Does anyone know about the book?

Selling books isn’t easy. It never has been, and it never will be. So when the goal is to sell, the sales process must begin the minute you make the decision your book will be publicly available—long before you have even begun to make the work that will comprise the book itself. If I want to do a book about my birding photography, the second I make this decision, I begin to alert my audience that I am planning to produce a bird book. This could be a year out from when the book hits the Blurb bookstore, giving ample time for people to begin to ponder if they might have an interest in acquiring a copy. This allows me to promote my future book over the entire period required to make the actual images. I can bring my audience along with me as I make the work so they feel they are part of the overall experience. When the book finally arrives, I have an audience lying in wait.

Do you have an audience for your work?

When I ask this question, the most common response is, “I’m on Facebook.” Or, “I have an Instagram account.” This is not what I’m referring to when I say the word audience. Historically, social media followers are more akin to window watchers than actual buyers, so when I refer to audience, I mean people who are true followers of your work and willing to engage with their pocketbooks. In my experience, the single best book sales tool is the email newsletter. Email recipients have much higher engagement rates and have proven far more financially willing. A study by McKinsey & Company found that email marketing was up to 40 times more effective than social media. And for those of you who don’t have a newsletter or a mailing list, that’s okay. Start today. And remember, if your book won’t be done until 2025, you have all of 2024 to build your newsletter and email marketing strategy. Selling books is a marathon, not a sprint.

Have you ever sold a book before?

Several years ago, my brother talked me into signing up for a 30k trail race on the Texas-Mexico border. My brother does Ironman triathlons, and running is a significant part of his life. I don’t run, but for some reason, I said yes and signed up. Five miles into the race, I knew I was in big trouble. Running is HARD. Well, it turns out, so is selling books, and I don’t mean just for you and me, but for everyone. Many of the books you see at your local bookstore don’t sell. The average book published today is selling less than 300 copies over its lifetime in US retail channels. Blockbusters are the unicorns. But, so what? If you haven’t sold a book before, that’s okay, too. Just know that selling takes a solid sales plan. The same as if you were selling a lawnmower or a self-publishing action figure. If this is your first time, set realistic expectations, take your time, and enjoy the process.

What is your audience willing to pay?

As we discussed above, you have announced your intention well in advance of your book hitting the bookstore, and you have begun to build an audience of true fans. Perfect, now you can ask those true fans what they are willing to pay for your masterpiece. As a photographer, traditional ideology says I should attempt to build and sell a photo book, but photo books are expensive. I might be able to shame my family into buying a few copies, but my audience might not have the funds. Through my email newsletter, I can query my readers to better understand their limits, which in turn will guide me to build the right object for the right audience at the right price point. Perhaps, instead of a $75 photo book, I create a $25 trade book that shows the photography but also includes the behind-the-scenes imagery of how the project was created.

Answering these questions and making a long-term plan will allow for a much more enjoyable publishing experience and might also lead to improved sales. One successful photographer explained to me, “My books are my children.” I think this is a solid analogy. Children are often what we are most proud of and protective of, but children take time and nurturing to reach their full potential.

So, what does all this mean? Intelligent, successful book publishing takes practice, patience, and a solid plan. Keeping to realistic goals while taking baby steps is key. And perhaps more than anything else, enjoy the process. Your positivity about the work and your sales plan will hopefully translate to your readers, who will see a confident, enthusiastic author with a story they can’t live without.

***

Dan Milnor is a professional photographer and Blurb’s creative ambassador. He shares his photography and bookmaking expertise here every single month. Are you ready to turn your photography into a photo book? Join us at Blurb.

The post Hit the Books with Dan Milnor: How to Sell Your Book appeared first on Blurb Blog.

Sure, fantasy novels will always be trendy from a genre point of view. But the diversification of book formats, creator voices, distribution channels, and self-publishing outlets is rapidly reshaping how audiences and creators navigate the literary landscape.

To bring you up to speed, here are some of the most relevant and compelling book trends to look for in 2024.

Surging popularity of self-publishing

Self-publishing isn’t just a publishing option; it’s a burgeoning industry that offers creators more control and potentially higher earnings. Let’s decode what this means for you as a creator.

• Rapid growth in self-publishing: The self-publishing market is booming with a 17% annual growth rate, significantly outpacing the traditional publishing market’s 1% growth, indicating a dynamic and expanding arena for new creators.
• Earnings and royalties: Financial gains can be substantial in the world of self-publishing. Creators on only platforms are reaping substantial rewards, with more than 2,000 authors earning over $100,000 in royalties in 2022 alone. Even better, self-publishing platforms typically offer creators up to 70% of sales revenues, considerably more than traditional publishing royalties.
• Women leading the way: In an encouraging trend, 67% of top-rated self-published books are written by women, offering a contrast to the traditionally published book landscape. 
• The power of independence: The story of Brandon Sanderson, who raised a record-breaking $41 million through Kickstarter for his self-published books, exemplifies the potential of independent publishing.
• Recognition and respect: The self-publishing field is gaining recognition, with prestigious awards like the Pulitzer Prize and the British Book Awards now open to self-published creators. This elevates the status and potential of self-published works in the literary community.
• Publishing frequency and genre diversity: Many self-published creators are prolific, with over half publishing more than 10 books. Romance, fantasy, and crime/thriller genres dominate, accounting for 57% of self-published books.
• Market share and sales: Self-published ebooks comprise 30-34% of all ebook sales, with an estimated 300 million self-published books sold annually. This reflects a substantial market share and opportunity for new creators.
• Realistic expectations: While the average self-published book sells 250 copies at an average price of $4.16, the potential for significant earnings exists. However, it’s important to note that 90% of self-published books sell less than 100 copies, and 20% of authors report no income. This highlights the importance of marketing and audience engagement in self-publishing success.
• Comparative success: Comparatively, among authors who published their first book in the last 10 years, more self-published authors (1,600) have earned over $25,000 a year than traditionally published authors (1,200), according to one survey. 

In addition to novelists and authors, more photographers, fashion designers, and visual artists are self-publishing their books, from interior design portfolios to coffee table books. 

Not only are higher margins a major draw to self-publishing, but this avenue provides you with complete control over the publishing process and ownership of your work. The absence of traditional publishers and literary agents allows for diversity to thrive and underrepresented voices to be heard, eliminating all creative barriers.

Self-publishing companies offer a range of services, including design, formatting, distribution, and marketing assistance, which are essential if you’re a creator who may not have the resources to manage these aspects independently. In turn, the accessibility, marketability, and print quality of self-publishing platforms have been pivotal drivers in reshaping the book publishing landscape.

Trending book genres

Certain book genres are getting more attention than others as we head into 2024. Based on the most popular books to be published in 2023 and popular genres in recent years, several noteworthy genres are on-trend. Of these, young adult, romance, fantasy, mystery and thriller, historical fiction, science fiction, self-help, and memoir are expected to be popular book genres in 2024. 

We also looked at publishing trends by Eightify, Alyssa Matesic, and a survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of ThriftBooks. Collectively, we found these to be the most popular text-driven book genres of 2023.

• Fantasy
• Romance
• Young Adult
• History
• Sci-Fi
• Comedy
• Action-Adventure
• Mystery
• Horror
• Thriller/Mystery
• Self-help
• Mythology
• LGBTQIA+

We also explored the top genres for photo books, graphic novels, and art books in 2023. 

• Trending photography books: Some of the leading photography book genres include portrait photography, landscape and nature photography, documentary photography, fashion photography, street photography, fine art photography, black and white photography, travel photography, wildlife photography, and photojournalism. There’s plenty for you to pick from!
• Popular graphic novel genres: Graphic novels continue to be a popular genre, with a wide range of sub-genres and styles. Some of the most prominent graphic novel genres include fiction, memoir, life-writing, documentary journalism, and comic-strip narratives. If you have an interest in selling your visual storytelling, it’s a smart plan to try these genres in 2024.
• Top art books: Art books are an extremely diverse category, encompassing various styles, movements, and artists. Rather than chasing a trend, you’ll want to feature your work alongside text, whether you’re sharing your painting, sculpture, or more.

These popular genres reflect the diverse and evolving nature of visual storytelling and artistic expression, offering a range of content for enthusiasts and professionals alike.

Proliferation of photo books

Photo books have become a popular creative outlet for an increasingly diverse market of consumers. While the general photo album market for weddings, family vacations, and more is the biggest pool in this rising tide, the proliferation of photo books extends into many professional applications.

Professional photography portfolios are one of the largest categories, with landscape, wildlife, portrait, and street photographers being a driving force in 2023 and likely will continue into 2024. 

However, such printed works aren’t limited to these photography-specific genres. Independent artists of all types—graphic artists, fashion designers, painters, sculptors, and illustrators—use photo books to showcase their work through a visual narrative. Even marketers are using photo books for visual storytelling and branding purposes. 

If you’re interested in sharing your photo book, the emergence of new technologies is helping to expand the market with state-of-the-art photo printing technologies. Plus, the availability of print-on-demand photo book services allows for professional-quality custom prints and photo books like never before.

Diversification in the industry

The Diversity Baseline Survey (DBS), which gathers statistics about diversity in the publishing workforce, clearly shows a lack of diversity in the publishing industry, specifically underrepresented groups. In short, the industry has been historically white.

But race alone isn’t the only major disparity. DBS also highlighted gender, sexual orientation, and disability-related differences in the publishing industry. Cis women are among the most dominant gender group, representing 74% of the industry, while 81% of the overall industry identifies as straight or heterosexual. 

In response, there’s a considerable push for greater diversity in the book industry, with publishers recognizing the need for diverse voices in books. In 2024, we can expect to see publishers continuing to diversify their workforces’ racial and cultural makeup. 

While the efforts of major publishing houses will be pivotal in shaping the trade book publishing sector, hundreds of indie publishers will also affect the industry’s direction toward greater diversity, equity, and inclusion. These publishers are committed to promoting diversity in all forms of publishing and championing inclusion and employment equality. They support and specialize in publishing diverse and inclusive books, amplifying marginalized voices, and providing opportunities for underrepresented creators. 

If you’re a member of a historically marginalized group or a creator focused on uplifting their stories, 2024 could be your year for a publishing deal. And if publishing deals aren’t your focus, the proliferation of self-publishing is contributing to a more equitable and inclusive publishing landscape that enriches the literary and artistic community.

Adoption of AI

Artificial intelligence is one of the hottest topics in the book industry. However, the use of AI extends far beyond content creation and writing assistance. In 2024, we can anticipate AI having a mainstream role in many aspects of the book industry.

• Editing and proofreading: AI technologies are rapidly increasing the efficiency of the editing process, allowing you to quickly and accurately identify errors, detect plagiarism, and generate reports. Authors A.I. is one such tool that provides an expert analysis of your work in minutes.
• Marketing and promotion: AI will enable books to morph into additional revenue-producing mediums in ways we’ve never seen before. AI-powered marketing can help you target the right audience, optimize ad campaigns, and track performance. Craft compelling marketing messages with tools like JasperAI or design engaging branding materials with the help of Looka.
• Data analytics: AI can analyze market trends, audience preferences, and book sales data to provide valuable insights for publishers and booksellers. This information can help you identify emerging genres, understand reader behavior, optimize pricing strategies, and make data-driven decisions. While there are tons of options, KNIME is a free and open-source platform offering a complete toolkit for analyzing and mining data with machine learning.
• Book discovery and searchability: AI-powered search algorithms can enhance the discoverability of books. By analyzing book content and user interactions, AI can tailor search results to show relevant books that readers might like. Librarian AI is an early-stage example worth checking out.

Other popular tools like Admiral, DeepL, Spiny, and Hemingway are testaments to the adoption of AI in the book industry, and we can expect to see more platforms in the coming year. 

Expansion of children’s books

If you think the widening market of photo books is compelling, wait until you see the expansion and diversification of children’s books in 2024. Here, we anticipate seeing more children’s books centered around three main topics.

• Diversity and inclusivity: There is an increased demand for children’s books with diverse characters and stories representing different cultures and backgrounds. It’s not just about skin color or ethnicity. Children with disabilities or in non-traditional family structures deserve to see themselves in the books they read. 
• Emotional intelligence: Today, children face mounting social complexities and struggles, so there’s a growing need for books that help children understand and manage their emotions. This goes hand-in-hand with how to navigate prevalent social issues children face, like bullying, discrimination, school violence, and issues around social media.
• Environmental awareness: Creators are acutely aware that the next generation of leaders will ultimately shape the future trajectory of our environment. Books that speak to our planet and the importance of looking after it will continue to be a popular subject for children’s books.

For examples of these book trends, check out the exhaustive list of 2024 children’s book sneak previews from Publishers Weekly.

If you’re inspired to contribute to the vibrant and meaningful category of children’s books, consider what unique perspectives or stories you can offer. Embrace authenticity and think about how your book can resonate with young minds, whether it’s through innovative storytelling, engaging illustrations, or exploring topics not commonly addressed in children’s literature.

Growth in graphic novels

Another billion-dollar book market with explosive growth in recent years, comics and graphic novels are forecasted to see rising interest, especially with many new publications on the horizon.

Among the most important is a new line of graphic novels called DC Compact Comics, showcasing DC stories across many genres, including science fiction, thrillers, horror, fantasy, adventure, and mystery. Undoubtedly a highly anticipated wellspring of comic inspiration, these “read anywhere” graphic novels will be released in June 2024.

Equally important in a male-dominant book market, the female-driven YA graphic novels are a powerful series showcasing strong, heroic young women as prominent characters with their own stories to tell. More than just a trend, these works highlight women as the creative talent and fan base behind graphic novels.

It’s become so much easier for creators to reach a wider audience with their visual stories. If you’re a graphic novelist, consider collaborating with other creators, pushing your boundaries into new genres, and diversifying your character creation. This is the year to push yourself!

Striving toward sustainability

Sustainability and eco-conscious book publishing trends are becoming increasingly urgent in the book industry. In the US alone, around 32 million trees are used to produce books each year. The book production process emits over 40 million metric tons of CO2 on a global scale. 

While audiobooks and ebooks are an obvious solution to this environmental problem, there are alternatives to becoming more sustainable and carbon neutral. By utilizing print-on-demand services and printing books only when needed, publishers and bookmakers can deliver books more cost-effectively while minimizing waste and using fewer resources. 

Likewise, you can help enable these trends by working with small indie publishing platforms, self-publishing with print-on-demand services, and prioritizing sustainability as one of your primary criteria when choosing a publisher. While major publishing houses like Penguin are making strides toward sustainability, their long-term goals are distant compared to what we creatives can do today to make positive change happen. 

Ascension of audiobooks

An undeniable behemoth in the book industry, audiobooks are expected to continue to grow in popularity and revenue in 2024. In the US, the audiobook market is expected to escalate at a rate of 20% to 25% per year over the next seven years, and the global audiobook market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 26.3% from 2023 to 2030. 

According to Words Rated, the audiobook share of the global publishing market will exceed 10% by 2027. By 2030, projections show that audiobooks will account for over 21.3% of the global book publishing revenue.

The audiobook market skews on the younger side, with 57% of audiobook listeners between 18 and 44 and the largest individual growth in audiobook listeners between 18 and 24 years old. The ascension of audiobooks is a call to action for you to consider diversifying your work into digital formats, which could mean reaching new audiences that wouldn’t otherwise pick up a printed copy. 

As the audiobook market continues to grow, you can explore platforms like Audible, Scribd, and Google Play Books to publish their audiobooks. Given that only 1% of audiobooks on Audible are self-published, collaborating with an audiobook publisher or a professional narrator could significantly increase your chances of success in this competitive market. 

Additionally, advancements in AI technology offer an accessible alternative for turning written content into audiobooks, though the human touch of a professional narrator often provides a more engaging listening experience. If you’re considering self-publishing, platforms like Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX) can help connect with narrators and producers and distribute your audiobook across major platforms. 

While the audiobook landscape may require additional effort and investment on your part, the potential to reach a broader, tech-savvy audience makes it a worthwhile to try in 2024.

Direct-to-consumer sales

Driven by the surge in self-published book sales and more creators aiming to take ownership of their books’ profitability, direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales are gaining traction as a significant trend in the book industry. For emerging authors and creators, the emphasis has shifted towards establishing a direct rapport with their audience, circumventing the conventional distribution and marketing channels.

Engaging in D2C sales is not merely a transactional choice but a strategic investment in your brand. You are building trust with your audience and offering them more chances to interact directly with your branding. Thanks to modern publishing avenues, like print-on-demand, getting more economical and flexible, the process of selling books directly to your fans is actually simple.

By adopting a D2C model and using your own channels (like your website, social platforms, email list) to sell your work and communicate with fans, you can foster a closer connection with your audience, retain greater control over your work, and maximize your earnings potential. It’s an empowering and forward-thinking approach that is reshaping the future of publishing.

Short-form content

Short-form content is becoming more popular among readers, meaning book publishers and self-directed creators must find new ways to craft content for quick consumption. Short-form content is easily consumable, bite-sized pieces of information that an audience can quickly digest. 

Serialized content, short stories, zines, and flash fiction are some of the digestible content that meets this rising demand. This is particularly relevant in digital publishing, with shrinking attention spans and an over-abundance of content, making it an uphill battle to capture an audience’s attention. 

So what does that mean for you and your currently published books? It may be smart to translate your long-form work into digital short-form content like blog posts, PDF guides, videos, and reports. While this type of content won’t likely replace books, it will serve as a healthy supplement to make your work more well-known and wildly distributed. 

Smarter book marketing

Beyond trending book genres and formats, the world of book marketing is increasingly dynamic and exploring new methods every year. The strategies and channels creators use to promote their books are constantly evolving. And in 2024, we can expect to see a few major trends that will work in your favor.

• Authenticity: Authenticity is becoming more important in book marketing, with audiences responding positively to marketing messages and content that’s genuine and relatable over well-polished, high-quality productions.
• Social media: Now more important and relevant than ever, social media continues to be a powerful tool for book marketing, with creators and publishers using platforms like TikTok and Instagram to connect with their audience and promote their books.
• Connecting directly with fans: Powered by influencer marketing, social media, and trends like #BookTok, we can expect to see a continued effort in connecting directly with fans over traditional marketing strategies.
• Virtual events: Virtual events have become more prevalent in recent years, with creators and publishers using platforms like Zoom and Facebook Live to host book launches, creator talks, and other events that ultimately support book sales.
• Email marketing: Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to maintain lasting relationships with your audience. You can work to build your email lists to promote your books and connect more deeply with your audience.

Technology will continue to play a significant role in book marketing and how promotional content is produced and consumed. As we saw, the advent of artificial intelligence is changing how some creators market their work and manage relationships with a target audience.

Be a proponent of change with Blurb

Self-publishing platforms like Blurb have been instrumental in these trends and give creators the liberty to bring their books to life. With intuitive bookmaking tools, vast customizability, and print-on-demand capabilities, Blurb offers an economical solution to create bookstore-quality finished products. Learn more and start your project today.

The post Book trends to look for in 2024 appeared first on Blurb Blog.

Find his book, Heuer Carrera Chronographs 1963-85, in the Blurb Bookstore.

Your book Heuer Carrera Chronographs 1963-85 is one of Blurb’s bestselling photo books! To what do you attribute its success? 

There are lots of watch books available, but the majority are for brands like Rolex and Omega. There are far fewer available for the brands I cover, so that is one advantage. Also, as well as featuring beautiful photography, my books contain very specific information, which makes them invaluable as references for people who are interested in watch collecting. Having access to this information can save collectors substantial amounts of money by avoiding making mistakes when they’re buying vintage watches.  

Can you share any interesting facts or stories you discovered while researching this book?  

Part of my research has involved collecting watch serial numbers. Through this, I’ve been able to identify the number of watches in particular production runs, and this made it clear that certain watches are incredibly rare—some with a production run of fewer than 50—which is really interesting for collectors. 

Where did your passion for watches come from?

My passion for watches came after my wife bought me a watch for our engagement 15 years ago. Due to my research-minded nature, I got hooked on the design and story of vintage watches. Previously, I didn’t wear a watch that cost more than £100.

