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The free school for self-publishing authors

Want to publish your own book? Learn it free, ten minutes at a time.

Short, cheerful, seriously useful lessons that take you from finished draft to a book on sale: editing and copyediting, covers, design, printing, eBooks, audio, launching, using AI like a pro, and the simple writing-app skills that make a book easy to design.

  • 145 bite-size lessons
  • Free, start to finish
  • Track your progress
  • A fact review every quarter
Read a sample lesson See all 14 courses

New here? Take the two-minute quiz and get a path of lessons made for your book.

How it works

Small lessons. Big progress.

Every lesson is one short, friendly read with a small job to do on your own book. Read one tonight, use it tomorrow.

Proudly powered by AI. Lessons are written with AI under the direction of Tracy R. Atkins, from facts checked on the platforms' and authorities' own pages, and every quarter an AI reviewer re-checks them, starting with the lessons checked longest ago and changing only what it can show a source for. Illustrations are generated in one house style, and wherever numbers matter, the diagram is drawn exactly from the printer's own formula. A whole course teaches you to use AI the same way.

Peek inside

Read a real lesson, right now.

Ready to read today, free: 157 lessons so far. Here is what is inside a few of them.

A flat cover sheet with a mint back panel, a narrow navy spine and a coral front panel with a sun, with a pencil lying beside it.

Course 5 · Covers That Sell · Lesson 5.4

The full wrap: back, spine and front, measured from your book

10 minutes Reviewed October 2026

A print cover is not a design choice: it is measured from your book. In ten minutes you take your book's measurements like a tailor, run the friendly spine math, and learn the six traps that make printers stop a cover.

Inside this lesson

  • Meet the wrap: three panels on one sheet
  • Four facts set the size (and the math is friendly)
  • Let the printer measure for you, and dodge the six traps
Try a questionMyth or fact? "I can design my print cover at any size I like, and the printer will scale it to fit."

Myth. Printers measure your file against the size they expect from your trim, page count and paper, and stop it if the two do not match.

Read this lesson free: lesson 5.4
A cartoon detective with a magnifying glass examining a sparkly contract scroll while a sly price tag peeks out from behind it.

Course 1 · Start Here · Lesson 1.7

Spotting bad deals: vanity presses and publishing scams

10 minutes Reviewed October 2026

Your inbox fills with fans: a producer, a publisher, an award committee. Some of it is a compliment and some is shiny bait. Learn the warning signs, and the ten-minute background check to run before you pay anyone a cent.

Inside this lesson

  • Follow the money (it should flow toward you)
  • The warning signs (patterns, not names)
  • Your ten-minute background check
Try a questionMyth or fact? "A legitimate literary agent may charge a small reading fee to cover costs."

Myth. The Association of American Literary Agents' Canon of Ethics prohibits its members from charging reading fees. Agents earn their money when they sell your book.

Read this lesson free: lesson 1.7
A paperback bouncing back out of a glowing upload portal on a laptop, beside a toolbox and a checklist.

Course 6 · The Platforms · Lesson 6.10

When a file is rejected: the common reasons and the fixes

10 minutes Reviewed October 2026

A rejection email feels like a slammed door, but almost every rejection is a measurement, not a judgment. Learn the usual reasons a file comes back, fix the right file once, and see why "In review" means wait, not worry.

Inside this lesson

  • Cover rejections: almost always a size problem
  • Interior rejections: margins, page size, fonts and matching details
  • "In review" is not a rejection (and the fix-once routine)
Try a questionMyth or fact? "If KDP accepted my cover, IngramSpark will too."

Myth. IngramSpark has its own checklist for the cover file (PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-3, CMYK color, total ink at or under 240%, a correctly formatted barcode, the template's exact size), and its hardcover geometry is different.

Read this lesson free: lesson 6.10

Diagrams you can trust like a spec sheet

Friendly illustrations set the scene. When numbers matter, the picture is an exact diagram drawn from the printer's own formula. This one is from lesson 5.4: the full wrap for a 6 x 9 inch, 300-page paperback on white paper at KDP.

