How to Self-Publish

We talked about how to self-publish in the The T&T Panels on Tuesday 24th March and below are some useful links. I will be adding more information to this page but this will get you started… Thank you, Chris Chrislexia, for asking the question. Do also take a look at our first publishing day: 2: Sun 5th July 2026 Festival (Publishing).

EBOOKS:

I have a general information area on my blog, with sub-pages on different topics including How to Create an eBook.

Amazon, for all its faults, has a comprehensive ‘how to’ (eBook) and eBook and paperback and Reedsy’s really good.

If you don’t mind spending a bit of money (currently 19.99), Brian Jackson on Udemy is really good, although I’ve not taken his ‘Self-Publishing an Amazon book with KDP‘ course.

PAPERBACKS:

Amazon also has a facility called ‘Kindle Create‘, although if you’ve already created your eBook via your KDP Bookshelf, you’ll be invited to create your paperback or link to an existing paperback. Reedsy again has a wealth of up-to-date information on their blog.

Other sites include:

  • Booleanop
  • the fabulous Joanna Penn
  • not on publishing a book but an area of the Penguin website on getting your book ready to submit to agents ~ something to read even if self-publishing

How much does a book cost to print via Amazon? Below are the approximate costs (as at July 2026) in the UK (via a Google AI search):

Black Ink (Standard Novels and Non-Fiction): black and white books have a flat rate up to 108 pages. After 108 pages, you pay a lower fixed base rate plus a fee for every page.
  • 24 to 108 pages: A flat rate of £1.93 per book (no per-page fee).
  • 110 to 828 pages: £0.85 fixed cost + £0.010 per page.
  • Example (300-page novel): £0.85 + (300 × £0.010) = £3.85 per book.
Standard Colour Ink (Good for Light Diagrams or Charts): Standard colour requires a minimum of 72 pages.
  • 72 to 600 pages (Regular Trim): £0.85 fixed cost + £0.020 per page.
  • 72 to 600 pages (Large Trim): £0.85 fixed cost + £0.027 per page.
  • Example (150-page regular booklet): £0.85 + (150 × £0.020) = £3.85 per book.
Premium Colour Ink (Best for Children’s Books and High-Quality Photography): Premium colour options are divided by page thresholds.
  • 24 to 40 pages (Regular Trim): A flat rate of £2.59 per book (no per-page fee).
  • 24 to 40 pages (Large Trim): A flat rate of £3.24 per book (no per-page fee).
  • 42 to 828 pages (Regular Trim): £0.85 fixed cost + £0.0435 per page.
  • 42 to 828 pages (Large Trim): £0.85 fixed cost + £0.0598 per page.
  • Example (40-page regular children’s book): Flat £2.59 per book.
  • Example (100-page large photo book): £0.85 + (100 × £0.0598) = £6.83 per book.

HARDBACKS:

What about hardbacks? you may ask. You can create hardbacks but the industry produces less of them these days and they are that much more expensive. In my experience topping up book swap libraries, hardbacks are far less popular than paperbacks.

AUDIOBOOKS:

Oof. Who wouldn’t like their books as audiobooks. Details coming soon, and a topic we talked about on…

T&T #12 ~ Thursday 30th April: audiobooks (you’ve read and getting your books as audiobooks) ~ Damiano Polcaro ~ Phil Oddy, hosted by Self-Pub Fest founder Morgen Bailey.

These are free events but we’re raising money for local book-related charities and we’d be really grateful if you would donate whatever you afford via the Charities & Donate page. Thank you so much.