You are a collector and researcher of vintage watches, and you also offer authentication and consultation services. How are you leveraging your books in your overall business strategy?  

To be honest, my approach has always been to create books that I would be interested in reading. I research and write about the watches that I enjoy collecting, and I like sharing that knowledge with fellow enthusiasts. The books seem to be popular with both experienced collectors and those who are just starting out, and through them, people then contact me when they want to learn more. 

Who is your book’s target audience? What strategies have you found most effective in reaching out to them? 

Watch collectors are the main audience, as well as websites or other media outlets that cover watches and luxury collecting. Sharing content via social media channels, especially at times of bookstore-wide promotions, has been effective. 

You have 24K followers on Instagram! How do you use your impressive social media following to promote your books and your business?  

I share images of the books and photography that’s featured in the books via social media.  I’m not overly strategic about this. I take the approach of sharing what I would be interested in seeing, and people who share a passion for vintage watches tend to find it. 

Social media accounts prosper from having a combination of great images and being informative and engaging with your followers. I prefer not to post too much, especially when it may be repetitive.

Why did you go the route of self-publishing versus traditional publishing? And why did you choose Blurb?  

In the beginning—over a decade ago—I ordered a batch of books and was making daily trips to the post office to ship them. One of the best things about Blurb and the print-on-demand service is the convenience of having Blurb take care of everything, including dispatch. It’s a system that has always worked like clockwork. In essence, all I need to focus on is producing the book, and then Blurb handles everything else and sends me the profits each month!

It goes without saying that the quality has always been high, which is extremely important for this sort of book, and any problems have been addressed quickly and efficiently. Also, because I’m always continuing to research watches, I often discover new things. Using Blurb, I can update the books when that happens or create new covers or limited editions, none of which would work as well with a traditional publisher. 

What have been the biggest lessons you’ve learned from self-publishing? What about the challenges you’ve faced?  

It’s always best to get a test copy, but after a decade of producing books via Blurb, I am now able to confidently look at the online tool and know that what I can see is exactly what will be produced.  

Pricing can be tricky to get right! How did you determine the pricing strategy for your book?  

The book pricing is pitched at a level competitive and comparable with similar watch books. 

Looking back, is there anything you would change about your process of creating or marketing this book?  

I have learned many lessons over time with regard to what works, how to fully utilize the tools available, and what layouts work best. The books that I sell now are definitely more professional and polished than at the start of the process, which I guess is part of the journey. 

What advice would you give to someone who is looking to self-publish and self-promote their own book?  

Take your time and remember that the longer you take to familiarize yourself with the tools and work on the layout and content, the better the end product will be. 

***

Blurb is a print-on-demand company built for self-publishers. Inspired to create your own niche book to boost your business? Blurb makes it easy to self-publish your own book—whether you want to print it for yourself or sell it to your fans.

The post Heuer Carrera Chronographs 1963-85: Behind the Book with Richard Crosthwaite appeared first on Blurb Blog.

So whether you’re elevating your portfolio or boosting your branding and marketing efforts, we’ll explore how creating a photo book can help you express your creativity and take control of your work.

Are photo books worth it?

Dismissing print and photo books as irrelevant can be easy. After all, you can instantly reach a global audience with a website, ebook, or Google ad—or get discovered by going viral on TikTok or Instagram. 

So why print in the digital age? Here’s TL;DR on why photo books are worth it. 

• Tangibility is timeless. First, photo books offer a hands-on experience that no screen can match. You can touch the pages, feel the texture, and get up close and personal with your photos.
• Photo books are the ultimate storytellers. They let you curate your best shots into a cohesive narrative, like a director creating a blockbuster movie. And, like a movie in a theater, you aren’t fighting for your audience’s attention with popup ads and the next post a click away.
• They’re a high-impact medium. We’ve all gotten used to scrolling, clicking, typing, and tapping to the point where digesting any digital content is slightly numbed by the interaction of a device. Swap a digital device for a photo book, and you bring your stories to real life.
• You gain complete creative control. Here’s the cherry on top: Photo books give you total say over how your work is presented, from layout to paper quality. It’s like having your personal art exhibit without the pitch, setup, and location-bound setting.
• Your marketing and branding get elevated. Whether you aim to showcase your work as a portfolio or tell a specific story with your photos, a book offers an engaging platform to level up the engagement and memorability of your work, especially when it comes to marketing and branding yourself as a professional.
• Photo books are the perfect keepsakes. Unlike digital files that can disappear into the abyss of tech failure, physical copies are here to stay. They’re like time capsules of your creative journey, ready to be passed down to future generations.

There are a plethora of photo-sharing platforms that are convenient and low-cost. Print-on-demand photo books are one such platform! And with print, you can make a powerful, standout impression that makes your work more memorable and enjoyable to digest. 

Why photo books add value to any project

There’s no denying that photo books hold their value, especially in an era when we view most things from a device. Producing a physical portfolio or photo book can elevate your work and build your brand as a photographer, artist, or creator. It’s a power move for your creativity. Let’s dive deeper into the reasons that make creating photo books worthwhile.

1. Narrative storytelling

A photograph can tell a much richer tale than any number of words. It’s a whole story in one shot. But we often scroll past images on digital platforms without genuinely understanding their meaning. That’s where photo books win against digital content.

A photo book lets you curate your work so that each image flows seamlessly into the next, giving you total control over the narrative. Flipping through the pages and experiencing how one photo leads to another takes viewers on an immersive journey through your creative vision.

• Narrative control. Every page turn in a photo book reveals something new and unexpected. You control the suspense, climax, and photographic narrative.
• Structure. Digital platforms often display images individually, rather than as part of a thematic collection. With a book, you can ensure each image is seen with the others that help bring it to life.
• Context. While photos are powerful on their own, captions provide additional insight into the captured moment or what inspired you. A photo book gives you space to add depth and truly weave a story.
• Detail. From paper choices to font selection, every element contributes to the tale you’re telling. Photo books allow greater direction over each design detail.
• Permanence. Digital platforms and formats change, but a photo book remains constant. Your narrative in a photo book is preserved exactly as you intended it, forever.

Photo books give you the freedom to control your narrative. In a world where content is consumed and forgotten within seconds, photo books offer the time and space to weave a story that will be remembered. 

2. Elevated portfolios

Today, putting your work on the web is a requirement for almost any creative field. But let’s not forget about the impact that traditional mediums can have. Since a website is status quo, a tangible photo book can make your portfolio stand out—especially during in-person meetings.

A photo book also lets you showcase your photos in a way that digital portfolios can’t. Flip through pages filled with stunning images on high-quality paper, and you’ll see. The physical act of touching and turning pages adds depth to the viewing experience, something that you can’t replicate digitally. It enhances engagement and creates a stronger connection between viewers and your work.

• Professionalism. A well-designed photo book shows you went above and beyond to prep for your meeting. Plus, it shows you know print as a craft.
• Curation. Unlike digital platforms with unlimited space, you must curate your images and create a cohesive narrative to fit within a book.
• Attention. When hiring managers look at a physical object, they can’t scroll away or get distracted by an email notification. A book helps keep them in the moment and focused solely on your work.

Printing a portfolio book offers unlimited creative possibilities, enabling you to present your work originally. Still on the fence? Explore the pros and cons of a portfolio book versus a digital portfolio. (Psst. We think you should do both.)

3. Impactful brand building

In the visual arts world, having a standout brand is a must. A photo book is your secret weapon for showcasing your unique point of view and making a lasting impression.

A photo book isn’t just a compilation of photographs; it’s an opportunity to display your distinct flair and leave a long-lasting impression. It’s a physical representation of your artistic identity that captivates viewers and leaves them wanting more.

• Trust. Physical books invite viewers to engage, touch, and feel your work. This makes your brand feel real and substantial, enhancing trust with your potential clients.
• Personalization. Print-on-demand photo books allow for a high level of customization, from adding a dedication to swapping out projects. Personalizing books for your top-tier clients shows you care.
• Quality. Photo books let you showcase images in their best light while controlling for issues like display calibration. If your wedding package includes a print book, you are showing off the final product a prospective client can expect.
• Longevity. Photo books are long-lasting, making them a constant reminder of your brand’s message and values. Unlike digital content, which can quickly become lost in the endless online stream, a photo book remains a permanent fixture on a desk or coffee table.

Your choice of paper, cover material, design layout, and overall photo book format come together to shape the perceptions and image of your brand. With print-on-demand brands like Blurb, you can customize these elements to align with your brand’s personality while leveraging bookstore-quality standards.

4. Smarter networking

Pro photogs know that connections are crucial in this industry. A photo book can be a powerful tool for establishing relationships and growing your network. Think of it as your calling card—showing the people you want to know who you are and what you can do.

Your book is your opportunity to present your unique perspective and an embodiment of your creative vision. As people navigate your book, they are not just browsing images. They’re taking time to ponder if your visions combined can lead to fruitful collaborations or professional opportunities.

• Better business card. The purpose of a card is to continue a connection. A photo book has the added benefit of not just sharing your contact information, but also giving an in-depth look at your work. Add in the story of who you are as a creator, and you have an artifact that will make others want to keep in touch.
• Example of your work. Showing others what you can do is the fastest way to gain their confidence. If you’re seeking collaborators, bring a photo book of work you’ve done with others. If you’re a designer looking to get in the door to an agency, take a book of your agency work.
• Conversation starter. Just like a coffee table book prominently displayed can start a chat, a photo book can serve as a conversation piece during networking events. People are more likely to engage in a conversation when there’s something physical to discuss.
• Versatility. While many think of photo books as expensive, hardcover collectible pieces, a photo book can be economical too. You can create one that is only a few pages and can be printed on regular paper or cardstock. Build what works for you—whether you’re mailing tons of cheaper books to generate work or printing a single, spendy layflat for a few high-profile meetings.
• Reference material. Having an actual portfolio book to show off your work is invaluable. It can clearly illustrate your process, range of skills, and how you approach different projects. Bring one with you to meetings with your mentors to gain valuable feedback.

Plenty of creatives bring a tablet or computer to networking events and coffee chats to show off their work. But there are so many reasons to consider a print book, too. By integrating photo books into your networking strategies, you can leave an unforgettable impression.

5. Limited editions

There’s nothing like viewing photography in print. Original images hung up in a gallery or museum let you experience a work of art larger than life. But there are only so many museums and galleries. That’s why photo books, for many, are the most practical way to view a photographer’s work. And, unlike art hung on a wall, they’re pieces of art you can hold.

Producing a limited-edition photo book can elevate your photography to the realm of fine art. These collectible items can become desirable for enthusiasts, collectors, or fans who appreciate your book’s exclusivity and uniqueness.

• Exclusivity. Limited edition photo books offer a sense of exclusivity, making them intriguing to collectors and even casual fans of your work. They can also increase the perceived value of your photography, which will help your brand.
• Increased value. Collectibles increase in value if the artist becomes more popular or the work itself becomes historically significant. If you’re a star on the rise, yours is an excellent investment for collectors.
• Marketing advantage. Announcing a limited edition run creates urgency, making it a great marketing strategy that can help to drive up demand and interest in your work.
• Control. Limited editions also allow you to maintain control over the distribution and ownership of your work. You can ensure that it remains rare and valuable, rather than mass-produced.
• Enhanced design. Take this chance to pull out all the stops. Add in special features like autographs, unusual format, bonus content—whatever you can think of.

If you’re looking to increase your visibility, generate excitement about your work, and add a new revenue stream to your business, try a limited edition run. It’s a great way to stand out from the crowd and add value for your collectors.

6. Engaging educational tools

Photo books are often like secret portals for viewing the world. A photo book isn’t just a collection of attractive visuals; it’s an opportunity to explore the lessons and stories behind each photograph. Whether art, history, geography, or personal experiences, photo books offer a fascinating means to learn and explore new things.

• The power of visual learning. Photo books are like learning stimulants for your readers’ brains. They use images to help engage and educate us about people, places, and points of history.
• Cultural exploration. Forget about armchair traveling through Instagram. A photo book dedicated to different cultures helps you offer a first-class ticket to viewers so they can understand niche aspects of the world.
• Historical documentation. History books are cool, but photo books are time machines. You can capture moments in history and bring them to life via photo books in a way that textbooks can’t. It’s like sharing a front-row seat of the past.

For all ages, photo books are both educational and inspirational. Remarkable photo books can be the catalyst for new travels and life directions. And the act of flipping through the pages is sensory, helping support retention and learning.

7. Archival documentation

A well-crafted photo book is the superhero of archival documentation and legacy preservation. Unlike digital versions that are prone to becoming obsolete and forgotten, a tangible book can preserve your work for distant generations.

• Preserving memories. Photo books keep memories alive for future generations. They’re like low-tech time capsules. Whether it’s family history or life milestones, photo books freeze your favorite moments in time with tons of detail.
• Nostalgia. Photos bring back memories, and many woven together makes you feel like you’re reliving the past.
• Catharsis. Creating a photo book can be soul-baring if you use your photography as self-expression.
• Inspiration. High-quality visuals in a photo book can help spark your creativity and present you with new perspectives.

This type of documentation extends well beyond just personal use. Photo books are a staple in museums and libraries, helping articulate history and preserve cultural heritage. 

The enduring appeal of photo books in a digital world

In a digital domain where screens reign, it’s easy to dismiss photo books. So, why consider photo books for your project?

• Show off your skills. A photo book is like a VIP pass to your photography prowess. It lets you curate your best shots and impress everyone with your artistic eye.
• Make a lasting impression. Want to leave a mark on clients or gallery owners? A stunning photo book or coffee-table book will do the trick. Creating a memorable experience with the tactile sensation of paper and high-quality prints is an irreplaceable part of viewing art.
• Get touchy-feely. There’s something magical about flipping through real pages and feeling the weight of high-quality prints. It’s a sensory experience that digital galleries just can’t replicate.
• Evoke emotions. Photo books can engage readers and evoke emotions to a degree that digital outlets can’t touch.
• Tell a story. With a photo book, you’re the storyteller. Arrange your photos strategically to guide viewers on a captivating narrative journey.

Not limited to these qualities, photo books also offer lasting archival value, networking potential, and educational utility. They’re the Swiss Army knives in the creative world of visual arts. 

***

Blurb is a self-publishing platform built for photographers. If you’re ready to unleash the power of print, check out Blurb’s photo book options. They offer something special that digital media just can’t match. 

The post 7 reasons why photo books are worth it in the digital age appeared first on Blurb Blog.

Since your book will definitely be judged by its cover, it’s absolutely crucial that you make a compelling first impression. A strong visual impact entices people to pick up your book and helps communicate its tone and content.

While you can explore limitless creativity when designing a book cover, there are also fundamental best practices you shouldn’t overlook. So before you open Photoshop, InDesign, or Canva, let’s first unpack professional tips to ensure it’s a success.

Three things you must know about book covers

There’s no doubt that you want your book to pop among other titles in your genre. Doing so requires a striking cover design that dazzles target readers and evokes a sense of curiosity and interest. 

Before getting to the how-to tips behind your book cover design, there are a few hard and fast realities to respect. But don’t worry. Designing isn’t necessarily a project to pursue alone. Sure, you can take the creative lead, but it’s vital to research beforehand and recruit the right help where needed.  

Book covers: we all judge them

According to one survey, 79% of people claim that a book’s cover influenced their decision to purchase it. While that may put pressure on you as a creator, the fact that most of us judge a book by its cover can be an opportunity to leverage. 

We, as humans, are biologically wired to absorb visual elements to determine our likes and dislikes. Images, colors, and designs immediately trigger our brains. We are automatically drawn to beautiful books and must consciously dismiss poorly-designed books to give them a second chance. That’s a second chance you don’t want to count on.

There’s no debating that people will judge your book cover within seconds of seeing it. The key is harnessing that inevitable judgment as a pivotal moment to grab readers’ attention and lure them into reading your book.

Case study: Portals

The same cover design study above found that most respondents believe covers are the “artistic representation” of a book and should accurately portray the book’s genre, tone, and content. Jeff Quinn uses everything at his disposal—from title to white space to color palate to art choice—so viewers immediately know what is inside, despite its minimalist approach.

Guess the contents of this book based solely on the cover.

Ready for the answer? Quinn’s book PORTALS is his exhibition catalog for his artwork. It blends trippy visuals and calming colors to draw readers into other dimensions. From cover to back page, you’ll encounter windows to new worlds.

Hiring a book cover designer pays dividends

There’s a reason why most self-publishers recruit the help of an experienced book cover designer. Most creators are not designers. And there are plenty of talented professionals who are. 

We’re not saying you shouldn’t design your book cover. But if you’re serious about creating a high-quality product that stands out in your book genre, investing in an experienced designer helps to ensure that your vision is accurately and professionally realized.

Creative talent pools and freelance directories like Reedsy, Upwork, 99designs, and Guru are good places to start. Depending on the artist’s rates, you can expect to pay between $250 and $800+ for a professionally-designed book cover. But this investment can yield high returns if you aim to publish a successful finished product that stands out in a bookstore. 

It’s smart to conduct market research

Creating an original cover that resonates with your target audience requires market research within your specific book genre. This includes analyzing bestselling books in similar categories and understanding current trends and reader preferences. 

By researching the market, you gain awareness of what attracts potential customers. This invaluable knowledge can fuel inspiration for your cover. You can start by:

• Browsing through top-selling books on platforms like Amazon or Goodreads within your chosen genre. Take note of common themes or styles across various covers.
• Visiting bookstores or libraries to observe physical copies of popular titles, paying attention to the overall design, color schemes, and typography choices that stand out on shelves.
• Researching book cover design trends to understand what’s hot right now. Some of the most popular trends of 2023 include bold typography and loud maximalism, nature-inspired photography, parametric patterns, and conceptual cover sleeves.

Case study: Nudes, Nudes, Nudes

Aesthetics change from culture to culture and century to century. A compelling book cover from the 1800s in India was significantly different than what’s hot in 2023 in the United States. Beautiful book covers change from year to year, even! Look at books with multiple editions—many have a totally different style than their first print.

Edgar Alanis’s 2022 self-published book Nudes, Nudes, Nudes is a masterclass in what’s trending today.

This cover is a bold example of incorporating skin-toned color choices, bold yet playful typography, and a provoking maximalist composition. It’s obvious he incorporated research and trends into his cover design—helping his book appeal to readers in his quirky, sardonic target market.

Tips for designing a professional book cover

Whether you’re keen on working with an artist or plan to take a DIY approach, you’re the creative director behind your book cover’s design. So how do you combine all these elements to bring your book cover concept to life? 

These are the steps the professionals take when conceptualizing a book cover—you can take them too.

Gather inspiration for your book cover design

As part of your market research, exploring other book covers offers a wealth of creative inspiration. Browse books on Amazon Best Sellers or skim websites like Book Cover Archive. Expose yourself to hundreds of professional book covers and see what grabs your attention. Analyze the elements that make specific covers eye-catching and memorable while conveying their intended message.

Take this exercise a step further and check out covers from popular books in your genre. What do you like or dislike about related books in your space? How can you differentiate your books from others recently published? 

As you take notes, remember this isn’t about replicating what others are doing. Instead, it’s about creative positioning and imagining a cover that will stand out on the shelf.

Outline your book’s central themes

A beautifully-designed book cover provides potential readers a glimpse of its contents while leaving them wanting more. Identify and outline your book’s key themes or motifs to inform your cover design concept. The outcome should connect the visuals on the cover to what lies within its pages.

Let’s look at an example. The central themes of Empowering and Inspiring Women Part 2 focus on creativity, resilience, inspiration, empowerment, and perseverance. The book emphasizes the role and rights of children, particularly the journey of girls blossoming into leaders. However, the intended audience is wide, speaking to parents, educators, and leaders who support the value of women in their communities.

These themes served as guiding principles for a compelling cover for the book—from the choice of bold black and red colors, inspiring and joyful photography, and the mix of powerful and feminine typography.

Now it’s your turn. Based on your book’s core themes, what’s the feeling or mood you want to evoke? What message do you wish to convey? What style of imagery might capture your book’s essence?