Spine
300 pages x 0.002252 inch = 0.6756 inch
Width
0.125 + 6 + 0.6756 + 6 + 0.125 = 12.9256 inches
Height
9 + 0.25 = 9.25 inches

See it in lesson 5.4

A flat paperback cover wrap for a 6 by 9 inch, 300-page book on white paper at KDP: 0.125 inch of bleed, a 6 inch back panel, a 0.6756 inch spine, a 6 inch front panel and 0.125 inch of bleed, 12.9256 inches wide by 9.25 inches tall.
Every number on this diagram is from the printer's own formula.

The curriculum

Everything from finished draft to a book on sale.

14 courses, 145 ten-minute lessons, about 24 hours in all. They are shown in the order we suggest, but every lesson stands alone, so start wherever your book is today. Open any course to see what you will be able to do and every lesson inside it.

Read now written and free to read today Coming soon on its way, with class

Course 1 8 lessons · about 80 minutes · Beginner

Start Here: How Self-Publishing Really Works

In about eighty minutes, the road from finished draft to reader stops being a mystery and becomes your plan.

A taste of the lessons

See all 8 lessons and what you will learn in Course 1

Finished a draft, or nearly there? Then the questions arrive all at once. Traditional or self? What will it cost? How long will it take? Who prints a book before anyone has ordered it? This course answers them in order and in plain words. It is made for first-time authors who want the big picture before they spend a cent, and for anyone who has heard three different answers to the same question.

You will be able to

  • Tell traditional, self and hybrid publishing apart by asking who pays, who owns the rights and who decides.
  • Name every step from finished draft to reader, in order, and know which course covers each one.
  • Build a realistic budget at three levels and a timeline that works backward from your release date.
  • Explain how print-on-demand works, and work out what one printed copy costs and what it earns you.
  • Recognize the warning signs of a vanity press or publishing scam, and check any company before you pay.

The lessons

  1. 1.1 Welcome to Publishing 101: how the school works, and a two-minute quiz to find your pathFind your way around and take a quick quiz that builds a path of lessons for your book and your deadline. Read now
  2. 1.2 Traditional, self, hybrid: the three ways a book gets publishedThree questions (who pays, who owns the rights, who decides) that tell the three roads apart. Read now
  3. 1.3 The self-publishing map: every step from finished draft to readerEvery step in order, with the course that covers each one. Read now
  4. 1.4 What it really costs: a realistic budget at three levelsA budget at three levels, and which line items deserve your money first. Read now
  5. 1.5 How long it takes: a realistic timelinePlan backward from a release date, with the slow steps booked early. Read now
  6. 1.6 Print-on-demand, explained: how one copy gets printed when one reader ordersHow one copy gets made for one reader, and how to work out its cost and your royalty. Read now
  7. 1.7 Spotting bad deals: vanity presses and publishing scamsThe warning signs of a bad deal, and a quick background check to run before you pay a cent. Read now
  8. 1.8 Your one-page publishing plan (filled in as you go)Set up your plan, see which lesson fills each box, and fill in the first few today. Read now

Prerequisites: none. This is the place to start.

Open the Course 1 page

Course 2 10 lessons · about 100 minutes · Beginner

From Draft to Ready Manuscript

Turn a finished draft into a manuscript you are proud to hand to readers, editors and designers.

A taste of the lessons

See all 10 lessons and what you will learn in Course 2

A finished draft is a wonderful thing. A ready manuscript is the next step, and this course gets you there. It is for authors holding a complete (or almost complete) draft who want to know what happens between "the end" and the day a designer, a template or a layout tool takes over.

You will be able to

  • Judge whether your draft is ready for beta readers or an editor.
  • Self-edit in passes from big to small, so you never polish a page you later cut.
  • Choose the kind of editing your book needs next, and hire an editor with a sample edit, a fair quote and a written agreement.
  • Keep a style sheet, and set up your manuscript with styles, real breaks and real footnotes.
  • Put every part of your book in its traditional order, and sort every quotation into free to use, needs permission, or needs a closer look.

