Author resources
Everything You Need to Write, Publish & Promote Your Book
Get tools, templates, expert recommendations, and publishing guidance—all in one place.
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From Concept to Launch & Beyond
1. Define Your Book's Purpose
o Clarify the core message, theme, or transformation.
o Identify your ideal reader.
2. Choose Your Publishing Path
o Self-publishing, hybrid, or traditional?
o Consider timeline, control, royalties, and investment.
3. Outline Your Book
o Organize your chapters and key points.
o Create a rough table of contents or structure.
4. Set Your Timeline & Budget
o Define your launch goal date.
o Budget for editing, design, ISBNs, and marketing.
Downloadable Checklist
Publishing Roadmap (pdf)
DownloadEssential Writing Tips
Pre-Writing Foundation
Pre-Writing Foundation
Pre-Writing Foundation
- Know Your Target Audience—Understanding your readers before you write shapes every decision from plot development to marketing strategy. Research similar books in your genre, read reviews to understand what readers love and hate, and join online communities where your potential readers gather. This knowledge will guide your writing choices and help you create content that resonates with your market.
- Choose Your Genre Strategically- While you should write what you're passionate about, research market demand and competition within your chosen genre. Some niches are oversaturated while others have hungry audiences waiting for fresh content. Study bestseller lists, analyze genre conventions, and understand reader expectations to position your book effectively.
- Develop a Consistent Writing Schedule—Successful self-published authors treat writing like a business commitment. Establish daily or weekly writing goals that fit your lifestyle, whether that's 500 words per day or 5,000 words on weekends. Consistency builds momentum and helps you complete projects faster than sporadic bursts of inspiration.
Craft and Structure
Pre-Writing Foundation
Pre-Writing Foundation
- Master the Opening Pages- Your first chapter determines whether readers continue or abandon your book. Start with immediate conflict or intrigue rather than extensive backstory or world-building. Hook readers within the first few paragraphs, introduce your protagonist's voice clearly, and establish the story's tone and stakes quickly.
- Create Compelling Characters- Readers connect with authentic, flawed characters who face real internal struggles. Give your protagonists clear motivations, believable dialogue, and distinct voices that set them apart from other characters. Develop character arcs that show growth and change throughout your story.
- Show Don't Tell- Instead of stating emotions or situations directly, demonstrate them through actions, dialogue, and sensory details. Rather than writing "Sarah was angry," show her slamming doors, speaking through clenched teeth, or avoiding eye contact. This technique creates more engaging, immersive reading experiences.
- Maintain Proper Pacing- Balance action scenes with quieter character moments, vary sentence lengths to control rhythm, and use cliffhangers strategically to maintain reader engagement. Self-published books often lose readers due to pacing issues, so consider your story's momentum throughout each chapter.
Professional Standards
Genre-Specific Considerations
Genre-Specific Considerations
- Invest in Professional Editing—Self-published authors must compete with traditionally published books, making professional editing essential rather than optional. Consider developmental editing for structure and plot issues, line editing for clarity and flow, and copy editing for grammar and consistency. Poor editing immediately identifies amateur work and damages credibility.
- Format for Multiple Platforms- Your book will appear on various devices and platforms, each with different formatting requirements. Learn proper manuscript formatting, understand ebook versus print specifications, and test your formatted book across multiple devices before publication to ensure consistent appearance.
- Write Compelling Book Descriptions—Your book description serves as your sales pitch and must capture attention within seconds. Study successful books in your genre, identify effective description formulas, and focus on conflict and stakes rather than plot summary. A strong description can significantly impact your book's discoverability and sales.
Genre-Specific Considerations
Genre-Specific Considerations
Genre-Specific Considerations
- Understand Genre Conventions—Each genre has specific reader expectations regarding length, content, and structure. Romance readers expect certain relationship dynamics, thriller readers want consistent tension, and fantasy readers anticipate world-building details. Research your genre thoroughly and deliver what readers expect while adding your unique voice.
- Plan Series Strategically—Series often perform better than standalone books in self-publishing markets. Plan your series arc carefully, end each book with satisfying resolution while maintaining overarching tension, and develop characters that readers want to follow across multiple volumes.
- Research Comparable Titles- Study successful books similar to yours to understand market positioning, pricing strategies, and reader preferences. This research helps you identify your book's unique selling points and avoid common pitfalls in your genre.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please reach us at info@leonardalanpublishing.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Self-publishing allows authors to publish their books independently without going through a traditional publishing house. You retain complete creative control, ownership rights, and a higher percentage of royalties while handling all aspects of the publishing process yourself or through hired professionals.
Costs vary significantly based on your approach. Basic self-publishing can cost as little as $0-500 if you handle everything yourself, while professional services, including editing, cover design, and marketing, can range from $2,000-10,000 or more.
The timeline depends on your book's complexity and whether you hire professionals. Writing and editing can take 3-12 months, cover design and formatting typically require 2-4 weeks, and uploading to platforms usually takes 24-72 hours for approval. Most authors complete the entire process within 6-18 months.
Length expectations vary by genre. Adult novels typically range from 70,000-100,000 words, while young adult novels are usually 50,000-80,000 words. Non-fiction books often range from 40,000-80,000 words. Research your specific genre's expectations and study comparable successful titles.
Most platforms accept Word documents (.docx) for conversion, but you may need specific formats for different outlets. Ebooks typically use EPUB or MOBI formats, while print books require PDF files with specific margins and bleeds. Many platforms handle conversion automatically from properly formatted Word documents.
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