The idea of getting started with the publishing process for your book can seem pretty intimidating. After all, what do millions of results on a Google search really boil down to except for that much more confusion?

I am available for consultations to walk you through this process but here’s a simple introduction to how to make your dream come true!

The Wonder of CreateSpace

I will never forget the day my shaky hands pressed submit as I published my first ever book! I had to take it down and re-do the process because I’d re-edited my book. #fail

So here’s a brief spiel – this is assuming you’ve completed all of the writing, marketing plans, editing, and design work for your book thus far.

Note: This process takes about 24-48 hours depending on the settings you choose. I’d suggest opening this blog on one side of your screen and pulling up Createspace on the other side of your screen so that you can follow along as you read.

1. Create your Createspace account by clicking Sign up

If you’re like me and have tons of emails and passwords to keep track of, you may want to enter your login info into a platform like trello.com. This site will also be helpful because you can upload things like original files, edited files, and files that have been changed to fit the specific dimension requirements of CreateSpace.

 

2. Click Add New Title

It’s on the top left corner or right next to the My Projects Heading

3. Enter Your Book Title, Click Paperback, Choose Set Up Process

Here’s what that will look like once you fill those things in!

4. Fill in the Title Information
If there are multiple Editors Click the “Add” button next to ‘Authored by’
Consider whether you are going to create a series and enter that information in as well

Publication Date – although it isn’t required, I would suggest filling that in because it will be entered for you on Amazon and everywhere else your book is distributed online.

Here’s my sample completed form:

5. How do you want to receive your ISBN?
I always accept the first option of a free CreateSpace Assigned ISBN but sometimes people have purchased their own so the third option may be best for you if you already have one. If you’d like to pay for the customized one, the information is there for you to do so.

If you click to have your ISBN Provided by Createspace you will see the form below. I’ve cut off the sample ISBN they gave me but you get the idea.

Keep in mind you’ll need to complete this page before you can fully publish your book.

6. Now we are getting to the good stuff. Let’s get to your manuscript!!

Again this blog is assuming you are completing finished with every aspect of your book and looking for a way to publish it. Once you click ‘save’ on the ISBN page, it will lead you to the Interior page.

I always click black and white because

a. it’s cheaper than color
b. I never upload books that have color in them

However if this is you first time on the site feel free to click round and see what works for you.

I’d recommend having your book formatted prior to uploading it so that it can quickly pass CreateSpace’s preliminary tests on if your book meets its printing and submission standards.

If you want CreateSpace to help you with formatting and the overall feel of your book, click ‘Talk With Us about Professional Design….”

For this example, I am using the ‘Upload Your Book File’ option

 

Be aware that your file needs to be at least 24 pages as shown below!

5. Here’s the part that may take 24 hours, but it’s worth it!

I always select Interior Reviewer at the bottom of the interior design form!

Why?

Well, Instead of poring through all of the submission guidelines etc. Createspace will automatically do it for me and send me an email letting me know if it passes it’s review. If it doesn’t pass review, it will give me the next steps to fix my errors.

Once I fix my errors, when I log back into my CreateSpace account it will allow me to upload the updated file to Interior Design once again. Then. I’ll allow the Interior Reviewer to work its magic. I typically pass but its great to have this guidance.

In addition, Interior reviewer gives you your first glimpse of what your precious manuscript will look like as a book. How exciting!?

When you accept Interior Reviewer, here’s the dialog box that will pop up.

— Note: If you’re getting sweaty palms and feeling super lost right now, there are a few curated tips for you at the very bottom if this page under the following heading. Don’t despair–help is on the way (:

7. Get your creativity on with your shiny new cover!

So, for my first and second books I used CreateSpace templates to build my cover.

They were decent but I really did it because I barely had two coins to rub together and I was publishing my books by faith.

For my third book, I paid the mastermind Ms. Lisa V of LisaVDesigns to create the cover of my dreams and that’s what she did for my book, Saying Yes to Him. Beautiful isn’t it? *all the heart eyes*

So if you’re on a budget, sift through the Createspace template options! Another option people have had some success with is fiverr.com.

I loved being able to correspond with someone I could trust (with a reputable business) versus a complete stranger on the internet.