The lessons

  1. 2.1 Is it finished? Signs your draft is ready for other eyesA quick readiness check before beta readers or an editor see your pages. Read now
  2. 2.2 Self-editing that works: the passes, in orderEdit from big to small, so you never polish a page you later cut. Read now
  3. 2.3 Beta readers: finding them and asking the right questionsFind readers who fit your book and ask questions that get useful answers. Read now
  4. 2.4 The four kinds of editing: developmental, line, copy and proofreadingTell the four apart and choose the one your manuscript needs next. Read now
  5. 2.5 Hiring an editor: samples, costs, contracts and red flagsFind, test and hire an editor with a sample edit, a fair quote and a written agreement. Read now
  6. 2.6 Taking feedback without losing your voiceSort any note into keep, consider or decline, and act on it in your own voice. Read now
  7. 2.7 Your style sheet: every name, spelling and choice in one placeStart the one document that keeps your whole book consistent. Read now
  8. 2.8 Setting up your manuscript in Word the right way (styles, not spaces)Styles, real breaks and real footnotes instead of spaces, tabs and blank lines. Read now
  9. 2.9 Front matter and back matter: what goes where, and in what orderEvery part of a book in its traditional order, from the half title to the colophon, and the parts your book needs. Read now
  10. 2.10 Quotes, lyrics and permissions (general information, not legal advice)Sort every quotation into free to use, needs permission or needs a closer look, and learn how to ask. Read now

Prerequisites: none; Course 1 is a good warm-up. Courses 11, 12 and 14 are the natural next steps.

Open the Course 2 page

Course 11 12 lessons · about 120 minutes · Beginner

A Clean Manuscript: Styles, Breaks and the Habits Designers Love

Learn the handful of habits that turn a manuscript into a book faster, and save yourself hours of fixing later.

A taste of the lessons

See all 12 lessons and what you will learn in Course 11

Here is a secret every book designer knows: a clean manuscript turns into a beautiful book faster, with fewer surprises. This course teaches the handful of habits that make that happen. It is for every writer, in any app, whether your manuscript is headed for a template, a layout service or a designer.

You will be able to

  • Explain what designers, templates and layout tools read in your file, and why styles beat formatting by hand.
  • Give every kind of heading its own style, and set indents and spacing without the space bar or the Tab key.
  • Choose the right break every time: a page break, a section break or a scene break.
  • Keep italics, footnotes, pictures, tables, lists, poetry and letters intact on the trip to print.
  • Run a clean-up pass and a handoff checklist, so your manuscript is ready for a template, a layout service or a designer.

The lessons

  1. 11.1 Why a clean manuscript saves you time and money (what designers, templates and layout tools read)What a template, a layout tool or a designer actually reads in your file, and why tidy files are quicker to turn into books. Read now
  2. 11.2 Styles 101: Normal, Heading 1, Heading 2, and why formatting by hand breaks booksThe three styles that do most of the work, and why they beat bigger-and-bold by hand. Read now
  3. 11.3 Chapter titles, part titles and subheads: one style each, used every timeGive each kind of heading its own style, so every chapter matches. Read now
  4. 11.4 Paragraphs: first-line indents and spacing, never the space bar or the Tab keySet indents and spacing in the style, so paragraphs behave on every page. Read now
  5. 11.5 Page breaks and section breaks: what each one does and when to use itStart chapters on a new page, and know when a section break is the right tool. Read now
  6. 11.6 Scene breaks: one symbol, done the same way every timeChoose your scene break symbol and use it the same way through the whole book. Read now
  7. 11.7 Italics, bold and small caps that survive the trip to printKeep your emphasis intact through every copy, paste and conversion. Read now
  8. 11.8 Footnotes and endnotes, the real way (not typed numbers)Use your app's real note tools, so notes stay linked and numbered. Read now
  9. 11.9 Pictures, captions and tables in a manuscriptPlace pictures, captions and tables so a designer can find and keep every one. Read now
  10. 11.10 Lists, block quotes, poetry and lettersFormat the special passages so their line breaks and indents survive. Read now
  11. 11.11 The clean-up pass: tracked changes, comments, stray formatting and find-and-replace tricksClear out the leftovers before anyone else opens your file. Read now
  12. 11.12 The handoff checklist: a manuscript ready for a template, a layout service or a designerOne last checklist before your file leaves your hands. Read now

Prerequisites: none; suggested right after Course 2, alongside Course 12.

Open the Course 11 page

Course 12 10 lessons · about 100 minutes · Beginner

Your Writing App: Word, LibreOffice, OpenOffice, Pages, Google Docs and Scrivener

Make the writing app you already love produce a clean, book-ready file.

