How Much Does It Cost To Self Publish My Novel? #WriterWednesday

One of the big questions aspiring authors ask is how much does it cost to self publish your novel. It seems like it should be an easy answer, but in reality it is anything but straight forward. However, there are three main expenses an author needs to account for when self publishing their book.

Editing

 

What editors charge varies depending on their experience and what type of edit that's required. For example, a developmental editor, that will work with you on plot and pacing, will cost more than a copy or line editor, that focuses on spelling and grammar. I've seen editors that have charged as little as 0.004 cents per word to ones who've charge over a penny a word.

 

The key is to shop around and find the right editor for you. Always ask for a sample edit from an editor you've never worked with before, which typically involves sending them the first chapter of your story. They will edit the chapter, for free, to give you an idea of what kind of work you should expect from them.

 

Cover Design

 

Finding the right designer for your cover is just as important as finding a good editor. The cover is the first thing most readers will see. It needs to make a good first impression.

 

Covers range in price from $50 to over $1,000 per cover depending on if the cover is a pre-made, custom with a stock photo, or a custom cover design with an exclusive photo.

Formatting

 

There are formatting options where you can do the formatting on your on, or you can pay someone to format your book for you. 

 

If you do it yourself, you can either use Word or formatting software such as Vellum. Which these are less expensive, they can also be time consuming and there is a learning curve, which is why some authors choose to hire someone to format their books for them. This service starts at around $50 per book and goes up from there.