Outlining your book’s central themes informs your color, imagery, design, and copy choices. These combined elements offer prospective readers a clear and inspired idea of what your book is about. This process can help jump-start your book cover brief. 

Assemble a book cover brief

Like the creative brief for a logo or the content brief of an article, your book cover brief is a helpful guidepost that instructs the design process. In essence, a book cover brief documents the basic information about your book and what boxes the cover should check. 

Your book cover brief can take many shapes. But a few key elements will make your brief most helpful to your designer—whether your designer is you or someone else!

Here’s what you need to include:

• The exact dimensions and cover details, like cover type, book type, and if foil or other unique design elements should be used. Don’t forget to include where your book’s barcode will live!*
• Design suggestions like brand identity elements, mood board inspiration, color palate, and details for the book’s overarching visual appeal. 
• The specific copy you want to include, like your name, book title, subtitle, tagline, reviews, and other key text. Think about your spine, flaps, and back cover—you might want to include awards and an author bio.
• A summary of the book’s genre, target audience, and target market demographics.
• Background context, like a book synopsis or short description of the book, its core themes, and any main characters.
• Your deadline, budget, and dates for feedback or check-ins.
• Examples of book covers you love and dislike—plus an explanation of the why behind each.

This brief is an essential communication tool when working with a designer. But it can also provide a framework to help keep your cover design project organized if you’re building your own.

Consider visual hierarchy

Visual hierarchy refers to how our eyes perceive different elements based on size, color, contrast, and alignment, allowing us to process information more efficiently. When designing your book cover, sketching each element’s general size and location can be helpful. 

Apply this principle when designing a professional book cover by asking yourself a few questions:

• What’s most important? Decide how to prioritize the essential components like title, author name, and imagery.
• Where do you want your reader’s eyes to go next? Use this to create balance through symmetry or asymmetry—depending on the desired mood or tone.
• How can you use color and white space to make what’s critical pop? Try contrast to make critical elements stand out from the background.

Let’s look at a book that makes the focal point very easy to discover.  Jillian Poll’s liberal use of white space in the top half of the book cover of Zip. Zero. Zilch. speaks volumes about the book’s premise while balancing color contrast, alignment, and asymmetry. It’s a great example of a book cover design that does more with less. Plus, in a sea of recipe books featuring food or beverage photography, Poll’s book stands out!

Deciding upon your visual hierarchy and sketching out your cover’s balance, contrast, and genre-specific elements enables you to craft an eye-catching book cover that effectively conveys your story’s essence. Stay true to your genre and personal aesthetic while experimenting with design elements, as this helps establish a cohesive visual identity for your work.

Select your fonts and colors

A crucial aspect of creating an attractive and readable book cover is selecting fonts and colors that complement each other while also fitting with your book’s overall theme or mood. When making these choices, you’ll want to keep legibility in mind. After all, what good is text you can’t read when deciding whether to buy a book? 

When making a color palate, consider contrast as well—online contrast checkers allow you to make your cover accessible to everyone, especially those with visual disabilities.

Choose your fonts based on readability and style

The right font can significantly impact how your book cover resonates. It should be easily readable, even in smaller sizes like thumbnails, while still reflecting the tone of your content. 

When selecting a font, consider both print and digital compatibility and your book’s genre. Some popular options include serif fonts for traditional genres like historical fiction or non-fiction books, sans-serif fonts for modern or minimalist designs, script-style typefaces for romance novels, and more.

Here’s an example. Michael Johnson’s Success! makes bold use of color while capturing the book’s mood with a clever illustration and the classic Blambot-style comic font for the author and subtitle. You immediately understand that this is a comic book, just with the font selection. 

Note his use of two fonts—one in all caps for his name and subtitle in different sizes and another bold, hand-drawn font that makes the title stand out and matches the illustration. 

You’ll find many cover designs that blend two contrasting fonts. More than two, and your book cover can feel cluttered. But relying on a single font when you have a lot of text can make a book feel too simple.

Evoke emotion with your color scheme

Colors play a vital role in setting the mood of your book cover design. Different hues can evoke various emotions, so choosing a color scheme that aligns with your story’s themes helps create an impactful visual representation. For example:

• Mystery/thriller: Darker shades like black, gray, and deep reds might be suitable.
• Romance: Soft pastels or warm tones convey feelings of love and passion.
• Fantasy/sci-fi: Vibrant colors or metallic accents add excitement to fantastical worlds.

Take Gina Nicole Ballard’s typography and color palette. Her book, Moon Cycle Memoirs, clearly states the book’s purpose while using bright and dreamy watercolor blends and a creative mix of fonts. The first thing that catches your eye is the stunning moon illustration in deep purples, reds, and a splash of yellow. That yellow splash focuses readers squarely on the title.

Ballard’s title is placed at the center in two fonts—a legible sans-serif and an imaginative handwriting pick. She uses that same legible font in varying sizes for the rest of the text on her front cover, which helps it feel cohesive.

Beyond the primary colors used in your design, paying attention to contrast is also essential. For instance, choose lighter text colors for readability if your cover has a dark background image. Ballard has done just that—alternating between dark font on the yellow part of her design and lighter font on the deep red background.

Make your title stand out

An attention-grabbing title can make all the difference between someone picking up your book or passing it by. Choose typography that emphasizes key words without overwhelming potential readers with a cluttered design.

Increase your font size

You’ve already chosen the typography you want for your cover; now it’s time to play with it. Bumping your title’s size up all the way helps your cover stand out from a distance. Try playing with bold, italics, and underlining, too. What allows your title to jump off the shelf? 

Alecia Renece’s Black Girl Creative Manifesto is a perfect example. She picked an authoritative, clear title font and increased its size to nearly as high as possible. She bolded and centered her title and interspersed her book’s subtitle between each word in a smaller, dark, and unbolded font. It’s a great example of using size to emphasize important words and capture attention without sacrificing readability.

Let your title breathe

Beyond choosing an appropriate font style, balancing text size with other elements on the cover is essential. White space is a great way to ensure your text is easy to read and stands out from its background. 

As you continue designing your cover, keep track of how much text will fit in each space—this will help the design look balanced and offer plenty of breathing room for your readers. Return to your visual hierarchy plan as you consider the negative space around your title. Where are you drawing the eye?

A great example of text and spatial balance is Juan Camillo Garza’s I’m Here. Garza gives a clear sense of the book’s serious mood by choosing a hollow, black-and-white font that compliments his illustration. He then pairs it with a generous amount of negative space, which gives the title and his name extra emphasis.  

Here’s what to keep in mind when thinking about your title.

• Limit the text. Keep in mind that too much text can be overwhelming for readers. When in doubt, opt for fewer words and more visual elements. If your title is long, cut your subtitle down. 
• Play with your visual hierarchy. Arrange each element on your cover according to its importance. If your title is most important, make it the biggest part of your design. If your name draws attention, let it take up more space than a photo.
• Add lots of negative space. Add breathing room around each text element so nothing feels cramped or overcrowded. Providing adequate spacing between lines of text helps improve legibility while creating a more visually appealing design. 

Remember your book’s spine and back cover

It can be easy to overlook your spine and back cover details and focus solely on your front cover. But these areas provide valuable real estate opportunities for creator bios, endorsements and reviews from industry professionals, book summaries, and other info that can entice readers to crack a book open.  

Design an engaging spine

The spine of your book is often the first thing potential readers see when browsing a bookstore shelf. So make it count! Your spine should be visually appealing while still providing essential information about your book.

Here’s what to remember.

• Select a legible font. Choose a clear typeface that matches the style used on your front cover for consistency. Make the size as big as possible to read from a distance.

• Place your title front and center. Ensure your title and subtitle are placed prominently on the spine and easily readable—even from afar. (This is so important we said it twice.)
• Add your name. While your title is the most important thing to include, readers want to know who you are, too. 
• Avoid excessive text or images. Keep it simple! Too much clutter can make your spine hard to read and less aesthetically pleasing.
• Use contrasting colors. Make sure your font’s color stands out against your spine’s background.

Effectively use your back cover space

Your book’s back cover design is crucial in convincing potential readers to purchase your book after they’ve picked it up off the shelf. It also has the most space for text and additional information—so there’s a lot to consider. 

While most of these elements are optional, there are some best practices for effectively using your back cover.

• Create an enticing blurb or synopsis. Summarize what makes your story unique without giving away any spoilers. Your book’s blurb should pique interest while leaving them wanting more.
• Include your bio and photo. A brief introduction to the author and an on-brand photograph help readers connect with you on a personal level. 
• Add endorsements or reviews. If your book has received praise from industry professionals or other published creators, include these quotes as social proof of your work’s quality. You can even add reviews from Goodreads or Amazon if you already have a book out.
• Mention awards or other books. If your book is affiliated with a prestigious award or if you’ve written other books, don’t forget to mention those, too! It establishes credibility and allows readers who haven’t heard of you to take a chance.
• Incorporate relevant visuals. Use images that complement the front cover design and provide additional context for potential buyers.
• Remember your barcode and ISBN. Many printers have a specific location your barcode and ISBN must be.* Keep it in mind as you design your back cover.

Peek at an example. For the back cover of The Modern American Dream, Jayk Sterkenburg stays on brand with paradigm-shifting prompts that flow with the book’s title and premise, along with personalized touches about his travel aspirations. 

A pull quote is at the top of his back cover, so readers get a sense of his writing style. From there, Sterkenburg goes into a blurb with many thought-provoking questions. Finally, he ends with a photo and author bio—plus a few design details that give you a sense of the memoir’s setting.

Taking the time to design your spine and back cover thoughtfully increases your book’s chances of being picked up and bought by readers browsing the shelves. Give yourself plenty of time to play with your design. 

Get feedback

Whether you’ve designed your book cover yourself or hired an expert, requesting feedback on the final design is critical. Ask for honest opinions from acquaintances, peers, and industry professionals. If you’re unsure where to turn, join online forums and ask fellow self-publishers for their opinion and guidance! The more opinions, the better.

Listen to every suggestion and incorporate any relevant feedback into your final design before getting ready to publish. From there, you’ll want to print a single proof and double-check that your cover (and book interior) are picture-perfect before listing your book in bookstores.

Get started today

Creating an eye-catching book cover is essential for any self-publisher who wants to sell their work. By leveraging the power of research and thoughtful design choices on your front and back cover, you can design a book that will draw in readers browsing store shelves. 

After reading this guide, we hope you feel more confident about designing your book cover. So what are you waiting for? Make a stunning design that will help launch your book into the world.

***

Blurb is a self-publishing platform allowing you to create, print, promote, and sell your books. If you’re ready to put these tips into action, try BookWright today. This free-to-download book design tool makes it possible to design stunning covers without graphic design experience.

*Note: If printing a Blurb trade book, your barcode and ISBN will be automatically placed during production and can’t be moved or omitted.

The post How to design a book cover: professional tips for success appeared first on Blurb Blog.

If marketing, selling, and turning a profit from your book are your primary publishing goals, then you need to know how and where to sell your book. Fortunately, there’s never been more bookstore platforms available for self-published creators. 

However, with the increase in platforms and self-publishing creators, the market is also becoming increasingly saturated. According to WordsRated.com, the volume of self-published books has increased by 264% in the last five years. And 90% of self-published books sell less than 100 copies. 

As a result, many creators need help to ensure their book is found and bought by interested readers. We’re here to bridge the gap between self-publishing your book and later selling your book to your target audience. From marketing your book to knowing where to sell your book online, we’ll explore how to earn a good income from self-publishing.

How to sell a self-published book

Before we delve too deep into where to sell your book, it’s important to gut-check your ambitions and expectations of the entire process when learning how to self-publish a book and sell it. 

A common mistake many creators make is doing a ton of work on the inside of a book while neglecting the external factors that dictate a book’s success in the marketplace. Most creators can bring their book to life—crafting an engaging narrative, laying out their book to perfection, and editing away typos. But when it comes to researching the market and making a promotion plan, many struggle.

To help put the entire marketing process into perspective, here’s a brief outline of how to sell a self-published book.

1. Define your target audience

You probably already have an idea of your target audience of readers. Still, it’s a good marketing exercise to craft personas and determine the niche and interests of those most likely to buy your book. Pinpointing your target audience will help you position and prioritize your marketing efforts and reach the right people.

2. Write a compelling book blurb

A powerful marketing tool for your book is the blurb. Think of this as your book’s sales pitch that dangles the carrot for prospective readers. It can make or break your book’s selling power, so take the time to learn how to write a blurb for your book that wins the hearts of target readers.

3. Establish your marketing platforms

Build out your web presence, whether that involves social media, creating an author website, or establishing a profile on particular bookselling websites or forums. If you have the resources, start building an email list to give you a direct line of communication with prospective customers and loyal followers.

4. Leverage book marketing services

Unlike when celebrities work with a traditional publisher, self-published creators take ownership of book marketing and promotion. However, you can assemble your own team, as there are plenty of resources and book promotion services to help you reach a wider audience and increase your book’s visibility.

5. Network with other self-publishers and industry professionals

Attend events, join creator groups, and participate in online communities to cultivate relationships and explore new opportunities to promote your book. Collaborating and networking with other self-published creators in your niche or industry can provide valuable exposure, support, and opportunities to reach new potential readers.

6. Offer special incentives and promotions

Get creative with your book launch marketing and offer giveaways, discounts, or other promotions to attract the attention of prospective readers, build hype, and drive more future book sales. Whether through your social media or leveraging the reach of other resources, special promotions can incentivize people to take action and purchase your book in pre-sales.

7. Ask colleagues to write your book forward

Reach out to notable creators, authority figures, or other individuals in your network and ask if they’d be willing to write a forward for your book. Not only can this provide valuable credibility and endorsement for your book, but if a popular figure writes your forward, it can help amplify your marketing efforts.

8. Request book reviews from your readers

Once you launch your book, encourage satisfied readers to leave reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, or other platforms. Book reviews are proven to help increase a book’s visibility and credibility. In addition, positive reviews can help build trust and improve your book’s conversion rate. Just remember to follow the platform’s rules—as platforms like Amazon will take down solicited reviews.

9. Utilize SEO and paid advertising

Undoubtedly, book search engine optimization (SEO) is vital to getting your book found in the search results of Amazon, Google, and other search engines. But in addition to organic marketing like SEO, consider running targeted advertisements to drive traffic to your book’s sales page. Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Google, and Amazon are worthwhile ad platforms to explore.

10. Keep on promoting

Selling your book is a continuous effort that takes months (sometimes years) of ongoing effort. Stay diligent in promoting your book through multiple channels, like social media, email marketing, in-person signings, and leveraging new bookselling platforms to maintain top-of-mind visibility and continue to drive sales.

Where to sell books online

There are so many options for self-published creators looking to sell online. What’s more, print-on-demand services have made it so easy (and cheap) for indie bookmakers to sell and distribute their books to a global market.

Depending on your book’s format, genre, and audience, certain bookselling platforms make more sense than others. To help guide your efforts, here are some of the most popular places to sell books online.

Amazon

Amazon is the behemoth among bookselling platforms in terms of the sheer volume of inventory and traffic. This platform is ideal for self-published creators seeking the broadest possible reach, plus plenty of bells and whistles to help promote directly on the site.

With Amazon, you can sell your photo book or trade book by establishing a dedicated product page with your book’s title, description, tags, and ISBN. To build rapport, you can also use an Amazon Author page with your book listings, blog posts, and profile information.

It’s important to consider the cost of making your book and Amazon’s fees when determining your list price. Amazon charges distribution fees per book sold and a percentage markup based on your book’s list price. Add them to the cost of actually printing your book, and the costs can really add up. So while you can broaden your reach by selling your self-published book on Amazon, ensure these expenses don’t hinder your book’s overall profitability.

Ingram

Ingram allows self-published creators access to a worldwide distribution network of tens of thousands of retailers and libraries to sell their trade books. That means you can effortlessly distribute your trade book to over 39,000 retailers, libraries, distributors, and educational institutions in over 195 countries from a single spot. You’ll definitely want to consider Ingram if you’re aiming to access a large global market.

You’ll decide your book’s wholesale discount and list price through Ingram’s Book Distribution network. This ultimately determines your book’s profit margin. The only distribution cost is the wholesale discount you share with retailers. Just remember, the higher the discount, the greater potential your book has for visibility and increased sales.

Barnes & Noble

As the largest brick-and-mortar bookstore chain in the United States, Barnes & Noble allows self-published creators to distribute to their stores through the Ingram platform. That means you can upload and sell your ebooks and physical books on demand seamlessly. Barnes & Noble is an excellent option if you’re looking to reach physical bookstores alongside ecommerce retailers. 

Through Barnes & Noble and Ingram, you can customize your book’s price and choose from various royalty rates. You can also take advantage of helpful book marketing and promotion tools, including a self-publisher dashboard and a personalized list of book recommendations.

Apple Books Store and Google Play Books

Apple offers a platform that allows creators to sell their self-published books through the Apple Books Store. The platform accepts ebooks in various formats and provides a simple process for uploading and selling books online. You can set your own prices and choose from different royalty rates. Apple also equips you with tools to promote your books and reach a wider audience. 

Apple Books Store is perfect if you want a more straightforward selling process to target readers using Apple devices. 

Google Play Book is very similar to Apple’s bookstore. It’s super easy to self-publish your book, choose your royalties, add metadata, and quickly get your book listed on Google. You can even set different prices in different regions of the world.

Blurb Bookstore

If you use Blurb to self-publish your book, then the Blurb Bookstore is a natural first place to start selling your book. While some platforms limit what types of books you can sell, Blurb’s Bookstore allows authors to sell photo books, trade books, magazines, and PDFs. 

Plus, Blurb doesn’t charge distribution fees or commissions—something Amazon, Ingram, Barnes & Noble, Apple, and Google can’t match. The Blurb Bookstore is ideal for true indie creators who want to self-publish and print on demand without profit-destroying fees.

You take complete control over your book’s price by adjusting your profit margins, but Blurb also provides distribution services to help list your books on other platforms beyond the Blurb Bookstore. This includes distributing your book on Amazon and in over 39,000 stores with Ingram’s global network. 

Where to sell books in person

Although selling your book online casts the widest net to attract potential customers, you can balance your marketing mix with brick-and-mortar retailers. For self-published bookmakers in large metropolitan areas, selling in person provides significant opportunities.

Need some thought-starters for locales you should approach to sell your book? There are our top picks:

Independent bookstores

Typically t locally owned and operated small businesses, independent bookstores often have stronger ties to their local community and are far more willing to sell books published by local authors. When you approach indie bookstores, offer to do readings or signings to up your exposure!

Local libraries

Some libraries feature dedicated sections for local authors. While not all libraries are big revenue drivers for book sales, they can offer great exposure and visibility to make your book known.

Major bookstore chain

Large retail bookstore chains like Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million can be powerful places to get shelf space for your book. But convincing these chains to carry your book may take the right strategy and approach. Do your research on how the chain you’re targeting makes decisions. And be sure you have your distribution channels set up to deliver to your chain.

Used bookstores

Small boutique stores specializing in buying and selling used books are sometimes open to selling new books, including those by local authors. If you’ve already created a pitch or sell sheet when approaching independent bookstores, libraries, or chains—there’s no reason not to approach used retailers too.

Specialty shops

Depending on your book’s topic, certain specialty shops may be willing to carry it on their shelves. Examples include gift shops, tourist shops, toy stores, craft stores, food co-ops, and yoga studios. Again, it’s all about making the right pitch for the shop’s audience.

Book clubs

Certain book clubs and author events are great opportunities to sell books in person and connect with potential readers and creators in your local community. 

Flea markets, farmers markets, street fairs, and other events

Plenty of events and markets offer ways to sell your book in person. Events specific to your target audience, like farmer’s markets for a farm-to-table recipe book, provide the most fruitful opportunities. (Pun intended.)

Selling your book in person can be a great strategy to reach local customers and promote your work. Still, it’s essential to choose your channels wisely and check with each location for specific policies and procedures for selling books.