A taste of the lessons

See all 10 lessons and what you will learn in Course 12

Whatever app you write in, it can produce a clean, book-ready file. This course shows you how, app by app, for authors who want to stop fighting their software and start enjoying it.

You will be able to

  • Choose a writing app that suits your book, your computer and your budget.
  • Find the styles, navigation and formatting-marks tools in Word, LibreOffice, OpenOffice, Pages or Google Docs.
  • Use section breaks and page numbers in Word, and work inside a book template without breaking it.
  • Compile a clean Word file from Scrivener, and move a manuscript between apps without losing its formatting.
  • Save and export the right file (.docx, .odt, PDF or ePub) for each service, template or printer.

The lessons

  1. 12.1 Choosing a writing app for a book: what each is good atThe apps authors use most, side by side, and which one suits your book. Read now
  2. 12.2 Microsoft Word for authors: the Styles pane, the Navigation pane and showing formatting marksThe three Word tools that make a long manuscript easy to manage. Read now
  3. 12.3 Microsoft Word: section breaks, page numbers and working inside a book templateBreaks and page numbers that behave, and a template you can work inside without breaking it. Read now
  4. 12.4 LibreOffice Writer for authors: paragraph styles, page styles and the NavigatorThe free app's styles and Navigator, set up for a book. Read now
  5. 12.5 Apache OpenOffice: what is the same as LibreOffice, what is differentWhat carries over from LibreOffice, and the differences to know. Read now
  6. 12.6 Apple Pages for authors: paragraph styles, sections and exporting to WordStyles and sections in Pages, and a clean export to Word. Read now
  7. 12.7 Google Docs for authors: headings, page breaks and a clean Word downloadHeadings and page breaks in Docs, and a Word download that arrives clean. Read now
  8. 12.8 Scrivener: compiling to a clean Word fileCompile settings that turn your project into a tidy Word file. Read now
  9. 12.9 Moving between apps without losing your formattingMove a manuscript from one app to another with your styles and italics intact. Read now
  10. 12.10 Saving and exporting: .docx, .odt, PDF and ePub, and which file each service wantsThe right file format for each template, service and printer. Read now

Prerequisites: none; it pairs with Course 11 (the habits) and fits right after Course 2.

Open the Course 12 page

Course 14 14 lessons · about 140 minutes · Beginner

Copyedit Your Own Work: Grammar Tools and Self-Editing Skills

Catch the small errors readers notice first, with the tools you already have and a few smart habits.

A taste of the lessons

See all 14 lessons and what you will learn in Course 14

You do not need to be a grammar expert to catch the errors readers notice first. You need a sensible order, the tools you already own and a few smart habits. This course is the hands-on copyedit you do yourself, before your book goes to a professional, a tool or a printer.

You will be able to

  • Run your own copyedit in a sensible order, and know what it covers and what it leaves alone.
  • Use the spelling and grammar checkers, and the read-aloud features, in Word, LibreOffice, Pages or Google Docs.
  • Use AI prompts that flag errors in a list you review, without rewriting your voice, and choose an outside tool with its privacy settings checked.
  • Fix the usual suspects (dialogue punctuation, its and it's) and make names, numbers, hyphens and spelling agree with your style sheet.
  • Clean a manuscript with safe find-and-replace sweeps, handle tracked changes, and proofread your printed proof.

