHING GUIDE 16 SUMMARY OF PUBLISHING PLATFORMS

Blurb is great for art books, but distribution is limited to Amazon.

Lulu is a solid choice for a medium budget, with reasonable prices for printing, and a good network of distribution options.

BookBaby is the best in terms of customer service, features, and distribution, but their printing is the most expensive and they charge hefty fees for distribution set up.

CreateSpace is sparse in terms of features and distribution options, but you can create and publish your book on Amazon for free, and earn some decent royalties.

I love working with Lulu because they make it easy to organize, set up, and distribute collections.

TELL TELL POETRY SELF-PUBLISHING GUIDE 17 SET UP THE INTERIOR

Once you’ve formatted your book and you’ve Don’t forget your checklist for the interior chosen a platform, you’ll need to properly lay out • Are your margins correct? your interior. • Are your track changes turned off? Interior templates from Blurb • Is all your text in black? Interior templates from BookBaby • Does your book include all content?

Interior templates from Lulu • Did you include page numbers? • Have you proofread the whole text? Interior templates from CreateSpace

SET UP THE EXTERIOR

Your exterior will include the following: • Front and Back Covers and Spine Design • Back Jacket Text • ISBN and Barcode

TELL TELL POETRY SELF-PUBLISHING GUIDE 18 FRONT AND BACK COVERS AND SPINE DESIGN

If you have access to design programs like Adobe or InDesign, you should be able to properly design a front, back, and spine.

We wouldn’t recommend attempting to design a book cover using Microsoft Word, as it may not be up to the proper standards.

Make sure your covers align with the platform you’re choosing:

Book cover templates from Blurb

Book cover templates from Lulu

Book cover templates from CreateSpace

Book cover templates for BookBaby are generated after you finish your project

Once you have your design properly formatted, you should be good to go!

TELL TELL POETRY SELF-PUBLISHING GUIDE 19 DEVELOP THE BACK JACKET TEXT

GET A BLURB WHAT DO TO WHEN YOU GET THE BLURB • Thank the blurber A blurb is a sentence or short paragraph about your text. It’s written by someone other than the • Ask the blurber how they would like to be acknowledged author, and it is usually included on the back of the book. Its goal is to inspire readers to purchase the • Format the blurb on the back of your collection if necessary collection and/or share it with friends. Blurb copy should always be positive.

What a blurb should include: Horrorshop is a beautiful debut collection that • A short introduction - Explain how you know the any poet would be honored to read. poet, what you like about their work, and what you’re —Sophia Jones, author of Little Desires asking for • An elevator pitch - Provide a 2-5 sentence Horrorshop is a collection for the ages. explanation of your work. How would you describe —Lighthouse Magazine your work to someone you’re in an elevator with? Do the same thing here. Include the publisher’s name, a Horrorshop is this summer’s must-read. potential publication date, and any other pertinent information that the author might need —Princeton University Film Critic • Thanks - Thank the reader for taking the time to blurb your collection

• Contact information - Share your contact information WHERE TO PLACE THE BLURBS in case the blurber has questions Whether you use multiple short blurbs or a single • Deadlines - Provide any deadlines that you’ll need this information by blurb, place it/them on the back of the book with proper attribution. • Collection - Include a copy of the collection attached to the body of the email • Sign off - Sign off your email with gratitude

TELL TELL POETRY SELF-PUBLISHING GUIDE 20 DEVELOP THE BACK

JACKET TEXT (CON’T)

USE A STANZA FROM THE COLLECTION No blurb? No problem! You can still fill up your back jacket with a stanza or line from your The lilies collection. You can play around with the formatting are too beautiful until it’s the way you want it. Some examples here are shown here. from “Lilies”

Lilies The lilies are too beautiful here

TELL TELL POETRY SELF-PUBLISHING GUIDE 21 GET AN ISBN

The last step before publishing should be the ISBN PRICING creation of the ISBN. You should wait until you’re Lulu – free, but once assigned, you give Lulu ready to press “print.” You can either get an ISBN exclusive publishing rights assigned by the platform you’re using or you can purchase one from a trusted ISBN company like BookBaby – $19, but once assigned, you give ISBN.org. Once you have your ISBN, you can BookBaby exclusive publishing rights place it on the back of your book, and on the CreateSpace – free copyright page. Blurb – free ISBN during intro period, after which the book set up distribution fee is $29 per book

*Tip: If you’re getting an ISBN from the publishing platform of your choice, they may be able to insert the ISBN number on the copyright page after you’ve completed your order.

TELL TELL POETRY SELF-PUBLISHING GUIDE 22 CONGRATS! YOU DID IT!

You’ve put your collection together

You’ve formatted the design for the front and back covers

You’ve formatted the interior layout

You’ve proofread the book

You’ve gotten someone to blurb the book

You’ve purchased your ISBN

You’ve set it up on the platform of your choice

You’ve pressed send!

Now all you have to do is wait for the Pulitzer to roll in :)

Want to publish your book but don’t want to do it yourself? Connect with us! We’d love to help you format, edit, and lay out your collection so it can be ready for the self-publishing platform of your choice. It doesn’t have to be so hard!

TELL TELL POETRY SELF-PUBLISHING GUIDE 23 OVERWHELMED? DON’T DO IT ALONE!

Email [email protected] or visit telltellpoetry.com to get started today!

When you work with Tell Tell Poetry, we’ll handle everything that we’ve covered here. You can handle the more important stuff. Like naps. Yeah. Handle those naps! We’ll do all this:

• Set up and manage the cover and interior design for • Provide a critique of your poems print and eBooks • Provide a critique on the collection as a whole • Work with you to develop a cohesive aesthetic for • Help you get set up on the self-publishing platform your collection of your choice • Provide reordering suggestions • Be your self-publishing support cheerleader • Support format changes and updates • Provide editing and proofreading services

Ready for some guided publishing support? We’re here for you.

TELL TELL POETRY SELF-PUBLISHING GUIDE 24