What to consider when marketing and pricing your book

When marketing and pricing your self-published book, both online and in person, it’s essential to consider a variety of factors, from your audience (notice a trend?) to your marketing budget. Let’s dive into the details.

Target audience

Who are you writing the book for, how much value does your book offer, and what price are they willing to pay? Consider factors like demographics, interests, income, and education level of your audience. This will help you not only set your book’s list price but also help you figure out where to market your book. Millennial moms looking for parenting books might be hanging out in Facebook groups, while Gen Z photographers looking for coffee table books might be more likely to be on TikTok.

Similar or competing books

Look at related books already on the market, how they’re priced, and what strategies the creator used to position and market them. Deciding your book’s differentiators from other similar books is extremely valuable as you decide how to price and sell your own.

Format, length, and content

The format of your book (zine, hardcover, softcover), the length of your book, and the depth of its content will directly influence the price and go-to-market strategy. In short, longer and more in-depth books may justify a higher price than shorter or digital books. Be sure to be realistic about how much your audience is willing to pay rather than how much time and energy you’ve put in.

Your brand and reputation

There’s a reason why some creators can charge 40 to 50 dollars for a copy of their book. If their reputation is strong and the perceived value of their work is high, then the price can be reflected as such. Consider limited editions, signed copies, and quality materials if you want to sell at a top-tier list price. However, if you’re just starting as a creator and self-publisher, it could be worth listing your book at a lower price to build trust and credibility.

Production costs

The costs associated with self-publishing your book, including the editing, formatting, designing, printing, and distribution, should be considered when determining your book’s price. We’ll always recommend a second set of eyes and printing a proof copy. However, if it’s your first time self-publishing you might consider professional help with one or all of the above.

Distribution strategy

Where will your book be sold? Different means of distribution, such as Amazon, in-person channels, or your personal website, can include different pricing structures and fees. You should consider if you’ll print on demand or offset, as your costs and shipping capabilities will differ wildly.

Marketing budget

How much money are you willing to spend promoting your book? And what marketing and advertising platforms are you planning to use? Answers to these questions can determine the sales number you need to hit to break even.

Ultimately, picking the right price for your self-published book requires careful consideration of these factors and a good grasp of your goals and the market. Test and adjust your pricing strategy as needed to ensure the best possible return on your investment.

Blurb to sell your self-published book

If you’re in the early stages of planning your book project, Blurb is a great place to get the ball rolling. Blurb offers the creative tools to design, format, and assemble your book exactly how you envision it. Once built, you can self-publish and print your book with on-demand printing and sell your book at scale through the Blurb Bookstore, on Amazon, and through Ingram’s worldwide distribution network of over 39,000 stores.

Learn more about how to sell your self-published book with Blurb.

The post Where to sell your self-published book appeared first on Blurb Blog.

We talked to Blurb bestselling authors who found self-publishing success in 2022. Here are their tips for anyone looking to follow in their footsteps in 2023.

Why self-publish?

Before we get into the tips from self-published authors, we’ll answer the biggest question first: Why even go through the self-publishing process?

The number-one reason to self-publish a book is the freedom and control it gives you as a creator. When you self-publish, you decide when and how your book is released, choose your own pricing, and retain the rights (and profits) to your work. This all adds up to a greater say in both the creative direction of your work and how it shows up in the world.

“Self-publishing allowed me to compose the book of my dreams!” exclaims Dyèvre Xavier. He is a three-time traditionally published cabinetmaker and restorer of antique furniture who holds the prestigious Meilleur Ouvrier de France in marquetry. He also happens to be a Blurb bestselling author. After three books, he became unsatisfied with his publisher and decided to self-publish his fourth, Wooden pictures marquetries, to retain complete creative control.

Aside from power over all creative decisions, self-publishing has several other advantages. First, you don’t have to wait for someone else to give you the green light and can publish your work when you’ve decided it’s ready. You get to keep more profits rather than splitting them with a publisher. Lastly, you decide when and how to market your work instead of hoping a publisher will spend the resources needed to get your book in front of the right people.

Tips from bestsellers

Now, let’s get into the tips to make your self-published book a resounding success in 2023!

Fill a niche need

One of the best pieces of advice from Blurb’s bestsellers is to make sure you have something unique to offer. As self-publishing increases in popularity, so does the competition. So if you can identify an unmet, highly-specific need and fill it with your work, you’re that much closer to commercial success.

Take Blurb bestselling author Jane Blundell as an example. This Sydney-based artist specializes in watercolor and teaching and has spent over a decade creating a website, blog, and online courses sharing her passion for watercolor with others.

To Blundell, self-publishing felt like a natural extension of what she had already been doing willingly online. In fact, her first book, Watercolour Mixing Charts, was a collection of charts she had already created and published for free on her website. Her fans kept asking for physical copies, so she published a book with Blurb in 2012, available as a hardcover, softcover, and PDF. Two other books have followed, and all three books sell through word of mouth as they are valuable reference books that niche audiences clamber for.

“These books have been commercially successful because they fill a need,” she says. “People want a quick way to understand watercolour mixing, and these books give them that information in a clear and concise way.”

Build an authentic following

Self-publishing is much more likely to be successful if you already have an established following, but if you’re new to an industry, it’s essential to start building your book’s audience and network early. In fact, many of Blurb’s bestsellers credit their success to an active online presence—whether via a blog and courses like Blundell or social media like our next bestselling author, Rachel A. Dawson.

Dawson is a creative, content creator, bookworm, and believer from Richmond, Virginia, who has built a social media community of hundreds of thousands of avid readers and journalers. Over the years, she’s shared her reading statistics, book reviews, and personal reading journals. Each time she shared the latter, she would get comments saying that her followers wished they could have a journal like hers—which led to Dawson creating the very successful RAD Reading Journal.

“I would suggest working toward building a genuine platform and presence online through your various channels and weaving in your marketing efforts as part of that, not as your whole strategy,” Dawson says. “If you can build relationships and trust with your community and followers over shared interests, they will be much more likely to invest in what you’re offering.”

Create a list of interested people

Your book may be so niche that a massive online audience is impossible to find! Consider building a simple list of likely interested people and leveraging them for your launch.

Caroline Boudoux, professor of engineering physics, entrepreneur, and mother, did just that. She first wrote the book she wished she had as a graduate student. Then, she sat down and made a list of people she thought would be thrilled to evaluate the finished product, Fundamentals of Biomedical Optics.

“Make a list of people who might be interested in your book,” she suggests. “So interested, in fact, that they might offer to review some of its content.”

List in hand, she partnered with a major optics supplier to create a book launch party during a large industry conference and invited everyone on her list. Nearly 100 researchers—what she calls “the geek version of influencers”—attended the party. She followed it up with a website launch and social media posts, finishing by creating a community that shares teaching materials to go along with the book.

Looking for inspiration? Check out our blog post with book ideas for writing a book you can start today!

Attend industry events

Even if you have a massive online following or a list of eager, influential people, many bookmakers find new readers at in-person events. Industry networking and speaking engagements are great opportunities to talk directly with potential readers.

Princeton-based flavor chemist John Wright took this approach to sell his successful Blurb book, Flavor Creation 3rd Edition. He realized that there was a strong need for a flavor chemistry book in print—ideal for training and referencing. Once written, he knew that the potential market for his book was fairly small. So how could he get his comprehensive book into the right hands?

Wright turned to public speaking at industry and university events—which has been his most effective marketing approach to date. This tactic, combined with regular version updates, has led to his success. It’s especially impressive considering the high price point of his essential guide to flavor creation.

Use audience feedback

You’ve got people interested, an engaged online community, and maybe even a few speaking engagements. Don’t stop now! It’s time to incorporate feedback into future versions or new volumes.

That’s what Laura A. Wideburg, a Swedish teacher who lives in Seattle, Washington, decided to do with her book Swedish: The Basics. She’s so dedicated to incorporating feedback, it’s now in its eighth edition!

“Know your audience,” Wideburg suggests. “My students have given me a great deal of feedback, and I’ve published updated versions taking their comments seriously.”

Wideburg wrote her book to fill a need for her Swedish language program. Since it’s such a small language, there aren’t many textbooks to choose from—and none that would work for her adult students looking to visit family in Sweden. So she decided to make her own, complete with short-and-sweet grammar exercises for busy learners.

Thanks to student feedback, she has learned that powerful storytelling and strong characters make her book engaging and keep students looking forward to learning more.

And while there isn’t a large market for her book, there is an enthusiastic group of buyers in her classes and in Sweden (who purchase copies for relatives learning the language). Her book and language classes have even been featured on Swedish television!

Publish (and then publish again!)

It’s often said that the best tool you have as a self-publisher is your next book. Why? Because this gives you a chance to learn from previous successes (and missteps) and reach a wider audience. This new audience may even go back and buy another one of your books.

John C Burt is an author and a creator of reels and music from Sydney, Australia. He’s found great success marketing his photography books, including the bestselling Beach at Sunrise, through social media and a thriving photographic community. And he’s a great proponent of continually publishing.

“If you are true to your craft and take great photographs, then you have the raw makings of a great book,” Burt says. “You just need to be prepared to risk your reputation and try and put your works on display … Do not be afraid to try something new and out there. … Keep trying and keep putting out your own creative works so that people can engage!”

With 58 books and counting, Burt knows a thing or two about trying new things and publishing time and again.

Study marketing

No matter how fantastic your book is, how big an audience is, or how well your work fits a real market need, no one can buy your book if they don’t know it exists. Studying marketing is vital for self-publishing authors who don’t have access to traditional publishing strategies and don’t want their books to become lost in digital noise.

“At first, I felt awkward promoting my book,” says La Fonceur, a research scientist, registered pharmacist, and bestselling author of right nutrient combinations COOKBOOK. “But then I thought like a reader: How would someone discover my book?”

Fonceur quickly discovered, “the more you learn, the more you earn!” She began listening to marketing webinars, reading blogs, and testing what she was learning. Once she tried one tactic, she learned and applied the next.

Through her learn-and-test method, she found the biggest success from a few key marketing tactics. And although she stresses not to take every piece of marketing advice that comes your way, here are her top tips for self-published authors:

1. Promote your books in advance so that readers can get excited.
2. Consistently build your community (so you have someone to tell about upcoming books).
3. Add your website, social media, and other important links to the end of your book to keep growing your community.
4. Attend book fairs, participate in book events, visit libraries—get out in the world to find new readers.
5. Run social media ads to increase visibility on price drops, new releases, or other updates.
6. Your books sell your other books. So, writing more books equals more sales.

We’ll also add that search engine optimization (SEO) can be very helpful for increasing visibility in search engines like Google. By optimizing your book’s web pages, titles, and descriptions with relevant keywords, creating high-quality content, and building external links, you can improve your book’s visibility and reach a wider audience. You can learn how to master SEO as an author here.

Last but not least, remember to believe in yourself and be kind to yourself. “Allow yourself to make mistakes,” Fonceur suggests. “If you are tired, losing confidence, or getting a negative review, don’t quit. Take a break for a few days. Eat well, sleep well, listen to your favorite music, and when you feel better, get back to work.”

Harness Amazon Ads

Amazon is one of the most popular online retailers for bookmakers, whether traditionally or self-published. Many creators who become Blurb bestsellers take advantage of the platform’s expansive reach and powerful algorithms. But with millions of books listed on the site, how do you get yours to stand out?

Eric Lilleør is the owner and founder of Mui Fa Publishing and a Blurb bestselling author and editor. His book, Gong Sau Wong: A Tribute, explores the life and legacy of one of the most respected Wing Chun masters in history, Sifu Wong Shun Leung. Readers also get a free digital subscription to the magazine he edits, Wing Chun Illustrated. This has led to increased magazine readership and book sales since he also advertises his book in his magazine (which both share a target audience).

He started his paid marketing efforts by using Facebook Ads to boost a professionally produced book trailer, testimonial videos, and one-minute audio samples. Each ad drove to his book’s landing page—which he wrote using the copywriting framework AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action).

But Lilleør didn’t stop there. “Amazon Ads have helped sell more copies than any other marketing method by far!” he says. “I currently have more than 100 ads running, with more added weekly.”

That doesn’t mean he’s spending a fortune. While his ads have had over 600,000 impressions, he only pays for actual clicks, which he sets for a maximum of $0.34 per click. He has spent time learning how to research Amazon keywords, optimize his product page with those keywords, and then run ads. He suggests you do the same—except from day one!

Hire a marketing team

Although self-publishing gives authors the freedom to take control of their book marketing, which worked exceedingly well for the creators in our last two examples, outsourcing to a team of professionals can sometimes yield even better results.

That’s just what Blurb bestseller and transformational coach Jewel Guy did. “​​Creation is the easy part,” she says. “We all have something to share with the world. Allow yourself to do it. Then, hire a team of people who have the knowledge and skill to market your book on a consistent basis.”

Thanks to her marketing team, she found great success through in-person vending, social media, podcast interviews, and larger media features. Having experts on her side means she can find the best marketing outlets, keep up the publicity, and ensure enough people know her book is available.

Since publishing her first book, Dear Black Men, she co-wrote Dear Black Women with her husband, Desmond Guy. They continue to create healing tools, workshops, and impactful events for the entire Black family.

                                                                                               ***

Ready to turn these tips into action? Self-publish your book today.

The post Blurb bestselling authors on self-publishing success in 2023 appeared first on Blurb Blog.

1. Political persuasion

The zine’s beginnings can span back in time to pamphlets like Thomas Paine’s Common Sense in 1775. His 47-page piece of prose encouraged ordinary colonists to fight for independence and started the revolution—who knows what yours might do.

Why not try to create a persuasive political print argument of your own?

2. Black activist “little magazines”

Amid the Harlem Renaissance, a group of notable Black activists and authors gathered to create Fire, an influential literary magazine dedicated to spreading Black thought. This led to a proliferation of “little magazines” by other Black authors.

Continue the tradition with a little magazine of your own.

3. Sci-fi fanzine

The first time zines came to be known as zines was in the 1930s when “fan magazines” (shortened to “fanzine” and then “zine”) ran rampant. Famed authors like Ray Bradbury joined in the movement of small-run prints.

Follow in their footsteps by creating an intergalactic romance from your most cherished sci-fi book or an ode to your favorite sci-fi show.

4. Queer community building

In June 1947, Edythe Eyde typed out the first volume of Vice Versa, which she called “America’s Gayest Magazine.” While today there are far more avenues for LGBTQ+ ideas to spread, the zine remains an essential method of communication with small communities.

There’s no reason not to take after Edythe and mail or hand-deliver your queer declaration to friends.

5. Poetic license

Alongside the sci-fi and literary works of the 30s, 40s, and 50s came poetry zines—from collectives of niche artists that wanted to share their work but couldn’t access the traditional publishing methods. Printed with a mimeograph machine, producing copies by forcing ink through a stencil, they could print and distribute only 100 or so zines.

Create your short poetry collection—include all the work a traditional publisher would never print.

6. Seriously terrifying horror

Off the back of the sci-fi fanzine movement came creepy-crawly horror zines. With titles like Gore Creatures, Cinemacabre, and Black Oracle to draw inspiration from, there’s no end to the spooky creations you can create yourself.

Draw from your worst nightmares to create a horror piece made for a super short zine.

7. Underground art

During the 60s and 70s, art and literary zines spread through niche networks—aiming to share art the commercial art world refused to publish. Groups of artists, or single artists alone, turned their works into short prints to share.

We’re ready to see your collection of your weirdest friends’ weirdest art and illustrations.

8. Rock prozine

Sci-fi and comic zine creators in the 60s realized they shared an interest in rock music. Thus the music zine came to be. Most famous was a zine turned prozine turned magazine named Crawdaddy! One 17-year-old Swarthmore College student turned a collection of his own rock and roll criticisms into a mass-market magazine.

What’s stopping you from sharing your own opinions of your favorite artists?

9. Punk DIY

From the rock zine came the punk zine. In the late 70s and 80s, the grungy, DIY ethos of this iteration of the zine covered iconic bands like The Clash and The Ramones. The genre aesthetic took a turn with the increasing accessibility of copy machines and home printing tech—meaning scissors, glue, and xeroxing became the name of the game.

Go back to the punk roots with handwritten text and rough and ready comics (maybe even using pilfered sharpies).

10. Riot grrrl ruckus

A decade later, riot grrrls burst onto the scene, challenging the sexism in punk with its female empowerment values. The feminist practice of sharing personal experiences to build community meant that bands shared not only music but also musician-created zines.

Take a page from Bikini Kill’s book and take your band to the written page—with a healthy splash of women’s rights and revolutionary rage.

11. Graphic and comic zines

Throughout the century, zines spread to other countries, including a proliferation of Mexican comic books and graphic novels in the 2000s. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Mexican Comic Collection and La Maleta Fanzinera both have tons of excellent examples.

Try your hand at a visual zine by illustrating your work.

12. Webzines turned print

The rise of the internet also meant a decline in zines. Some print publications made the jump to webzine, like Boing Boing. But much of the effort that would-be zinesters put into their art went into blogs, online journals, and (now) social media. Go in reverse and transform your blog, journal, or social media account into zine form.

What would your Instagram feed look like if it were a DIY print piece?

13. Mamazine

You’ve seen the mothering blogs with their (sometimes harsh) opinions, the parenting magazines with their (always endless) advertising. Well, here’s what every parent really needs: a simple, judgment-free and ad-free guide to carrying, birthing, and raising kids. Check out East Village Inky for an idea of what we’re talking about.

What do you have to show and tell about the experience of parenthood?

14. Travelogue

We like to think the travel zine came about to eradicate having to sit through the painstaking slideshows of someone else’s vacation. Booooring. Instead, travel zines become two-dimensional storytellers in photos and words. Take a page from this author about a sailing trip she took with her family in Greece.

What made your last adventure most memorable? Why not make an issue out of it?

15. Oddities zine

Humans all have their idiosyncrasies, and there’s no better way to share your love of taxidermy, seeing faces in random objects, or explaining the finer points of building your self-playing saxophone than by making an oddities zine.

Think it’s weird? Exactly the point. What makes you unique?

16. Chapters in mental health

Sometimes you can’t explain your thoughts and feelings, but it helps when you hear stories or see art that others have made to express themselves during hard times. Lina Wu’s 40-page zine For Girls Who Cry Often is a perfect example.

Check out more zines like hers. Use them as inspiration to make your own—for you or someone else.

17. Foodie and drinkie zine

Chinese Protest Recipes? A zine that’s part memoir and part menu? A title that introduces an entirely new word to your vocabulary: Chewn? They’re not just recipe books. These have all the ingredients—art, musings, content—of a well-balanced zine.

What topics would you like others to chew on and say cheers to over a shared meal?

18. Hand-lettering lovers

A simple phrase about life may be nothing on its own, but once you pack it with the power of hand lettering, it becomes a statement piece. Zines are confrontational in nature, thanks largely to alphabetic art. We’re especially inspired by artist Isabel Urbina Peña’s work.

If fonts are your love language, consider making your own—and making it into a zine.

19. Literary zines

Zines are often known for art. But don’t forget the art of the written word. We’ve all heard, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” Nowhere is this more true than in the world of literary zines. Fiction, essays, poetry, lyrics, manifestos: these are the hallmarks of self-publishing life.

Consider a few writing prompts and let your imagination take to the page.

20. Astrology vignettes

Imagine the volumes and issues of different stars aligning. What’s marriage like between a Gemini and Pisces? What if they have a Scorpio child? If you have the gift of fortune-telling or card reading, you could make your gift into a zine (heck, and a business!).

Tell the tale of your romance in a zine that maps the moons and the stars that brought you together.

21. Kid manifesto

Kids may be shy to speak their feelings, but chances are, they have a lot to say. Whereas some people make photo books for each year of a kid’s life, there’s also a lot to be said for encouraging them to make a zine of what’s going on inside their hearts and minds.

Challenge a kid you know to express something they feel strongly about through writings and pictures.

22. Petzine

The proper way to feed chinchillas? Everything you ever wanted to know about the ball python? For exotic pets, zines make excellent how-to guides that can be artfully told. The trick is to make it unique and unlike a regular handbook. Perhaps make it into a comic-book-style story. Or build top 10 lists of various topics—best names, coolest tricks, weirdest habits.