The lessons

  1. 14.1 What a copyedit is (and is not): your own pass before a pro or a toolYour own copyedit in a sensible order, what it covers, and what goes to a tool or a pro next. Read now
  2. 14.2 Microsoft Word: Editor, spelling and grammar, and Read AloudSet the proofing language, run Editor, choose what it checks, and hear your pages read back. Read now
  3. 14.3 LibreOffice and OpenOffice: spelling, grammar and the LanguageTool extensionThe built-in checks, LanguageTool for deeper grammar, and what changes in OpenOffice. Read now
  4. 14.4 Apple Pages: spelling, grammar and having your Mac read to youSpelling and grammar in Pages, curly quotes in existing text, and your Mac reading aloud. Read now
  5. 14.5 Google Docs: spelling and grammar suggestionsRun the check, teach Docs your book's words, and use Suggesting mode for edits you can accept or reject. Read now
  6. 14.6 Grammar tools compared: what Grammarly, ProWritingAid and the others are each good at (dated)Match a tool to the job your manuscript needs, and check its privacy setting first. Read now
  7. 14.7 AI as your copyediting partner: catching errors without rewriting your voiceFive prompts that make an AI assistant flag errors in a list you review. Read now
  8. 14.8 Your style guide and style sheet: Chicago, house rules and your own choicesChoose a style guide and dictionary, and turn your choices into a checklist. Read now
  9. 14.9 The usual suspects: commas, dialogue punctuation, its and it's, and other easy missesThe small slips readers notice first, and how to fix them. Read now
  10. 14.10 Consistency checks: names, capitals, numbers, hyphens and US or UK spellingList your book's variable spellings, count every variant, and make the manuscript agree. Read now
  11. 14.11 Find and replace power moves: double spaces, straight quotes, wildcardsSafe sweeps for double spaces, empty paragraphs, straight quotes and doubled words. Read now
  12. 14.12 Tracked changes: accepting and rejecting suggestions from an editor or a toolReview every change and comment, and hand over a file with nothing hidden in it. Read now
  13. 14.13 When to stop and hire a professional copyeditor or proofreaderWhen your own copyedit has done its job, and when a professional adds real value. Read now
  14. 14.14 Proofreading the printed proof: what only paper showsThe errors that only appear on finished pages, marked clearly and sent back to the right file. Read now

Prerequisites: none; suggested after Course 2 (lessons 2.4 and 2.7), alongside Courses 11 and 12.

Open the Course 14 page

Course 3 10 lessons · about 100 minutes · Beginner

The Business Side of Self-Publishing

The paperwork side of publishing, made clear, calm and even a little fun.

A taste of the lessons

See all 10 lessons and what you will learn in Course 3

Publishing a book makes you a publisher, and that comes with a little paperwork. Good news: it is far friendlier than it looks. This course is for authors who want to set up the business side once, correctly, and then get back to writing.

You will be able to

  • Choose an imprint name and use it exactly the same way everywhere it appears.
  • Work out how many ISBNs your book needs, choose between a free platform ISBN and your own, and give each printer the barcode it wants.
  • Fill in a clean copyright page, and decide whether copyright registration or a Library of Congress Control Number is worth it for you.
  • Set print and eBook prices using real cost and royalty math.
  • Set your wholesale discount and returns on purpose, keep simple records, and spot the rights questions in a freelance agreement before you sign.

The lessons

  1. 3.1 Your imprint: publishing under your own name or a company nameChoose an imprint name, check what paperwork it needs, and use it the same way everywhere. Read now
  2. 3.2 ISBNs explained: what they are, who needs one, free versus your ownWhat an ISBN does, how many you need, and free versus your own. Read now
  3. 3.3 Barcodes and price codes on the back coverRead a book barcode, decide about the price code, and give each printer the barcode it wants. Read now
  4. 3.4 Copyright basics: you already own it; registration; the copyright pageWhy you already own it, when registering is worth it, and a clean copyright page line by line. Read now
  5. 3.5 Library of Congress numbers and legal depositWhether to get a Library of Congress Control Number, when to apply, and the US deposit rule. Read now
  6. 3.6 Pricing your book: print, eBook and the arithmetic behind eachSet print and eBook prices with real cost math and your category's norms. Read now
  7. 3.7 Royalties explained: KDP's eBook and print royaltiesPredict what KDP pays per eBook and per paperback, and when the money arrives. Read now
  8. 3.8 Wholesale, discounts and returns: how bookstores buy booksHow a bookstore buys your book, and how to set your discount and returns on purpose. Read now
  9. 3.9 Records and taxes for authors: the basics (not tax advice)A simple record system and the basic US tax rules authors run into. Read now
  10. 3.10 Agreements you may sign: editors, designers, narrators, translatorsWhat a good freelance agreement covers, and the rights questions to ask before you sign. Read now

Prerequisites: none; Course 1 helps. Pairs well with Course 13.

Open the Course 3 page

Course 4 15 lessons · about 150 minutes · Beginner to intermediate

Designing the Inside of Your Book

Learn the quiet craft that makes a page look like a real book, so readers simply fall into your words.

A taste of the lessons

See all 15 lessons and what you will learn in Course 4

The best book interiors are invisible: the reader simply falls into the words. This course teaches the quiet craft behind that, for authors laying out their own book and for anyone hiring help who wants to know what good looks like.

