Thinking about publishing your first book? That’s a big deal—and we’re excited for you!

We know it can feel like there’s a lot to figure out. Maybe you’ve got a bunch of tabs open, trying to understand what comes next. Maybe you’re worried about doing it “wrong.” You’re not alone.

The good news? You don’t need a fancy degree or a big budget to publish a book. You just need a simple plan—and a little help from people who’ve been where you are.

This guide will walk you through the five basic steps to publish your book, from first draft to launch. We’ll also share the tools we use, the shortcuts we wish we knew sooner, and some great free resources to help you move forward faster.

Let’s do this—one step at a time.

Quick heads up: This post includes a few affiliate links. If you buy something through them, we may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we trust.

Step 1: Finish Your First Draft (It Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect)

This is where it all starts. Don’t worry about grammar or spelling right now. Just focus on getting the words down. Your draft doesn’t need to be great—it just needs to exist.

Tools to help:

• Otter.ai – talk it out instead of typing
• Canva Whiteboards – great for planning your chapters

Even writing 10–15 minutes a day can add up fast. Just keep going. Editing comes later.

Step 2: Choose How You Want to Publish

There are a few different ways to publish a book:

Option	What It Means	Things to Know
Traditional	You pitch to a publisher	Takes a long time, hard to get in
Independent Publishers (may be called Hybrid or Vanity Press)	You pay them to publish it for you	Often priced over $10,000, not always helpful
Self-Publishing	You’re in charge of it all	Fast, affordable, and gives you full control

Most first-time authors go the self-publishing route because it’s simple, fast, and flexible. It can take years to get a literary agent, then several more years to secure a deal with a traditional publisher. Some independent publishers will partner with you to do the writing, editing, publication, and promotions for an upfront fee and bulk book purchase commitment.

Step 3: Make Your Book Look and Sound Its Best

Once your draft is done, it’s time to clean it up and make it look like a real book.

✏️ Editing

Start with a tool like Grammarly to catch basic mistakes or the Hemingway App to keep your writing tone and flow consistent.. Then, consider hiring a freelance editor from Fiverr, Upwork or Reedsy to polish it up. Even a line edit can make a big difference, check out our thoughts on the power of book editing here.

📚 Formatting

Your book needs to look good on phones, tablets, and in print. Tools like Vellum (for Mac), Kindle Create (Mac & PC), or Atticus (Mac & PC) help you format it easily without learning complicated professional design software like Adobe InDesign. Check out this guide to learn more about book formatting for self-publishers.

🎨 Cover Design

A good cover helps your book stand out. You can find talented designers on Fiverr, or try Canva if you want to make your own. Just keep it clean, clear, and easy to read—especially in thumbnail size. Check out this article to see what makes a good book cover design that readers like to buy.

Step 4: Decide Where to Publish

Most authors start with Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) because it’s easy and global. But you don’t have to stop there.

You can also upload your book to:

• Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble – great for reaching non-Amazon readers
• Draft2Digital or PublishDrive – platforms that allow you to publish to multiple stores at once (including global platforms, independent booksellers, and libraries)
• Bookbaby, Lulu, Ingram Spark – allow self-published authors to reach even more readers with printed and electronic book catalogs

👉 Want to stay exclusive to Amazon? You can join KDP Select and earn extra money through “Page Reads” from the Kindle Unlimited program (Kindle’s ebook subscription service that lets users “check out” ebooks for a flat fee).

👉 Want to reach more readers? Go wide (which means publish everywhere and don’t sign up for exclusive agreements)

Step 5: Share Your Book With the World

Publishing is just the beginning—now it’s time to get the word out.

You don’t need to be famous or have a huge audience. Start simple:

• Ask friends and family to leave honest Amazon reviews
• Post about your book on social media (even if it’s just a few followers!)
• Join book promo sites or hire a freelancer on Fiverr to help spread the word
• Create a basic author website using Canva Websites or BookFunnel

It’s okay to start small. Every bit of visibility helps!

Want a Free Shortcut?

🎁 Grab our free guide: Publish Like a Pro Toolkit
It’s a quick, simple resource packed with links, tips, and checklists to help you finish and launch your book faster—without wasting money or time.

Want a Step-by-Step Plan?

📘 Get the Author’s Quickstart Blueprint
It’s our beginner-friendly guide to self-publishing. You’ll learn exactly what to do (and in what order), so you don’t get stuck second-guessing.

Just $17 for a limited time → Click here to get it for 74% off the regular $67 price

💼 Bonus Upgrade: Add the Author Toolbox Templates for $17 more at checkout—includes checklists, email swipe copy, and publishing timelines.

Final Thoughts

Publishing a book might feel big, but it doesn’t have to feel hard. You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need to do it all at once. You just need to take the next step—and then the next.

You’ve got this. And if you ever feel stuck, we’re here to help.