Is your pet zine-worthy? “Umm…yes,” they’d say if they could talk.

23. Tattoo mini-memoir

Tattoos were once the art of rebels only. Today they’re much more mainstream, but there’s still a story behind each and every one. Early tattoo artists put their work in handy zines for admiring and attracting clients—a portfolio of sorts.

What’s your ink have to say?

24. Interviews and musings

We love that author and artist Hannah Hightman interviewed all her heroes and made them into a zine that’s the perfect blend of artful punk and high school.

Who are the influencers that would make your interview list?

Creating a zine is a fantastic way to express yourself and share your ideas with others. Whether you follow in the footsteps of politicians, punks, or poets, there’s a zine idea for everyone. With some creativity and elbow grease, you can create a one-of-a-kind zine that’s sure to stand out from the rest.

So what are you waiting for? Create your zine today.

The post 24 Zine ideas to spark your DIY creativity appeared first on Blurb Blog.

The traditional publishing model is a lengthy process navigated by an agent, funded by a publishing company, and, typically, backed by a small army of editors, designers, and marketers. Choose to self-publish, and you (and anyone else you enlist to help) will fund, publish, and market your self-published book.

Depending on your book and who you are, as an author and as a person, one option might sound far more appealing than the other right off the bat. But there are many self-publishing vs. traditional publishing pros and cons, financial and creative, hiding in the details. We’ll lay them out here so you can pick the right path.

But before getting into those details, you should know one thing up front: The percentage of authors for whom the traditional publishing book deal path is the best approach is very low—like, less than 2%. To know if you’re in that 2%, you’ll need to understand both options.

Traditional publishing

To best explain the differences between the two, we’ll start with the often-arcane world of the traditional book publishing process because much of what defines self-publishing is how it differs from this classic model.

Getting published by a traditional publishing house begins with two giant steps. The first is finding a literary agent to represent you and your unpublished book. The second isn’t so much a step as a waiting game. Your agent will submit your manuscript to traditional publishers to get them interested and ultimately pay to publish it—while these traditional publishers are fielding hundreds or even thousands of other new manuscripts. This process can take months or even years, particularly for first-time authors and those trying to publish hard-to-categorize books, poetry books, and short story collections.

Because it’s all out of your hands, the wait can be—to put it mildly—frustrating. And there are no guarantees your manuscript will sell at all. But once a publishing house is on board, one advantage of traditional publishing emerges: the advance.

No upfront costs

The publisher usually pays the author a lump sum upfront before the rest of the process gets underway to secure the publishing rights. This ranges from a small stipend to hundreds of thousands of dollars. While you shouldn’t expect a windfall on your first foray into publishing, any advance can be a big win.

The economics from that point forward get a little murkier. The publishing company will pay for the production of your book, from editing to design to printing to distribution. That’s a win for the author. In exchange for carrying those costs, the traditional publisher will take a share of the royalties—a percentage of the sale price of each book that sells, negotiated upfront with help from the agent. The author usually retains a cut of between 5% and 20% of sales in traditional publishing, with higher royalties for hardcover books than for paperback and mass-market publications.

The royalties can add up if the book is a bestseller, but if it’s not, this small share of fewer sales may stay small in the long run. And whatever the share, keep in mind: authors’ royalties only kick in after your share exceeds the cost of your advance. This means that if your book only finds a tiny audience, you may never make another dime once it’s published.

Longer publishing timelines

A delay in the actual publishing exacerbates this delay in sales earnings. The publisher’s editors, designers, and printers will ensure that every facet of your book is as polished, professional, and appealing as possible before it goes to market. All of this can be critical to the quality and, ultimately, the success of a book.

But because every part of this process involves multiple decision-makers and intermediaries, you may find you’ve read more words in emails than in your book before it goes to print. 

Compounding this is the fact that every traditional publisher has to choose which books should take priority. So, when fighting for a slice of these expert resources, unproven or first-time authors may find themselves at the back of a very long line.

Marketing and sales support

The struggle for priority also carries over into the marketing and sales of a traditionally published book. Marketing clout and the connections to get books on shelves is a significant advantage for the major publisher. Still, titles that might be considered niche books are unlikely to be given the special promotional treatment, such as retail display collateral, special editions, press coverage, and the like.

Publishers usually reserve this star treatment for books they deem to have the most mass appeal; unfortunately, books that the publishing gatekeepers think are likely to sell will get the most help when it’s time to sell it. Knowing whether your book is likely to reap those benefits isn’t easy without deep knowledge of the rapidly-shifting industry and audience trends and, even more unknowably, the whims and priorities of a particular publisher. Good agents will help with that, too, but for some titles, getting exposure will always be an uphill battle.

Access to awards

One last benefit that traditionally published authors enjoy is a better chance at literary awards. Because traditional publishing houses have more resources to throw behind a title and because they often have personal relationships with award committees, the “Big Five” publishers (Simon & Schuster, Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Hachette Book Group, and Macmillan) tend to dominate award season. Awards may not be a deciding factor for every author, but it’s certainly something to keep in mind if you’re hoping critics will recognize your book.

Benefits of traditional publishing, summarized

If that all sounds exhausting, ask any author, and they’ll tell you: It is! And they may also tell you it was totally worth it. When things go well, traditional publishing has its upsides, primarily:

• Payment up front (the advance)
• No costs incurred by you, the author
• Assistance with design, editing, and marketing
• Better chance at winning awards

Self-publishing

Any indie author will tell you publishing your own book is, all things considered, far less complicated. It can also be far more work for you, the indie author. That’s not surprising when you’re doing everything yourself.

That’s a huge difference, and it manifests right away. You will not need to find an agent interested in your manuscript, and that agent will not need to find an interested publisher. So happily, you can eliminate this part of the wait entirely.

However, that doesn’t mean you’re ready to publish immediately; all the editing and cover design work still needs doing. You’ll always be at the front of the line when you’re doing it yourself. But if you’d like the benefit of outside resources to help get your book into publishing shape, you’ll need to find them and, likely, pay them.

Total creative control

The good news with self-publishing is that you’ll be in complete creative control of the entire process. In even the most author-friendly traditional publishing deal, the decision-makers who help get a book to market exert some control over the process and the finished product.

Whereas with self-publishing, all of those critical decisions are made by you as fast as you can make them. And you’ll never wonder if other people made them with your best interests in mind. Instead, you’ll be publishing your book exactly as you want it, with way more creative freedom, and as soon as you want to print it.

All publishing rights

That control extends to the ownership of your creation. Traditional publishing deals always cede primary (first-to-market) publishing rights of the printed work to the publisher. Subsidiary rights are also in play during traditional publishing deal negotiations. Those are rights to audiobook versions and film adaptations (if you’re fortunate enough to need them).

If you’re confident in your work (and if you’re self-publishing, you should be!), these subsidiary rights are almost always worth keeping for yourself. If you self-publish, you’ll retain all rights to your work, in any form, in domestic and foreign markets.

Upfront costs

If you go the self-publishing route, you’ll also bear 100% of the cost of making and printing your book, and there’s no such thing as an advance. Unless you’ve found a generous benefactor or amassed some backing on a crowdfunding platform like Kickstarter, financing a self-publishing venture is all on you. Carefully consider what you’re willing to spend to get your book out into the world.

Without the informed insights of an agent and a publisher, you’ll need to gauge audience interest ahead of your first printing run. And, if you’re looking to get your book onto physical bookstores, the same goes for retailer interest.

Print more than audience demand calls for, and it’ll be your own money tied up in those extra copies. Thankfully, today’s self-publishing options allow for a surprisingly speedy turnaround on new print runs, so if your book suddenly finds a huge following, you can get more copies into the market and brick-and-mortar stores relatively quickly.

Read about John Scarpati’s Blurb & Kickstarter journey

A larger share of the royalty

Perhaps the most significant upside to self-publishing is that independent authors keep a lion’s share of the sales from every book. You’ll effectively keep 100% of the net profits. This is because there’s no waiting to cover your advance—just your initial publishing outlay. Accounting for printing and distribution costs, this usually translates to royalty rates of around 50-70% per sale for the self-publishing author.

That higher percentage may or may not equate to more money in the long run—it’ll depend on how well your book sells. Responsibility for that largely falls on the self-publishing author as well. So make sure you have a plan and follow a few best practices on how to sell a book online and seek out advice from other self-published authors to help guide you along the way.

Benefits of self-publishing, summarized

With the right book, the right approach, and some determination, self-publishing can lead to a success story that clearly wins out over traditional publishing in some critical ways:

• Faster to market
• More creative control
• All publishing rights
• Larger share of royalties

 Learn self-publishing mistakes to avoid

Still not sure?

Don’t fret if you’re not certain that you’re in that 2%. The beauty of self-publishing is that you’ll learn a lot about yourself, your work, and the publishing business. Your first effort will set you up for future success, and remember, if you establish a solid readership through self-publishing, literary agents and publishers may seek you out for your next book. Then you can make this decision all over again!

Ready to start your self-publishing journey? Let’s make it happen!

The post Self-publishing vs. traditional publishing appeared first on Blurb Blog.

Editor’s note: In this three-part series, pro photographer and educator Jared Platt will teach you to create high-quality photo books with Blurb. Jared will take you step-by-step through picking your photos for your photo book, using the top bookmaking tools, and printing your end product. Want to see the entire tutorial? Visit Jared Platt’s website!

Welcome to class. I’m Jared Platt, a professional photographer and educator, and I’m ready to help you in the process of making a photo book. In this set of lessons and assignments, I will walk you through the process of creating your own self-published photo book.

In this part of the series, we will focus on picking your images for your perfect photo book. This is an extremely important step, as the quality and selection of images will make or break your finished product. Let’s get started.

How to pick a theme for your photo book

It can be daunting to sit down and start a print photography project. Where do you even begin? The answer is simple: with a photo book theme.

A theme provides a roadmap for your photo book layout and helps you to determine which images will best tell your story. This will help you to narrow down your images and create a cohesive layout.

There are endless possibilities for themes, so take some time to brainstorm. Once you have a photo book theme in mind, you can start selecting images that fit your vision. Keep in mind the overall tone of the book as you make your selections. You may also want to consider the size and shape of the images in order to create a balanced design. With a little planning, you can create a beautiful photo book that tells a story and captures your unique style.

That said, life is full of surprises. Sometimes, we set out with a clear plan, but end up deviating from that plan in unexpected ways. The same is true for photography. We may set out to capture a certain scene or subject, but end up finding something even more interesting along the way. For this reason, it’s sometimes best to simply let the photos dictate the theme of your photo book. By definition, a photo book is a collection of images that tell a story. So, if you find yourself with a collection of photos that don’t seem to fit together, don’t worry! Just let the photos be your guide, and trust that they will eventually lead you to the perfect theme for your book.

How to search for and collect your images

With your theme in mind, just start looking for images that stand out to you amidst all your photos. Once you have found a few images that inspire you, start doing some research based on those images.

You can use keywords, locations, people, or dates to help you find more images. If you are using the Lightroom desktop or mobile applications, you can also use Adobe Sensei to help you find images. Once you have found some images that you like, throw them in your collection and move on. Don’t be too detailed at this point, just collect on an instinctual level.

If you’re anything like me, your photos are scattered across multiple hard drives, and you may even have them on SD cards, and cloud storage providers. Even if you’re relatively organized, it can still be a pain to track down a specific photo. That’s where Lightroom comes in. Lightroom is a powerful photo management tool that makes it easy to find, view, and organize your photos.

Collect images with Lightroom

A great way to keep your photos organized is to create a collection or album in Lightroom Classic or Lightroom Desktop and sync it with the Cloud. This will allow you to find photos more easily and keep them organized. To do this, simply find the Collection or Album panel in Lightroom Classic or Lightroom Desktop and click the plus button. Then, make a new Collection/Album and start collecting items into that collection. You will be far more efficient if you assign that collection/album to be your Target Collection and you Sync it with the Cloud (the Lightroom Ecosystem). By doing this, you will be able to find photos more easily and keep them organized in one place.

As you focus on creating your first collection, keep an eye out for quality images as well as those that help tell the story you’re trying to create. By being more selective in this first pass, you’ll be able to put together a stronger, more focused collection. And don’t forget to include your favorite shots! The most important thing is that you enjoy the process and end up with a collection that you’re proud of.

How to pare down your collection

You now probably have a ton of photos—perhaps even hundreds—it’s time to pare them down. When creating a photo book, it’s important to select images that will tell your story in the most effective way. This means that you may need to select some of your lesser-quality photos or even delete some altogether.

Before you begin paring, it’s a good idea to create a new collection or album with the same name but Second Pass at the end. Make it the Target Collection and start looking through your first collection. Look for common themes and connections between images. If you are telling a narrative story, look for images that will help push the narrative along. 

Working with Lightroom

It’s helpful to work in Lightroom once again at this stage. You can even create a virtual copy of the image you want to keep in the main collection and then start working on the new version. This way, you can keep the original safe and work on a copy. You can also use Lightroom’s flagging system to mark images you want to keep. To do this, simply click on the flag in the toolbar and select the desired option. You can use stars, flags, or even colors to organize your images, just choose the method that works best for you.

Picking photos for a photo book can be a daunting task, but it’s also a lot of fun! By focusing on your theme and collecting images that inspire you, you’ll be well on your way to using all the photos in your camera!

Pro tip: Use the Command or Control Key with the B or T key to add them to the target collection (B in Lightroom Classic and T in Lightroom Desktop). Or just drag the images into the new, smaller collection.

You’ll want to be far more selective on this pass. Keep only the strongest photos that best represent your theme and story. Delete any images that are poor in quality, don’t fit with the rest of the collection, or are simply unnecessary. This process can be tough, but it’s necessary to create a high-quality photo book.

How many photos to select

How many photos should you select for your print photography book? This is a question that often plagues photographers, especially those who are just starting out. The answer, of course, depends on a number of factors, including the size of the book and the purpose of the book. For example, if you are creating a large coffee table book, you will likely want to include more photos than if you are making a smaller album for personal use. The same is true if you are hoping to sell your book or use it as a portfolio; in these cases, you’ll want to be selective in order to present your best work.

Ultimately, there is no hard and fast rule for how many photos to include in a print photography book. My general rule of thumb is to start with a selection of around 25 images for an 8×8 book, or 50 for an 11×14 layout.  This is a good starting point, but you may want to include more or fewer photos depending on your individual project.

It’s important to remember that the goal is to tell a story with your photos, not just fill up a book with as many images as possible. By being selective and choosing the strongest images, you can create a photo book that is both beautiful and meaningful.

In the end, the best approach is to select the strongest photos that best represent your theme and story. This may mean including fewer photos than you initially thought, but it will result in a more cohesive, high-quality book.

Guiding questions

Paring down your first selection is easy with a few simple questions:

• Does this image fit with my theme?
• Is this image high quality?
• Do I really need this image?

If the answer to any of these questions is no, then you probably don’t need the photo.

When you’re finished, take a look at your new second pass collection. Is it still telling the story you want to tell? If not, continue looking through your first collection and make more selections. Once you’re happy with the images in your second pass collection, it’s time to start creating your photo book.

Work with an editor

But wait! A second set of eyes can be extremely helpful when it comes to editing your work. Friends and family can be a great resource for this, as they can offer quality feedback and help you to catch any duplicates or holes that you may have missed. However, it is also important to choose someone who you trust to give you honest feedback, as well as someone who is familiar with the genre of the project you’re working on.

In addition, a mentor or other experienced professional photographer can be a great asset when it comes to polishing your work and ensuring that it is of the best possible quality. By taking advantage of these resources, you can ensure that you have chosen your strongest images—well before you start your layout.

Decide on your final presentation

With your pared-down collection in hand, it’s time to start imagining the end product. You’ve probably already started this process during the selection step. In fact, as concrete ideas come to mind of how to present your images, you write them down and entertain them as you go about your day.

Ask yourself questions

But the moment has come to make some choices about the final look and feel of your book. Again, it’s worthwhile to use some guiding questions to help.

• What is the purpose of this book? Are you looking to entertain travelers in a bookstore or impress guests with a beautiful coffee table book?
• What mood would you like to evoke? Is it a serious meditation on the trauma of war or a humorous look at gas station signs?
• What kind of price point do you want to hit for this book? Are luxurious materials worth the extra cost or should you stick to more affordable options?

Once you have some answers to these questions, it’s time to start sketching out some ideas and making final decisions. This can be a fun process, but it’s important to remember that the goal is to create a beautiful and cohesive book, not just a bunch of pretty pictures.

Look for inspiring photo books

When it comes to creating a photography book, inspiration can be found in many places. You can browse photo book templates for inspiration. You can find ready-made templates at most online photo book companies, like Blurb’s BookWright, or you can create your own using design software like InDesign, Photoshop, or Illustrator.

Other photographers’ work is another great source of inspiration, as photo books can offer ideas for sequencing, layout, and design. Be sure to check out photo book galleries, both online and in-person, to get a sense of what’s possible and find ideas that you may not have considered.

By the way, you can also find books and magazines in the Blurb Bookstore. There, you’ll find a wide variety of photography books, ranging from traditional portfolios to more experimental works. By browsing the titles in the store, you can get a feel for the many different ways that photographers are telling stories with their images. You’ll also be supporting other artists like yourself.

Once you have a solid idea of the look and feel of your book, it’s time to start laying out your images. This is where the real magic happens, as you get to see your photos come to life in a finished product. Head to the next part of my series to see it all come together.

***

Continue Jared’s ongoing series with the case for printing photo books and how to design and print your book with Blurb. Or see the whole tutorial on Jared Platt’s website!

The post How to pick photos for your photo book appeared first on Blurb Blog.

If you’re serious about self-publishing, you owe it to yourself and your work to learn how to write a synopsis that is appealing and lives up to your talent as a novelist.

With all that in mind, it’s time to learn more about the synopsis: its meaning, parts, and the step-by-step process for crafting one that sets you up for success.

What is a synopsis?

Speaking generally, the definition of a synopsis is a brief summary (of just about anything). But in the publishing world, it’s far more specific. A story’s synopsis is essentially an overview of all of the most critical parts of the book, from start to finish. It includes characters essential to the plot, motivations, and the complete narrative arc, including its resolution.

What’s a synopsis used for?

It’s easy to confuse a synopsis for that teaser on the back of the book or on its online storefront page. But those are blurbs—lower-case b—and they’re used to sell your book to readers. (If that’s what you’re writing, we’ll cover that, too.)

A synopsis, on the other hand, is used by authors to help get their novel published. It helps agents pick the works they’d like to represent and is used to convince editors (and the publishers they work for) that a novel is unique, compelling, and, ultimately, good for business.

That all means that writing a great synopsis is important when you’re looking for an agent, editor, or publisher. But the synopsis is also essential for getting your work out to wider audiences, and before that can happen, you’ve got to craft a synopsis that resonates with the publishing audience. There’s an art to that, too. It’s not exactly a book report, but if you’ve ever had to summarize any novel in a straightforward way that still captures and holds the reader’s attention, you’re not entirely new to this synopsis thing.

How to start a synopsis

If you’re used to writing novels, a synopsis will seem short. They tend to be as few as 200 words on the low end, and 1,000 at the top. That’s less than two single-spaced pages to capture all the important characters, motivations, settings, relevant plot points, and resolutions. Any longer than that, and you risk losing interest from an agent or editor. So when you set out to write a great synopsis, the first step is to find your most concise voice and keep brevity top-of-mind from the beginning.

The next step should usually take the form of an outline. You’ll define your plan of attack and have a better understanding of where you stand as you tackle the synopsis itself. If you didn’t have an outline for your novel, now’s probably the time to make one.

What should a synopsis include?

A good synopsis typically kicks off with the introduction of the protagonist, or main character. Who are they? Where are they? What’s their mindset and situation as the novel begins?