You will be able to

  • Choose a trim size that fits your genre, printers and budget, and estimate your page count from your word count.
  • Pick a body font, size and line spacing readers never notice, and confirm every font is licensed and embedded.
  • Set margins and gutters that pass printers' rules and still look generous on the page.
  • Design chapter openings, scene breaks, running heads and page numbers like a real book, and fix widows, orphans and rivers.
  • Choose the layout road (template, software or service) that fits you, and proof your interior on screen and on paper before you upload.

The lessons

  1. 4.1 Trim sizes: choosing the right size for your genrePick a size that suits your genre, your printers and your budget, and see what it changes downstream. Read now
  2. 4.2 Typography basics: type the reader never notices, and why that is the goalBody font, size, line spacing and line length that let readers forget the type. Read now
  3. 4.3 Font licensing: which fonts you may use in a published bookCheck that every font is licensed for a book you sell and embedded in your print file. Read now
  4. 4.4 Margins and gutters: why text disappears into the spineMargins that pass every printer's rules and still look generous. Read now
  5. 4.5 Chapter openings, drop caps and scene breaksChapter openers and scene breaks that say "this is a real book" at a glance. Read now
  6. 4.6 Running heads, page numbers and blank pagesNumber pages, place running heads, and put blank pages where real books put them. Read now
  7. 4.7 Widows, orphans, rivers and the other things designers fixSpot widows, orphans, runts, rivers and ladders, and choose the right fix for each. Read now
  8. 4.8 Pictures, tables and color in a print bookPictures, tables and charts that print crisply, and whether color is worth its cost. Read now
  9. 4.9 Three ways to lay out a book: a template, software or a service (an honest comparison)Choose the road that fits your book, your computer, your budget and your calendar. Read now
  10. 4.10 Proofing the layout: the checklist before you uploadA complete check of your file on screen and your proof on paper. Read now
  11. 4.11 Justified or left-aligned? Hyphenation and justification explainedChoose your alignment, switch on hyphenation the right way, and see why eBooks leave it to the reader. Read now
  12. 4.12 Children's books: picture books and chapter books are different animalsPlan trim, page count, color, printer and eBook format for the kind of children's book you are making. Read now
  13. 4.13 Poetry collections: line breaks, stanzas and the long lineMake every line break, stanza space and long line print exactly as you wrote it. Read now
  14. 4.14 Cookbooks, workbooks and other illustrated nonfictionPage structure, image plan, color budget and binding for books readers use, not just read. Read now
  15. 4.15 How many pages will my book be? From word count to page countEstimate your page count, see why it is a range, and how it moves cost, spine and margins. Read now

Prerequisites: none; Course 2 and Course 11 make it easier, because a clean manuscript lays out faster.

Open the Course 4 page

Course 5 11 lessons · about 110 minutes · Beginner to intermediate

Covers That Sell: Front, Spine and Back, Done Right

From thumbnail to full wrap, learn what a cover has to do and how to get every measurement right.

A taste of the lessons

See all 11 lessons and what you will learn in Course 5

Most readers meet your cover as a tiny thumbnail in a crowded grid, and it has a moment to say "this one is for you". This course shows you how a cover does that job, and how to get every measurement right for your printer. It is for authors designing their own cover and for authors who will hire a designer and want to brief them well.

You will be able to

  • Test your cover the way a shopper meets it: as a thumbnail, beside its genre neighbors.
  • Set a title, subtitle and author name that read at every size, from bookstore shelf to phone screen.
  • Calculate the full wrap for your printer, trim, page count and paper, including spine width, bleed and the safe zone.
  • Write back cover copy and a short author bio, and lay out the back with the barcode where each printer wants it.
  • Choose images you are allowed to use (AI images included), and decide on your road (do it yourself or hire), a hardcover style and a finish.

