Self-Publishing Course: Print and eBooks

Creative writing. Express yourself with the written word.

COVID-19 update: arrangement of our courses

We are now delivering courses online and in-person. Please check the delivery format of each class before enrolling.

Please note that course materials (excluding prescribed texts) are shared electronically within 48 hours of course commencement. Printing is not available.

Ever thought of publishing your own book? Publishing is an exciting process and can be just as creative an endeavor as writing. From cover art to advertising, from font faces to formatting and beyond, this course will enable you to publish and sell your print book or eBook on platforms like Amazon, iTunes, Google Play and more.

The topics covered include editing, proofreading, cover design, book design, print formatting, marketing, advertising, pricing, and finally, publishing your book. Also included are lessons on copyright law, taxation law, obtaining an ISBN and founding your own publishing imprint.

Take your publishing power into your own hands. The self-publishing revolution is here!

Outcomes

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• self-publish your own book
• edit and proofread your book in order to prepare it for publication
• source or design original cover art
• adapt existing stock art for a unique book cover
• design a book jacket and book spine
• design the interior of the book by choosing appropriate fonts and layouts
• format a manuscript for publication as an eBook
• format a manuscript for publication as a print book
• learn how to price your book for optimal sales
• obtain an ISBN for the book
• obtain an ABN for self-publishing
• establish your own publishing imprint
• lodge the relevant tax forms both here in Australia and overseas
• upload the prepared manuscript to a variety of publishing platforms
• market and advertise your book
• choose how and when to receive royalties.

Content

This course will teach you how to self-publish your own eBooks and print books. Topics include:

• editing
• cover design
• book design
• formatting
• publishing
• marketing
• copyright law
• tax law
• ISBNs
• royalties
• founding a publishing imprint.

Intended audience

This course would appeal to a broad cross-section of the community, i.e. any person interested in self-publishing their own book.

Prerequisites

Prior knowledge of publishing is not required.

Before class, please download free demo versions of the following programs:

• Vellum (publishing software suited for Macintosh users; free download, purchase only required upon publishing)
• Scrivener (publishing software suited for both Windows and Macintosh users; free trial; cost approximately $45 thereafter)

At a minimum, you should have Microsoft Word installed on your laptop.

Delivery style

The course will be delivered via PowerPoint presentations, course handouts, and practical demonstrations of various kinds of software programs and publishing platforms.

Bring your own device

You are required to bring your own device (Windows or Mac). You should ensure your device is fully charged as access to power is limited. Please note that the University does not carry any responsibility for your lost, stolen, or damaged devices whilst on the University premises.