From there, you’ll want to jump right into the plot as quickly as possible—starting with the inciting incident that kicks the narrative into motion. How does the protagonist’s life change, and what tension arises? Depending on your story, this will likely coincide with the introduction of other relevant characters that drive that action or the protagonist’s response.

To that end, it’s important to note that even if you’re proud of the wide cast of characters you’ve created, only those directly relevant to the main plot should make their way into your synopsis. While incidental encounters and ancillary characters can help give deeper insights into the protagonist’s mind and the world you’ve built in your novel, getting too far into the weeds will distract from the essential information and key takeaways your agents and editors are looking for.

After the inciting incident, move directly into the rising action—that is, how the plot unfolds. Again, focus only on the most critical plot points. If your protagonist has a nightmare that gives readers insights into their backstory and psyche, that’s not nearly as important to the plot as when they wake up to find a stranger in their hotel room. Keep things moving, and don’t be afraid to explicitly state a character’s motivation as they respond to and participate in the action around them. The novelist’s guiding principle of “show, don’t tell” can take a back seat to clarity and conciseness here. It’s ok to boil your more complex moments down to the nuts and bolts and explicitly state the emotions around these events.

When all the plot points essential for understanding the plot’s climax are in place, move right into it. What significant events transpire, what emotions does the protagonist experience, and how do the protagonist’s actions lead to the plot’s resolution?

Distilling your novel this much might make you feel like you’re compromising your work and that you’re leaving out what makes your novel so special—tone of voice, wordplay, vivid imagery. But keep in mind that the agents and editors reading your synopsis are here to learn how you craft a narrative and how your novel fits into their publishing landscape in as little time as possible. Pique their interest in these broader terms, and they’ll be more than delighted to find out you’re also a powerhouse of prose when they read your full novel.

What’s next?

Now that your synopsis is ready to send: Edit! The importance of editing can’t be overstressed. Take a long hard look at what you’ve composed, and look for opportunities to sharpen things up. Does the reader really need to know about this character? Have you provided more background than necessary before diving into the plot? Each sentence should be working hard. If you can achieve the same result with fewer words, you’ll win points with agents and editors.

Once you’ve trimmed things back, look again for what’s missing. Have you explained the “why” of each vital action the protagonist takes? Did you take something for granted because you thought it would go without saying? Find a place for that on the page.

Most importantly, even if you’re great at self-editing, you’ll absolutely want to get a second opinion (or ten). The most helpful ones will come from people who’ve read your novel. You may have to explain a synopsis, but their familiarity with your work will offer a great perspective. They can tell you if you’ve missed anything that they found essential to appreciating the story’s plot and emotions or what stood out and surprised them.

With everything extraneous removed, and the essentials in place, revisit the synopsis as a whole. How does it flow? Is the opening attention-grabbing? Does the conclusion give a proper sense of the takeaway you want readers to get from the novel itself (without having to state it explicitly)? Polish and repeat.

What else?

That covers the not-so-basics of synopsis writing. Here are a few more things to keep in mind to help you get started, stick the landing, and get a positive response.

• Look for synopsis examples for books you’ve read and enjoyed. You may be taken aback by how stripped-down they are. Agents and editors are seasoned readers that can fill in the blanks and derive deeper meaning than a page or two might usually communicate—so long as the synopsis is well structured, well written, and respectful of their time and intelligence.

• Clearly define important terms and concepts, accounting for what might not be common knowledge to readers less familiar with the topic or genre. If the climax takes place during the big cricket game, you’re better off explaining the situation as “on the brink of defeat” rather than “three runs shy and eight balls in hand.”

• When you first mention an integral character (and you should, for the most part, only mention integral characters), give their name in ALL CAPS. It helps readers scan and recall the essentials of your synopsis. Other characters that play a role in the plot but whose emotions and motivations aren’t critical shouldn’t be referred to by their proper names; the janitor can just be “the janitor.”

• Avoid using dialogue. Even if your plot is driven by riveting conversations, distill exchanges into their sentiment and outcomes. That heated exchange can be described as just that.

• Don’t spell out your themes or the novel’s construction in literary terms. You don’t have to say that your work is “a new twist on a coming-of-age story,” or that an event is a “plot twist” or the “climax.” Things like that should be apparent from the rest of the synopsis.

That said, if a literary technique, style, voice, or point of view is critical your characters and plot, there’s room for them in your synopsis. Does an unreliable narrator obscure the true motivation of a character? Does the prose deteriorate as the protagonist’s dementia worsens? Make the reader aware of that if it helps explain the tension and plot arc in your work.

Synopsis example

The synopsis: a synopsis
Now for some fun. Let’s synopsize the process of what we just learned:

A talented writer sets out to write a compelling synopsis of their new novel in hopes of selling it to a publisher. Despite their undeniable writing skills, they feel unprepared for this new undertaking in a business landscape utterly unfamiliar to them. But, despite their fear of rejection, they set out to learn everything it takes to ensure their success, knowing it’s an essential step towards realizing their dreams of being published.

After drawing up an outline, they write a concise draft that summarizes all the most important parts of their novel, focusing on only the most important characters, their motivations, and emotions as they spell out the inciting incident, rising action, climax, and resolution of the plot—without using those exact terms.

Just as they near completion of the synopsis, they realize that a few extraneous details are getting in the way of the flow and that a key element of the narrative has been left out. Determined to see this through, they revise and share the synopsis with a trusted confidant, mom. Her thoughtful insights provide exactly what the synopsis needed to reflect the unique and utterly compelling nature of the novel to even the most jaded of literary agents.

Filled with newfound confidence, they send the finished synopsis out to publishers, knowing that whatever happens, not a single stone has been left unturned—and that new avenues of opportunity are, at long last, about to open.

Synopsis vs. Blurb

A blurb is entirely different from a synopsis, both in its use and how it’s written. Blurbs should pique the interest of anyone you think should read your work without giving away the entire plot (if there even is a plot at all).

If you have a publisher they’ll likely handle writing the blurb. But if you’re self-publishing, your blurb is entirely up to you. Aside from typically being only 150-200 words, there are far fewer rules when writing a blurb. It’s your opportunity to sell your work on your terms.

A blurb for a novel will usually include much of the same general information as a synopsis (protagonist, motivations, inciting action) but may only hint at the rising action and, of course, leave the climax and resolution out entirely. It’s more likely to follow the voice of the work itself (though it doesn’t have to). And it can be more direct in describing the nature of the novel. If it’s a gripping sci-fi romp where the rules of physics have gone out the window, you can come right out and say so.

Beyond novels, practically every type of book can use a good blurb. A blurb for a collection of poetry can explicitly state the themes, structures, and intent of poems. Photo books may not contain a single word, but their blurbs should describe the imagery within and tell the otherwise-unwritten story of how the photos came to be. Anthology blurbs can list the authors and works they contain and their significance. And blurbs for short story collections can introduce the unifying theme—or tease the breadth of their subject matter.

You can treat your blurb like a sales pitch or an extension of the book itself, with as much or as little flair as you like. Be intriguing. Be coy. Be bold. Be whatever suits you and your work.

And, just as you would with a synopsis, consider getting a second opinion on your blurb before you put it out to the world.

Ready to pen your masterpiece, synopsis and all? Get started on creating your trade book today.

The post How to write a synopsis appeared first on Blurb Blog.

Every creator has a story behind their story. We sat down with a few Blurb authors to learn more about what inspires them, their favorite part of the book-making process, and why they choose to publish with Blurb. 

Megan 

“Best Coast Cookbook”

Tanner 

“Alma Carioca” 

Elabs

“Highs and Lows“

Cassie

“Omi’s Kitchen” 

Chris 

“Beauty in the Wild” 

Support indie authors and creators in the Blurb Bookstore

The post Blurb Creator Stories appeared first on Blurb Blog.

• Which book design software to use 
• How to start a photo book project 
• The image that changed his worldview
• Sharing creative projects and receiving feedback 
• The age or career stage when people do their best work 
• Image transfer techniques in journals 
• The difference between a photo story and a photo essay 
• The future of book publishing 

BookWright or Booksmart? 

A hundred percent of the time: BookWright. BookSmart is the original Blurb application that is no longer supported. BookWright is the up-to-date, current Blurb software that allows you to make Photo Books, Trade Books, and Magazines. 

What is the first step in a photo book project? 

The first step is to download the Blurb BookWright software so you can make a test book. Think: 7×7 inches, 20 pages, softcover. Use the test book as a way of experimenting with your photography, typography, and page design. Then use that test book as a road map for all your future bookmaking needs. 

Have you ever made a picture that changed your worldview? 

Yes, I learned something from every project I did. However, what I want to share with you is the image that made me a photographer. In 1966, an English photographer named Larry Burrows made a photograph in Vietnam called “Reaching Out,” which was made on a hilltop landing zone. I saw this photograph when I was either in middle school or high school, and it made me feel in a way that I never had felt seeing a photograph before. When I saw that picture, I said to myself, I want to get a camera and I want to make other people feel that same way. That is the reason I became a photographer. So in essence, that is the one image that really changed my worldview and made me into the photographer I am.  

How do I prevent myself from evaluating my work based on how others feel about it? 

I think this question is a byproduct of living in the Internet Age, when we sometimes feel we have to share every single thing we are doing in real time. I think as a photographer it’s better to wait until you really have something to say. Wait until you’ve worked on a project long enough where you can show your absolute best work. Then you have something relevant to say, you have something strong to share. I think it makes it a healthier experience all around.

What time of someone’s career do they make their best work? Do photographers make their best work when they are young, or do they make their best work when they are older? 

The short answer is: all of the above. I’ve seen young photographers come along that are basically transcendent image makers. And every generation, there are several people worldwide who come along that really do or say something that no one has done before. At the same time, other photographers take longer to mature and they do some of their best work later in their career. I don’t think there is one answer for every person. I think each photographer is an individual and unique. And it doesn’t really matter when you get the best work done. 

What is the best technique for image transfer into a journal? 

As a longtime journal keeper, I’ve got two ideas for you. The first is to get an instant camera, like a Fujifilm Instax that allows you to make pictures in the field, and take those little prints and glue them into your journal in real time. The second option is to wait until your project is done. Come back and actually design a journal in the Blurb BookWright software and fill that journal with whatever work you feel like putting in there. Then once you’ve got that book, you can take it into the field and continue to add to it with your Instax. So you have a short-term solution and a long-term solution. 

What is the difference between a photo story and a photo essay?

Personally, I use them interchangeably. I don’t think there is much of a difference. But I have heard some people believe that a photo story is about one particular person, story, or place. And a photo essay is a collection of people, places, and things. But again, I use them interchangeably and I think they are basically referring to the same thing. 

What do you worry about in publishing and what do you hope for in the future? 

I actually don’t worry about much in the publishing field. I think economically today, the world is in a tricky place. So, if I was going to worry about something, it’s that most of the people who work in publishing realize that there is so much good work being done, it’s impossible to publish all of it. So there are going to be some great projects out there that actually don’t find publishers. I think that’s been true forever and I think it will be true moving forward. What I hope is that the publishing industry remains healthy. And I hope that the alternative methods of publishing, outside of using a traditional publisher, continue to expand and grow. I think the more options that creatives have, the better off we all are. 

Ready to choose a trim size and cover type for your book project? Explore your options and get started today. 

The post Photo Books to Journals: Q&A with Dan Milnor appeared first on Blurb Blog.

Create a unique book

This might sound obvious but take the time to make the best book you possibly can. Whether you’re writing, photographing, or illustrating, focus on the details that will mean your book stands out. Creating unique work makes all other aspects of selling your book online easier. 

Build your platform

A big part of learning how to sell a book online is building a platform. I like to refer to this as an author ecosystem. But before I delve into this idea just know this is a long-term strategy, not short-term. This is about building a solid foundation of support. 

Think of your ecosystem as an octopus. Each arm works on a particular channel but also contributes to the big picture. The arms of your octopus might include your website, email newsletter, social media, online speaking, YouTube videos, book reviews, and interviews, or public speaking engagements. Each of these avenues helps you create a complete system for not only telling your story but telling the story of your book. Be honest, be humorous, be generous and share more than the fact you have a book for sale. Readers are not only interested in your book, they are often interested in you as well. 

Leverage Blurb’s online network 

Through Blurb you can reach a huge online audience via Amazon, Ingram, and the Blurb Bookstore. 

In the Bookstore, you have your own author and book page where you can add your book blurb and links to your author website or social media channels (remember the octopus!). Through your dashboard you can set and change your profit margin and track your sales.  

Garner reviews

Build your book’s profile by providing a few early copies to people you trust, other authors, or industry-relevant experts, and ask them to review your book. The right words from the right person can boost customer confidence in you as an author. Make book reviews part of your self-publishing tool-kit with our handy guide.

Get the price right

A good markup can help you earn a sustainable income as an author, but setting a realistic book price takes research. You’ll need to understand your competition’s pricing strategy and consider the market value of your content. 

Of course discounts can attract more attention and more sales. One option is to offer a time-based discount, for example, for the first thirty days, then increasing the price over time. This prompts people to make their buying decision early on and rewards them for doing so. But be careful not to devalue your book in the eyes of your customers by selling it cheap.

Discover the recommended pricing formula for selling your book online.

As you can see, selling a book online doesn’t require a mountain of cash or special privilege, but a comprehensive plan where the success of your book doesn’t rely on a single channel. 

Finally, enjoy the process. Authors have been creating and selling books for generations. And with storytelling in our DNA this doesn’t look like it’s going to change anytime soon. 

The post How to Sell a Book Online appeared first on Blurb Blog.

Learn how to write a poetry book and how you can create one yourself.

What makes chapbooks so popular?

It’s been said that if a chapbook is good enough, it could even start a revolution. Chapbooks have been the inspiration for literary masterpieces, music, film, and even love. These small books are collected by institutions and libraries around the world. Let’s take a look at why these tiny publications are so well-loved.

1. Short attention spans

We live in a world of dwindling attention spans. Wait, I need to check my Instagram feed. Okay, sorry, I’m back. One of the most enduring qualities of a chapbook is that you can finish the entire book in one sitting, perfect for that early morning lift, lunch hour break, or those few precious pages before bed. Short books are an art form in their own way. The fact that the book is so small means the editing, sequencing, and design are critical.

2. Unique writing styles

Chapbooks are also a great way to experiment with a style of content that might not have an audience in a longer format. Think about experimental poetry or writing styles that showcase the unique literary prowess of a new or unpublished author. So much of what gets published in the commercial publishing world has to fit everything from genre to character style to economics. Chapbooks are the opposite—free to flow in any direction the author chooses.

3. Easy self-publishing

These pocket-sized books are also the perfect object to self-publish and distribute. Historically, many of the best chapbooks were published by the author, passed around, and collected by avid readers. The perfect way to discover new talent. Also, chapbooks are inexpensive to produce but have proven highly successful even without being sold through a mainstream publisher. Plenty of authors sell their chapbooks through their own website, and if your book takes off it can be a great way to show a publisher that you have an audience ready to consume your work.

The next time you organize a small body of themed writing, think about this lo-fi, affordable approach to showcasing your work.

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If you have a stack of poems, stories, or flash fiction ready to go, what are you waiting for? Turn your collection into a one-of-a-kind chapbook you share with the world using Blurb’s free and easy-to-use bookmaking software.

The post What is a chapbook? appeared first on Blurb Blog.

The girls received one-on-one mentorship from a best-selling children’s author, professional editor, and acclaimed writers and illustrators to help prepare their books for publication. After printing 10 copies of each book, the class held a launch event at a local bookstore to celebrate the students’ work.

We caught up with Christian to get his thoughts on the program debut and to hear about the girls’ experience in their own words.

1. Were you writing, drawing, or doing creative work as a young student? Did you have any mentors that inspired you?

As a kid, I absolutely loved reading and writing, but I never had the self-belief or confidence to take it further. I was not good at writing in class and did not have the marks I needed to study creative writing, so I gave up on that dream very early in life.

2. How did you decide to pursue a teaching career?

I was very lucky to be able to follow my dream of becoming an athlete as a kid and it was an amazing experience. I wanted to give as many kids as possible the opportunity to live their own dreams, so I became a teacher.

3. What is your personal experience with self-publishing or publishing in general?

I never had any real experience with self-publishing but it didn’t look that hard. As a teacher, sometimes you do not need to be an expert, just willing to learn new skills yourself.

4. What inspired you to create this pilot program specifically for girls?

We knew that a few of our girls had dreams to become authors so we created this program to see if there were others that felt the same. The most important work we do in the Enterprise Academy is to give girls the opportunity to be bold and live their dreams. We were overwhelmed with the amount of interest in the program and will definitely have to run it again because there are so many amazing authors in our classrooms just waiting for the opportunity to be discovered. This is just the beginning!

5. How did you select the professional team you collaborated with?

All the experts in our program were hand-picked not only because they are the best at what they do, but because of their passion for supporting and empowering students through literacy. The most important members of the team were our Enterprise Academy associates, current students who are passionate about supporting the learning of others. They made the magic happen.

6. What does the curriculum look like during each day of the program?

The 4-day program was structured to give the girls as much one-on-one support and feedback from experts and their peers as possible. In the Enterprise Academy, we focus greatly on creating a learning environment where the girls can learn from each other and find the gold and potential that they already have inside themselves.

7. What do you hope your students learn from the process?

I think these reflections from the girls sum it up best:

“I have improved my writing and drawing skills and I am proud of the work I did because I achieved everything to the best of my ability.”
– Amritha, author of Wish Upon a Fox

 “I have learnt a lot about the ‘real world’ side of becoming a published author and the importance of leverage and negotiation. I am feeling much more confident in myself and my work.” – Genevieve, author of The Balance

 “Every part of the Authors’ Accelerator program was fun, educational, and funny. I am confident in my ability to succeed and feel proud of what I did in the Enterprise Academy.” – Annabella, author of The Sacred Jewel

 “I’m extremely proud of my work and a lot more confident now because of all the support. I have grown in confidence and creativity and I believe in myself more.” –Paige, author of It’s Not Punny

8. You planned a special launch event at a local bookstore with the girls’ books on display for purchase. How else will you be promoting the students’ books?

The book launch was a huge success and all the girls’ books sold out! We are still working on organizing a book tour for our amazing authors.

9. Why was marketing the books an important part of the process?

This program was not just about publishing books, it was about giving the girls the tools and resources to succeed and continue to thrive as professional authors, and marketing was a part of that. Each girl received all the profits from all of their book sales and now have everything they need to continue printing and selling their books today and into the future.

10. What does the future of this program look like to you? Will you make it a regular part of your curriculum or evolve it in any way?

Watch this space!

Feeling inspired to launch a self-publishing project of your own? Check out the Blurb Bookstore for great ideas. If you’re ready to start designing your own book or magazine, download BookWright, our free desktop publishing tool and bring your idea to life.

The post Behind the Book: A Self-Publishing Program for Girls appeared first on Blurb Blog.

In this getting-started guide, we take the guesswork out of the publishing process and show you how to self-publish a book on your terms. First, let’s cover some self-publishing basics. 

What is self-publishing?

Self-publishing is the process of producing and publishing creative work without the support of a traditional publishing house. For authors, it means taking ownership of the writing and editing and the book’s design, formatting, printing, and promotion. And it’s in that journey where self-published authors can explore creativity without boundaries. 

With the rise of online publishing tools and distribution platforms in the past decade, self-publishing has become a viable and economical option for many authors. Writers and creatives prefer the self-publishing route for several reasons: Not only does it allow you to retain creative control and a greater share of the profits, but it’s a practical alternative for creators sharing perspectives on niche topics with very targeted audiences—the kind that wouldn’t get picked up by traditional publishers.

A brief history of self-publishing

Self-publishing has a long history that dates back to the 17th century when many authors printed and distributed their books and pamphlets without a publisher. Some early examples of these self-published greats include John Locke, Emily Dickinson, and Marcel Proust. Self-publishing was incredibly important because traditional publishers were selective and intense censorship was common, making philosophical texts like Locke’s Two Treatises of Government impossible to publish traditionally.

Later on, with the emergence of the vanity press (or “vanity publisher”) in the 1920s and 1930s, anyone could pay upfront and sign away their rights to have their “vanity” book published by these publishing houses. This option would inevitably earn a reputation for poor-quality books and deceptive publishing scams.

Self-publishing gained much more traction in the 1960s and 1970s when print-on-demand technology became a mainstream option. This enabled writers to print small quantities instead of paying for high-volume printing upfront. And in recent years, digital publishing and ebooks have made it even more accessible to self-publish a book. In addition to digital book creation platforms, access to online distributors like Amazon and Barnes & Noble make it easy for authors to market and promote their work.

Traditional publishing vs. self-publishing tradeoffs 

When it comes to traditional publishing versus self-publishing, there are advantages and disadvantages to each. 

In general, the traditional approach of working with a publishing house can be more lucrative for creators, often giving greater credibility and prestige to a published book. The backing of a book publisher also means you’ll have a professional team to support editing, branding, distributing, and marketing your book.

However, today’s publishers mainly work with experienced writers who’ve amassed a reputation or a large audience via blogging or other high-profile writing—or celebrity status. That’s mainly because publishing companies foot the bill to publish the book and bear the risk of funding, producing, and distributing the finished product. Because of this financial risk, publishing houses are highly selective in whom they work with and what they publish.

On the other hand, self-publishing provides greater creative control, editorial flexibility, and faster turnaround. It’s also a more accessible option for the vast majority of writers who don’t have an impressive track record to land a book deal with a publishing house. 

However, self-publishing can be more costly up-front as the bookmaker assumes all financial responsibility. There’s also no guarantee that a self-published book will become a bestseller, so it’s wise to have realistic expectations and goals for your piece once it’s out in the world.

How much does it cost to self-publish a book?

The cost of self-publishing a book depends on the services and options you need, as expenses are different if you need editing and design or formatting and printing. 

Based on estimates across various genres, the cost of self-publishing can vary greatly, with text-heavy books costing $3,800 to $6,000 or more to edit, design, and produce. But, of course, plenty of creators also create and print their books for less than $500. That’s why it’s essential to research, compare prices, and have a clear budget in mind before embarking on the self-publishing journey.

You can take two paths to self-publish printed copies of your book: print-on-demand (POD) and volume printing (offset printing). POD involves printing a specific number of books, including one at a time. While more expensive than volume printing, POD provides greater flexibility for self-publishers. POD is also quicker to get your published book, as books are created in the same facility without shipping components to different sites for assembly.

On the other hand, volume or offset printing is the traditional method of publishing books in large quantities. This process involves printing many book copies in a single run, which is usually more cost-effective—and can be the only option for books requiring special treatments like a unique size or specific paper type. But volume printing can be more costly upfront to self-publish a book, as you’ll need to pay for more copies and make sure you have zero errors before you print.

How to self-publish a book

If all of the above points toward self-publishing, it’s time to start! Whether your project is a personal memoir, expert field guide, or future bestselling romance, you decide how to create and self-publish your book. However, several best practices can help you go from a dream to success.

1. Research your genre and topic

Your self-published book’s success relies heavily on choosing a topic you’re passionate about and one that will resonate with others. It can be tempting to jump into writing without thoroughly researching the market, but doing so could make it more difficult to attract readers. Invest time learning who reads your genre and how they expect to find your book. This research will come in handy for writing and marketing your book once printed.

It’s a good idea to hone in on a reader need that current books on the market don’t satisfy. It may be a very specific niche or a topic that isn’t well represented. Just make sure you’re also choosing a topic you are knowledgeable about and interested in, as this will make the creation and production process much more enjoyable. Your passion will also be reflected in your writing, increasing the chances of your book resonating with your target audience.

Need help dreaming something up? Check out book ideas you can start writing today!

2. Write your book

Once you’ve defined your topic and found your genre, the next step is to start writing your book (if you haven’t already). Depending upon your goals and the nature of the book, the writing process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several years. No matter how long it takes, remember that writing a book is a marathon—not a sprint.

Organization and consistency are vital to writing a book. Try out tools like Scrivener and Vellum to outline your book and keep the components of your book streamlined and easy to reference as you flesh out each section. It’s also helpful to set a schedule and stick to it, whether writing a certain number of words per day or dedicating a specific time each day to writing. Set realistic goals and timelines, so you don’t become overwhelmed with the process.

3. Edit your work and get feedback

After you’ve finished writing the first draft of your book, it’s critical to edit your work thoroughly. Before you hand off your work to anyone else, work through a few drafts to iron out the flow and avoid any obvious grammatical errors. But you don’t have to do it alone. Many online tools and resources can help you check through and fine-tune your content.

Once you’ve made your initial revisions and feel good about your flow, send the manuscript to beta readers—or supportive friends and family. This is a great way to make sure there are no mistakes in your book while also getting feedback on how it reads and how it can be improved. Be open to criticism (and don’t forget to thank everyone who reads your work)!

Editing your work can be difficult, so consider hiring a professional editor or proofreader to help incorporate the feedback you get. This investment can pay dividends in helping to improve the quality of your book and increase the likelihood of it being well-received by your target readers. So many self-published books end up with negative reviews for simple copy issues.

4. Format your book

Once you write, edit, and proofread your manuscript, the next step is to format it for self-publishing. Formatting involves laying out the text on each page, placing images, and ensuring that all elements are consistent throughout the book. You’ll also need to decide if you’ll sell your book in hardcover, softcover, or ebook formats—and make a document for each format.

If you feel uncomfortable with the formatting process, there are professionals who can help. You can also try tools like BookWright, Blurb’s bookmaking software, Adobe Lightroom, and InDesign to streamline the process. If you’re formatting your book, check out professionally-designed downloadable templates to help get you started.

5. Design a book cover

If anything will make or break a potential book sale, it’s the front cover. A well-designed book cover can help your book stand out and attract potential readers. Your self-published book cover should be eye-catching and intriguing, giving enough personality to pique a reader’s interest.

You can hire a professional cover designer or use a cover design tool to create a front cover that reflects the content and voice of your book. Use high-resolution images and choose colors that complement your book’s theme. Of course, this applies to ebooks, too. 

We asked Alex Palacios, a Blurb art director, to share her top tips for a standout book cover. This advice applies to both designers and non-designers alike.

6. Set a distribution plan

Once you have a finished digital version of your book, you must decide how to print and distribute it. Again, think back to your research at the beginning of your journey. Where does your target audience find books like yours? Do they prefer ebooks or physical copies? 

Depending upon your answers, you might want to sell your book through your website or online retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books—so you’ll need to figure out how to send copies to those readers. You can also consider if you’d like to sell in traditional brick-and-mortar stores and the process for distribution there.

Be sure to research your options before settling on a distribution plan, and remember that how you distribute your book will depend on where you want to sell, how much profit you’d like to keep, and how much effort you’re willing to put into marketing. 

7. Choose a self-publishing platform

Narrowing down the right self-publishing platform can be tricky—but it’s a little simpler with your distribution plan in mind. Do research to compare the different services available and how they align with how you plan to distribute your book, and how much profit you’ll get to keep from each copy.

Some popular self-publishing options include Blurb (that’s us!), Amazon, and IngramSpark. Compare each to find the sweet spot between format, distribution channels, print quality, price point, and printing timelines.

You’ll also want to choose whether to do print-on-demand (POD) or offset printing. POD is a favorite because you can print as many or few books as you need when you need them, and many platforms send those copies to each buyer as well. Offset printing requires a minimum order of several hundred copies and usually has longer lead times—but it typically offers lower per-unit costs for each.

There are a variety of approaches! Put in the time to research how each platform works, how much each service costs, how long it will take to get your book into readers’ hands, and how you’ll make money.

8. Self-publish your book

Once you’ve made a decision, it’s time to print! This is when you go from idea to book, so savor it.

Upload your digital book to your chosen platform and print a single proof first. You’ll be able to catch any formatting issues, copy errors, and quality discrepancies—and you’ll get to test how quickly your readers will receive your book. Then, it is time to publish your book when you are thrilled with the proof copy you have in your hands.

9. Market and promote your book

Once your book is published, it’s up to you to get the word out and promote it to potential readers. This can involve using digital means like social media, blogging, influencer outreach, and offline strategies like participating in book events and festivals. 

Creating an author website, writing a blurb for your book, building a mailing list, and utilizing ad networks are also effective ways to promote your book. You can leverage many different marketing activities to promote your book. Here are a few more:

• Add keywords to your book listings on Amazon and other bookselling websites to show up higher in the search results.
• Build your social media presence and online audience to establish an author profile and create buzz around your book. 
• Reach out to podcasters, radio personalities, and other media outlets to discuss your book.
• Approach local bookstores, libraries, clubs, or community groups to arrange readings and signings. 
• Connect with bloggers and digital publishers in your niche to contribute a guest post or land featured content opportunities promoting your book.  
• Ask for reviews to boost your self-published book and build trust with new readers.

Consider developing a budget for your book marketing and promotional campaign. While there’s a lot you can do organically at little to no cost, building awareness and getting in front of targeted audiences usually requires some monetary investment. Make sure to test, learn, and retest when spending money on marketing!

Ready to self-publish your book?

Before the advent of self-publishing, anyone looking to get their book out into the world needed to enlist the support and resources of publishing companies. Today, more and more authors are turning to self-publishing resources as a more feasible and fulfilling alternative.

Self-publishing a book may seem daunting, but you can turn your writing into a published book with the right tools, resources, and effort. We can’t wait to see what you make!

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Self-publish a book with Blurb today.

The post How to self-publish a book: Guide to getting started appeared first on Blurb Blog.

To become an author, you have to produce a book or writing that’s for public viewing. The good news is technology has made this more accessible than ever! But another way people conceive the title “Author” is as someone who makes a living from the books he or she sells. The bad news is that this still remains a considerable challenge—a challenge, but not impossible. Whether you choose to become an author through self-publishing or traditional publishing, whether you’re working on a visual book or a written book, follow these steps to get your work in the world and claim the title “Author” for yourself.

1. Develop your skills

If you want your book to be read and sold widely, it has to be one of the best. In order to make a book that beats the competition, you have to become an ace at your craft. Take a real photography class that gets you used to critique and encourages you to make a real body of work. Read widely about how to improve your writing. Cultivate inspiration. Join a creative community. You need to do this to become an author, but also long after. Every author you can name has never finished working on his or her craft.

2. Practice creating content

Practice, practice, practice. For traditional authors, this often means starting and keeping a blog. Committing to a publishing schedule keeps you practicing and gives you a place to share your work.

This is true if you’re a photographer, too. Make photographic work constantly—even if it is outside the scope of your project. These shots might not make the final cut, but they do give you practice creating the best work you can, so that when you’re presented with the shot you want, you know how to take it.

For a writer, you need to make so many sentences that your own sentence patterns reveal themselves. You need a place where you can try out new sentence patterns and new material. For most authors, 1 in 100 pages they write never see the light of day. The same is true for photographers, and this was cited by professionals! Until you’ve done your notorious 10,000 hours to be an expert, you can’t afford to stop. Your book will be your high point, your culmination of years of creating—not the first thing you’ve ever written and not your first SD card of photos.

3. Do your market research

Why would you do this if you don’t even have a book yet? Because becoming a widely read and sold author means you slot into a market niche perfectly. No book appeals to everyone. The key is to find your people and give them the book they want. But you won’t know what that is until you get to know them. As a first-time author, you can research your market by:

• Reading widely in your genre. Make note of which books inspire you and what they have in common. Look at covers, plot patterns, design, and marketing for that book.
• Find authors in your genre on social media. See who else is reading them or following them, and drill down into their demographics. Follow other influencers in that field.
• Find your section of the bookstore. What do bookstores do to sell your type of book? Make note of what jumps out at you and why, and aim to repeat these things in your own work. As much as creators prize originality, becoming an author means finding a market. You’re not going to publish your first book and create a new market at the same time.
• Select 5-10 books that epitomize the kind of book you want to make. Track down the product pages for those books on the original publisher’s website. Often, the publishers will identify the market and market demographics as a way to appeal to bookstores to carry it. You can get some market data from these look-alike demographics. These look-alikes are the people to keep in mind as you create your work.

4. Create an author website

This is a non-negotiable aspect of becoming an author. You’ll use this as the base for your platform. It works as a landing page for social media, and a home for your blog. It makes you searchable online and helps you build your online presence. And it is a place to post your writing portfolio, distinguishing you as a professional author. At first, it might just be a single, brochure page, but as you create your content and practice, you can build it out. Your website gives you the opportunity to tell the world you’re an author. Call yourself an author, then act like one by adding more and more content to your site.

5. Build your audience

There’s a difference between building an audience and getting more Facebook fans and Twitter followers. You need to set aside time every day to engage on social media from a business perspective. Read what’s trending, like and comment, respond, and post yourself. Behave like a good member of a community and treat it as though you’re interacting with real people. An audience—which means book buyers—responds to authentic contributions. There are no shortcuts here.  While social media is part of your platform, it’s not all of it. Practice submitting smaller articles or photo collections to magazines and online publications. You’ll build your credibility, be seen by people other than your friends and family, and have credentials when you approach agents or publishers—and that’s if you get selected! More likely, you’ll learn another way.  If you don’t get selected, you’ll refine your work through the rejection process and the scraps of feedback publications send, and your work will be stronger for it. Mastering the smaller submissions only makes your book submission stronger and gets you closer to becoming an author.

6. Create a production schedule

Experts recommend setting aside—which sometimes feels more like carving out of a rock—6 hours a week to work on your book. The only way your book gets finished is when you consistently show up to the page, day after day, and chip away at it. If it isn’t 6 hours, commit to so many pages or so many words 5-6 times per week. Set time-based goals for yourself and stick to them. Complete your research by this date and your outline by that date. Get a friend or family member who can truly hold you accountable and motivate you to help you stick with it when the schedule starts to feel impossible.

Creating a book will feel impossible in the middle of it. The key is to set a challenging schedule so you finish, but not so challenging that it cannot be done. Know that becoming an author means you will be working significantly on your book most days of the week. And it will feel hard. Committing to your deadlines on your production schedule will carry you through when you don’t want to do it anymore.

7. Research, plan, and write

What do you do in those hours? Research, plan, and write. You don’t need to do all your research up front to start writing. Research can become a way of procrastination. You need to do enough to get a framework for your book, then get started writing. Create an outline. For non-fiction authors, this is essential. For fiction authors, there’s still a way to set yourself up, even if you write by discovery.

Sometimes you have to start writing and fleshing out your outline before you see where you need more facts and information. Fill in your knowledge gap with more research, but don’t get stuck in this phase. When you write your book, block out that hour as if it were a meeting. Have 2 documents open; your book, and your journal. If you get stuck on your book, move over to your journal. This won’t be wasted time. Writing in a space that’s not your project can help you get unstuck. The only rule is that for one hour you never leave your two documents. You stay in the chair, either working on your project or writing in your journal until that hour is up.

A few more notes: You don’t have to create your book in order. If some sections are easier to write, tackle those first. Get some momentum going. Remember that done is better than good at this stage. You will have made so many changes by the time your project is complete that whatever you don’t like right now will probably be irrelevant later. Even if you don’t like something, put it down on paper and move on.

8. Edit your work

Once you have completed your project, you’ll need to ruthlessly edit it yourself. Then you’ll need to have it edited by capable family and friends. Then you’ll need to edit it again. At this stage, don’t be surprised or discouraged that whole sections of your book have to be discarded or reworked completely. This is normal, and professional authors understand that the first draft done is a book half done. When you’ve finished your edits and the friends and family edits, hand it off to a pro, like the ones over at Reedsy. When the pros get hold of your manuscript, that’s when a whole new work begins.

9. Get help with your work

Regardless of how you publish, if you want your book to sell widely, you’ll need to get professional help from someone who specializes in book design, cover design, and editing. If you traditionally publish, the publisher will arrange this for you. If you self-publish, you’ll have to find these pros on your own and pay for them. But it will be worth it.

10. Choose your publishing path

Once your manuscript is in the best possible shape, you need to try to sell it. There are two ways to turn your manuscript into a book.

• Traditional publishing, where you get an agent and work with him or her to sell your book to a publisher. Having an agent opens many more doors than trying to submit a manuscript yourself to publishers who likely don’t accept unsolicited submissions. Do your research and find out who represents the lookalike books from Step 3. Start with those, because they may understand your market better than even you do. The agent then shops your manuscript around to the publishers who are most likely to have access to the right audience. Published authors can expect to make less than 20% of the cover price per copy, so for small runs of niche books with fewer than 5000 copies, you make more money overall with a successful self-publishing run.
• Self-publishing. This one doesn’t require an agent or round after round of submissions, but it may cost you $10,000-$50,000 for professional services including book design, editing, and cover design, as well as printing a large number of copies. Print on demand makes the up-front cost lower, but with a significantly higher per-copy cost, which eats into your profit margin. Some experts recommend going down this route only after all other traditional publishing efforts had been exhausted.

11. Put your book in the world

No matter the publishing route you choose, becoming an author means telling people about your book, advocating for your book, and connecting to your audience. People need to know about your book in order to buy it. There are multiple channels where you can market your book and tell them about it.

The bottom line? Becoming an author is about creating a book and getting it into the world. You can do this without experience or any special degree—just put words to page and share them. But set realistic expectations for being a paid author. Even when authors finish books and submit them for publication, there’s no guarantee it will sell, let alone sell enough to make it possible to quit your job. It takes a few books (3-5) to get recognition enough to live solely off the earnings from your books.  Be patient, show up to the page every day, and give away copies to anyone who wants one. If rejection comes, shake it off like the pro that you are, and move forward with your vision. These things, beyond all others, are how you become an author.

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Blurb is a platform for self-publishers. Ready to get started on your book? Our free desktop software, BookWright can help. Learn more today!

The post How to become an author: your step-by-step guide appeared first on Blurb Blog.

Trade books are one of Blurb’s secret weapons, ideal for self-publishers (or anyone else) who wants to create an economically produced yet beautiful book. Designed from the get-go for wide distribution, trade books have the most competitive pricing of any of Blurb’s books while still maintaining the sky-high quality standards and customizations you’d expect.

What’s a trade book?

A trade book is a book designed to be sold to the general public via regular booksellers, like a New York Times Bestseller paperback at an airport bookstore. In the publishing industry, trade books are typically mass-produced and bound in perfect binding, distinguished from textbooks, academic works, and limited editions by these production and distribution methods.

At Blurb, when you choose the trade book format, you balance print quality with page cost—so you can get more of your work out in the world. As a result, they’re affordable books for bookmakers who want to sell their work—whether you’re making a children’s book, cookbook, memoir, comic book, or even commercial photo book.

Available in three standard sizes, four printing options, and three cover types (both soft and hardcover), trade books offer all the customization you need to capture your vision. You’ll likely want to choose a trade book when distributing your work requires a lower cost per copy.

Learn more about trade books.

Why print a trade book?

Now that we’ve established what a trade book is both in the publishing industry and at Blurb, we can get into the reasons why you might choose to create your own.

1. Easy worldwide distribution

Amazon? Barnes & Noble? Indie bookstore? Check. Check. Check. Trade books make it easy to print, distribute, and ship your work—wherever you want to sell it.

That means you can reach a global audience or keep it local. Blurb partners with Ingram, the world’s largest book distributor, so whether you’re looking to get your work into the hands of significant retailers or just your friends and family, you’re covered. What’s more, there are no minimum order quantities, so you can print as few or as many copies of your book as you like.

Last but not least, when you sell through Blurb, you’ll automatically have a personal storefront for your book on the Blurb Bookstore. That makes it easy for people to find, preview, and buy your work. The Blurb system takes care of all the time-consuming parts, like shipping and fulfillment. And unlike Amazon, Ingram, and Apple Books, there are no distribution fees or commissions for your sales.

“Blurb made it such a seamless process for me to keep all of the rights to my work, print copies on demand, and distribute my books through a global network. Couldn’t really ask for more than that!”

—Jewel Guy, author of the trade book Dear Black Women

2. Priced for sellers

As we mentioned before, trade books are an extremely affordable option for printing your book. Since the key to successfully selling any book is making sure your pricing covers the cost of production while also leaving you with a decent profit, getting that production cost down is essential.

You have way more room to competitively price your creations and still make good earnings with trade books, as they offer a very low base price (that’s the cost of producing your book). In fact, black-and-white printed softcovers start as low as $2.99.

Confused about bookmaking finances? We have comprehensive guides that walk you through the costs of self-publishing and pricing your book.

To estimate fees, visit our pricing calculator.

“Fellow knitting authors have shared with me that their book advances and profits weren’t necessarily lucrative. … Self-publishing felt like the risk-free option. …If I had one wish, it would be that I knew earlier that I could indeed reach new audiences so easily from a printed book.”

—Kristen McDonnell, author of Blurb bestselling trade book 50 Knit + Purl Patterns

3. Bookstore-grade quality and customization

Even though trade books are Blurb’s most affordable option, that doesn’t mean you’ll sacrifice quality. Trade books allow full customization, from the cover to the spine to the paper type you choose for the interior pages. The real difference is in the paper, which has a fantastic hand-feel and is the same quality as any book you’d see in your local bookstore.

Of course, what’s on the paper matters, too. Blurb’s Standard Color paper trade books use the same printers as many of Blurb’s museum-quality photo books. That translates to rich, black ink and deep, bold colors—ideal for full-color image spreads and any other book featuring collages, illustrations, and graphics.

Economy printing uses toner-based machines, just like most text-heavy books you’d find in a bookstore. You’ll get dark blacks and sharp edges, which is just what you’d need for clear and easy reading. Economy Black and White printing also offers a cream-colored paper, which is common in traditionally published titles and helps reduce eye strain for text-dense books. Economy Color lets you add pops of color to help important sections stand out, and it gives you a rougher, lo-fi look—like you might want if you’re making a zine.

Watch professional photographer Jonathan Moore‘s trade book review:

4. Free tools and templates

It should be simple for anyone to create a stunning, professional-grade book, especially for first-time bookmakers and indie creators without tons of funds to spend on tools. That’s why Blurb offers free, easy-to-use software and design templates to help you make your book effortlessly.

BookWright is a free desktop publishing software that makes designing your entire book layout quick and painless. And if you’re not feeling particularly creative or just want a little guidance, you can choose from dozens of page layouts and themes.

Plus, Blurb has InDesign, Photoshop, and Lightroom plugins for those already with pro tools, along with an easy-to-use iOS app for on-the-go creating.

“I did everything right in Blurb BookWright. I found it to be super user-friendly, and it gave me complete control over all of the design elements.”

—McKenna Ganz, creator of the cooking trade book Will Travel for Food

5. Included ISBN

To market your book in stores, get it in libraries, or sell it with an online bookseller, you need an International Standard Book Number (ISBN). Unfortunately, those don’t come cheaply. ISBNs, if purchased separately, could cost up to $125.00 each from the ISBN distributor.

What’s nice about Blurb’s trade books is that each of your titles automatically gets a number. This number even changes if you create a second or third edition. Also, every cover type—hardcover, softcover, etc.—gets its own ISBN.

One note about ISBNs: They are part of the Blurb printing process and are always located in the standard industry spot on the back cover. Be sure to consider them when designing the back of your book.

Get started

Now that you’re an expert on the what and why of trade books, it’s time to get started making one. What will you create?

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Learn more about the cost of self-publishing a trade book with Blurb. Then, head over to BookWright to start designing your dream project.

The post 5 reasons to make a trade book appeared first on Blurb Blog.

As you channel your artistic energy into crafting the perfect book, you’ll encounter many decisions. The genre, cover design, distribution channels, and one crucial yet often underappreciated aspect: the book’s trim size. This term refers to your book’s dimensions once printed, bound, and cut down to its final size. But it’s not just about the physical form; the trim size significantly determines your book’s charm, reading appeal, and even the cost of production.

For all the visual creators out there looking to strike a balance between artistic representation and audience expectations, this guide is for you. We aim to simplify the concept of book trim size, giving you the tools to make an educated decision that doesn’t sacrifice your innovative spirit.

Trim size defined

Trim size refers to the physical dimensions of a book—the width and height of a finished copy. It is the final size of a book after its pages are cut from the printed sheets.

This term originates from traditional publishing, where larger paper sheets are printed, bound, and then “trimmed” to their designed size. Trim size is always in inches or centimeters, with width mentioned first before height.

Why does it matter?

The trim size of a book is often the first thing your audience notices, even before they read the title or creator’s name. It sets the tone for their expectations and the book’s perceived value.

For visual creators, trim size is especially crucial as it serves as a canvas for your work. Depending on your chosen size, it can enhance or detract from your artwork’s impact.

Trim size comes down to four things: experience, aesthetics, costs, and marketability. Let’s explore each.

• Audience experience: The trim size dictates the size of your font, how much content you can fit on a page, and the amount of white space you can offer. All these elements can significantly affect how your audience engages with your book.
• Aesthetics: The trim size sets the tone for your book’s visual appeal. It can convey a sense of intimacy, grandeur, or even quirkiness. For example, a larger trim size can enhance the display of visual content in art books, cookbooks, or photographic collections—and a smaller one is easier to tote around to read on the go.
• Costs: The trim size of a book impacts its production costs. Smaller sizes require fewer materials, thus reducing the cost. However, large trim sizes can be eye-catching and make a statement, so balancing cost and appeal is essential.
• Marketability: Some trim sizes are more popular and widely accepted in the industry, increasing their chances of being picked up by retailers or libraries. Of course, unique trim sizes can differentiate your book from a crowded market. It all depends on your target audience and the genre of your book.

What are standard sizes in publishing?

Most books fall into a few standard trim sizes, offering practicality and marketability. They typically are broken into genres, so that’s where we’ll start. 

Psst. Are you printing with Blurb? Jump to our trim sizes here.

Visual books: popular sizes

• Photography books: Often within the 10×8 to 13×11 inch range, photography books need a large canvas to showcase detailed images effectively. Remember, the trim size should enhance, not diminish, the visual impact of your photographs.
• Coffee table books: Designed to be displayed, they generally are square or landscape and have larger dimensions, ranging from 12×12 all the way to 19×13 inches. This big size gives ample space for striking visuals and makes a strong statement.
• Art books: Usually fall in the 13×11 to 11×14 inch range. Large dimensions are crucial to display artwork in its full glory and detail. However, it should still be easy for your audience to handle and flip through.
• Children’s books: This genre has a wide range of sizes, from 7.5×7.5 to 10×8 inches. The size depends on the target age group—board books for infants are usually tiny squares, while picture books for kindergarten-age kids are larger.
• Comic books: Traditionally, comic books are around 6.625×10.25 inches. This size is ideal for displaying panels and graphic storytelling while still being comfortable for holding and reading.
• Graphic novels: These books typically use the 7×10 inch size. It’s a good compromise between showcasing visual detail and maintaining reader comfort during extended reading periods.
• Cookbooks: These typically range from 8×10 to 8.5×11 inches. A medium or large trim size can beautifully display food photos and detailed recipes, making the book more visually appealing and practical as the pages stay open in the kitchen.
• Notebooks: Sketchbooks, journals, and notebooks come in various sizes, depending on their intended use. Small pocket books can range from 3.5×5.5 inches to 5×8.25 inches, while regular-sized notebooks are usually around 8.5×11 inches.
• Magazines: Periodicals usually follow standard sizes, with the most popular being 8.5×11 inches for US publications and A4 (8.27×11.69 inches) for international ones.

Text-heavy books: popular sizes

• Fiction and memoir: Mainstream fiction often uses a 5.5×8.5 or 6×9 inch trim size. This size is comfortable for reading and practical for printing and distribution.
• Nonfiction: These genres are often found in 5.5×8.5 or 6×9 inch sizes, but this can vary based on the book’s content and purpose.
• Poetry and short stories: These books and anthologies often use smaller trim sizes like 5.5×8.5 inches, creating an intimate reading experience that aligns well with the nature of this work.
• Novellas: Due to their shorter length, novellas commonly use a trim size of 5×8 inches. This size is compact yet provides sufficient space for the story.
• Young adult: The most popular trim size for young adult fiction is 5.5×8.5 or 6×9 inches. This lets younger readers hold and read the book comfortably.
• Business books: These books often go for a 5.5×8.5 or 6×9 inch size, considered professional and easy to carry.
• Textbooks, academic texts, and reference books: Due to their comprehensive content, textbooks often require a larger trim size of around 8×10 or 8.5×11 inches to accommodate detailed diagrams, charts, and wide margins for notes.

Remember, while these are standard sizes, they’re not hard-and-fast rules. The beauty of book design lies in its flexibility. Your trim size should ultimately serve your book’s content and your target audience’s preferences. It’s your book, so let your creativity shine through your choice!

Your step-by-step guide to choosing a trim size

Now that we have the basics down let’s get into the specifics. Here’s exactly what you need to do to pick your self-published book’s trim size.

1. Consider your content

First and foremost, take a step back and evaluate the content you have. For visual creators, you’ll need to consider the aspect ratio and resolution of your images. And if you’re an author, the length and structure of your text should guide your choice.

Here are a few questions that can guide you as you consider:

• Spend time on your artistic vision. How does it affect size?
• What is the nature of your content—text-heavy, image-heavy, or a combination? And are you planning on a series or sequel?
• Is your book intended to be displayed or carried around? Where do you imagine it in a bookstore?
• Will any images lose impact or clarity if they are scaled down?
• How would a larger or smaller trim size impact the readability of your text?
• Think about extras like charts, graphs, diagrams, footnotes, references, or glossaries—how will they show up?

2. Research your genre

Stroll through your local bookstore or browse online platforms to see what successful books in your genre look like. Pay particular attention to the trim sizes of the top-sellers or popular books within your genre.

For instance, if you’re writing a graphic novel, study the trim sizes of bestsellers in that genre. Does a larger trim size enhance the visual experience? Or does a smaller, more portable size strike the right balance between its convenience and visual impact?

Remember, while it’s important to understand industry norms and audience expectations, don’t let this limit your creativity. If a unique trim size complements your content and meets your audience’s needs, it could differentiate your book in a crowded market. Just ensure it is a conscious, well-researched decision.

3. Know your audience

Understanding your audience is crucial in the book design process, especially when deciding on the trim size. Consider your audience’s reading habits, preferences, and the context in which they’ll likely consume your content. Here are some tips and tricks to know your audience better.

• Surveys and direct feedback: Connect directly with your audience through surveys or social media platforms. Ask about their preferences—do they enjoy larger books for a more immersive reading experience, or do they favor smaller, more carriable sizes?
• Analyze existing data: Use data from your website, social media platforms, or other customer touchpoints to glean insights about your audience. Are your fans primarily young adults who might appreciate a trendy, unconventional trim size, or are they more traditional readers who prefer standard sizes?
• Consider the context: Where and when will your book be consumed? If it’s a cookbook, a larger size could be preferable so the pages stay open in the kitchen. If it’s a travel book, a more portable size might benefit on-the-go reading.
• Value perception: The trim size can influence how your audience perceives the value of your book. If you’re looking to sell your art book for a premium price at a gallery, you might want to offer an oversized book that screams luxury—while a serial comic might require a lower price point and economy trim size to go along.
• Test and iterate: Consider creating prototypes of your book in various trim sizes and ask for feedback from a test audience. This can provide valuable insights and help you make a more informed decision.

4. Evaluate your budget and pricing strategy

You want a book that looks good and aligns with your budget and audience expectations. Trim size of a book can significantly influence production costs. Here’s what to consider.

• Production costs: Generally, larger books are more expensive to produce. They require more paper, increase printing costs, and might also incur higher shipping fees due to their weight. Conversely, smaller books can be more cost-effective to produce—but remember to balance cost considerations with the impact on readability and aesthetic appeal.
• Pricing strategy: The production cost of your book will directly impact its retail price. A higher production cost might necessitate a higher retail price to maintain profit margins. However, this could impact your book’s competitiveness in the market. What price point is your target audience willing to pay?
• Profit margins: When evaluating your budget and pricing strategy, always consider your profit margin. Remember to account for the wholesale discounts you might offer to retailers or distributors (most call for 50 percent!). You must also factor in the cost of unsold copies, shipping, marketing, and other overheads.
• Print-on-demand or offset:  Print-on-demand (POD) allows you to print books as needed, but it is often more expensive per unit compared to offset printing and you typically must choose standard sizes. Offset printing allows you to print a large run, reducing per-book price and allowing you to print unique sizes, but you’re tasked with storage, shipping, and returns. Knowing your budget and potential sales volumes can help determine whether POD or offset is the better option for your book.
• Ask for quotes: Request print quotes for different trim sizes from several printers and self-publishing platforms. This step will give you a clear understanding of how trim size impacts cost. It’s also an opportunity to discuss your project with professionals who can offer advice based on their experience.

5. Check the supported trim sizes of your distribution platform

Before deciding on a trim size, consult your distribution platform’s guidelines. This critical step will prevent surprises during the publishing process, ensuring your book is built right from the start. Here are three popular platforms to research.

Blurb

Blurb is known for archival-quality photo books, making it a fitting choice for photographers and visual artists. We offer diverse trim sizes, including unique square formats, affordable standard trade book sizes, and even popular notebooks and magazine trims. Find every size offered by visiting Blurb’s format page or jumping to our favorite trim size per genre below!

Amazon

Amazon is a popular distribution choice for self-publishers. You can sell your books in a variety of trim size options, both standard and non-standard. The trim size you select impacts the printing cost, so balancing creativity with economic practicality is important.

Did you know? If you build and print a photo book with Blurb, you can distribute on Amazon.

Ingram Spark

Ingram Spark is known for its vast distribution network, making your book accessible to a global audience and physical bookstores. They can distribute books in three trim sizes in paperback and hardcover, with specific guidelines for different genres and book types. 

If you’re a Blurb creator, you can also distribute your Blurb trade book or notebook to 39,000 online and physical bookstores globally via Ingram, too!

6. Experiment, print a proof, and finalize

Now that you’re armed with all the information you need, it’s time for the fun part: making a choice! Remember, selecting the trim size of your book is not just about the numbers—each book has its unique personality, just like its creator!

Be bold and experiment with your trim sizes. This is a creative endeavor, so try popular, tiny, and even out-of-the-box sizes! But remember, while straying off the beaten path can be exciting, it should always be a calculated risk. Weigh your creative urges against the practical aspects of cost, audience preferences, and platform guidelines.

Once you’ve made your choice, go ahead and print a proof copy. Hold it, flip through it, and immerse yourself in the physical manifestation of your work. Get feedback from trusted advisers and your target audience. How does the trim size fit with your content? Does it enhance your audience’s experience? If the answer is an enthusiastic yes, congratulations! You’re on your way to creating a beautiful and engaging book.

Don’t worry if you need to refine your choice—remember, great things often take time and a few iterations. What’s important is that you’ve embarked on this creative journey and are committed to creating a book that truly reflects you, your content, and your audience’s expectations. You’ve got this!

The final cut

Selecting the right trim size for your book is a crucial detail that can elevate your work to new heights. Though it may seem daunting at first, with a little research and creative experimentation, you can find the size that perfectly complements your content and resonates with your audience. Remember, your book is an extension of your creative vision—don’t be afraid to go big (or tiny). 

You’ve got the tools, the knowledge, and the creativity to craft a book that’s as unique as you are. So go out there, make bold choices, and let the world see your vision in print. After all, we need more creators like you!

Printing with Blurb?

If you’re printing with us, you’re probably wondering which size is best for your book. Here’s the scoop.

Photo books

• Mini Square 5×5 in. (13×13 cm): Best for photo albums, memory books, travel books, and gifts.
• Small Square 7×7 in. (18×18 cm): Best for children’s books, short volumes in a photography collection, illustrations, and gifts.
• Standard Portrait 8×10 in. (20×25 cm): Best for cookbooks, comic books and graphic novels, how-to guides, history books, textbooks, and photography and illustration books.
• Standard Landscape 10×8 in. (25×20 cm): Best for photography books, art books, coffee table books, and children’s books.
• Large Landscape 13×11 in. (33×28 cm): Best for art books, photography books, fine art portfolios, coffee table books, and wedding and family albums—especially when you make them layflat.
• Large Square 12×12 in. (30×30 cm): Best for coffee table books, art books, photography books, and children’s books.

Trade books and notebooks

• 5×8 in. (13×20 cm): Best for novels and novellas, short-story and poetry collections, and pocket-sized notebooks.
• 6×9 in. (15×23 cm): Best for all kinds of fiction (novels, YA, essays) and nonfiction (memoirs, business books, illustrated field guides)! Plus, portable notebooks, sketchbooks, and journals.
• 8×10 in. (20×25 cm): Best for affordable cookbooks, travel books, guides, history books, textbooks, how-to guides, children’s novels, graphic novels, and serial photography and illustration books.

Magazines

• Premium Magazine 8.5×11 in. (22×28 cm): One size for any type of magazine or serialized content!

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Blurb is an empowering platform that puts the power of self-publishing right at your fingertips. Choose from tons of trim sizes, design your book with our free software BookWright, print it on demand, and even sell it via our no-fee bookstore. Get started today.

The post The art and science of book trim sizes: A comprehensive guide for visual creators appeared first on Blurb Blog.

We’re a little biased, sure, but we think that one of the highlights of the London Author Fair was the seminar Author Entrepreneur: Why Your Book Is Your Startup, featuring our founder, Eileen Gittins. After all, she knows a good deal about creating startups and books. Even though she spends much of her time in the boardroom, she also carves out some time for the darkroom.

We caught up with her to find out what she thinks about Blurb’s role in the world of self-publishing.

The post The Rise of Self-Publishing: An Interview with Blurb Founder Eileen Gittins appeared first on Blurb Blog.

Making your photo book available to buy on Amazon couldn’t be easier. Once you’ve uploaded your book to your Blurb account, you simply need to go to your Book Details page and select “Amazon” under the “Sell my book” options. That’s it. Once you’ve provided your info to receive payments, Blurb handles the rest.

“…Blurb is now making it easy for authors to sell on Amazon.com, helping them take advantage of Amazon’s tremendous reach and ratings/rankings functionality to expand their audience and find new readers.”

Here are a few of the common questions people ask about selling their photo book on Amazon.

What can authors expect when listing their book on Amazon?

Once an author submits their book, it will be available for sale on Amazon.com within about seven days. Authors should plan to market their book to their network in order to drive reviews and sales rankings on Amazon, which can then lead to organic sales from new readers. It’s important for authors to remember that Amazon adds a fee for selling through Amazon.com, so the list price will need to be higher in order to make the same profit as a book sold directly via the Blurb platform.

Can authors list their books on Amazon if they’ve already published them through Blurb?

Absolutely. Any existing photo book is eligible for distribution on Amazon. For authors who want to sell on Amazon, it’s strongly recommended to drive all sales to Amazon in order to increase their Amazon ranking. But, if someone wants to sell both through Amazon and directly through Blurb’s platform, they can do this by uploading their book twice. It’s important to remember that the list price must be the same on both Amazon and on Blurb, per Amazon’s terms. This just means that the author gets a bigger profit for any copies sold through Blurb!

What are the benefits of selling a book on Amazon?

A big benefit of Amazon is that it gives authors a new opportunity to expand their audience beyond their current network. The best way to take advantage of Amazon is to follow Amazon’s best practices for sellers—for example, choosing the right words for the book’s description, maintaining positive ratings and reviews, setting up your seller’s page, and driving all sales to your book listing on Amazon in order to increase authority. It’s these little things that will make your book more discoverable to new readers.

Why did Blurb choose to enable authors to sell on Amazon?

Our whole focus is helping authors achieve their goals. For many of our authors, reaching a wider audience by selling on Amazon is an important part of this success. In meeting with several customers, we came to better understand some of the challenges they had in setting their Blurb book up for sale and aimed to find an approach to simplify the process for them.

Learn more about listing your book for sale on Amazon.

The post Blurb to Amazon— Sell Your Book on Amazon appeared first on Blurb Blog.