The lessons

  1. 5.1 What a cover has to do in two secondsThe four jobs every cover does at a glance, and how to test yours like a shopper. Read now
  2. 5.2 Genre conventions: why your cover should look like its neighborsBuild a swipe file, name the patterns, and design a cover that fits in and still stands out. Read now
  3. 5.3 Cover typography: a title you can read as a thumbnailSet the title, subtitle and author name so the cover reads at every size. Read now
  4. 5.4 The full wrap: back, spine and front, measured from your bookCalculate the exact size of your wrap, and avoid the mistakes that make printers stop a cover. Read now
  5. 5.5 Spine width, bleed and the safe zone, with the mathWork out your spine for each printer, keep every word safe, and know when your spine can carry text. Read now
  6. 5.6 Back cover copy and the author bioCopy that makes a browser want the book, and a bio that sounds like a real person. Read now
  7. 5.7 The back cover layout: barcode, ISBN and what goes whereEvery back cover element in its place, with the barcode exactly where each printer wants it. Read now
  8. 5.8 Pictures and rights: stock photos, illustrators and AI imagesImages you are allowed to use, the paperwork that proves it, and AI images used confidently and honestly. Read now
  9. 5.9 Designing it yourself (Canva and friends) or hiring a designerDecide your road, and know what to ask for so you get every file a printer needs. Read now
  10. 5.10 Hardcovers: case laminate, dust jackets and what changesChoose a hardcover style, see who offers it, and why it needs its own, larger cover file. Read now
  11. 5.11 Matte or glossy? Cover finishes and what they costPick a finish that suits your genre and artwork, knowing what each printer offers. Read now

Prerequisites: none; lesson 4.15 (page count) and Course 3 (ISBNs and barcodes) are useful first, because your spine width depends on your page count.

Open the Course 5 page

Course 6 10 lessons · about 100 minutes · Beginner

Publishing on the Platforms: KDP, IngramSpark and Going Wide

Upload with confidence: every stage, every choice that locks, and what to do when a file comes back.

A taste of the lessons

See all 10 lessons and what you will learn in Course 6

Your files are ready (or nearly). Now it is time to put your book on sale. This course walks you through the uploads, with the decisions that matter at each stage, for authors publishing in print, in eBook, or both.

You will be able to

  • Open a KDP account and finish the tax and payment details KDP requires before you publish.
  • Publish a KDP paperback and a Kindle eBook, knowing which choices lock after publishing.
  • Decide whether IngramSpark belongs in your plan, set up a title there, and choose, store by store, how to go wide.
  • Choose KDP Select or wide on purpose, and write metadata, categories and keywords in the words real readers use.
  • Order and judge a proof copy, and read a rejection notice, fix the right file and resubmit once.

The lessons

  1. 6.1 Setting up your KDP accountOpen the account and finish the tax and payment details, with your legal name, pen name and bank details straight. Read now
  2. 6.2 Publishing a KDP paperback, step by stepKDP's three paperback stages, the choices to make before you start, and the ones that lock. Read now
  3. 6.3 Publishing your Kindle eBookThe right file, a cover at the right size, a sensible pre-order plan, and your DRM, Select and royalty choices made on purpose. Read now
  4. 6.4 IngramSpark: when to use it and how to set it upDecide if IngramSpark fits, then set up a title without the usual first-timer stumbles. Read now
  5. 6.5 Going wide: Kobo, Apple Books, Google Play, Barnes & Noble and aggregatorsThe main eBook stores beyond Amazon, direct or through an aggregator, and library apps. Read now
  6. 6.6 KDP Select and Kindle Unlimited: exclusive or wide?What Select asks for and gives back, and how to choose for each eBook. Read now
  7. 6.7 Metadata that sells: title, subtitle and descriptionTitle, subtitle, series, contributors and description that are accurate, within the rules and tempting. Read now
  8. 6.8 Categories and keywords: how readers find your bookCategories you can be seen in and keyword phrases in the words real readers type. Read now
  9. 6.9 Ordering and reading your proof copyOrder a printed proof at the right moment, then approve, or fix and re-proof. Read now
  10. 6.10 When a file is rejected: the common reasons and the fixesRead a rejection, name its cause, fix the right file and resubmit once. Read now

Prerequisites: none; Courses 3, 4 and 5 are suggested first, so you arrive with your ISBN plan, an interior file and a cover file. Course 13 explains which printer to choose and why.

Open the Course 6 page

Course 7 8 lessons · about 80 minutes · Beginner to intermediate

eBooks, Audiobooks and Accessible Books

One book, many ways to read it: in print, on a screen, in your ears and in large type.

A taste of the lessons

See all 8 lessons and what you will learn in Course 7

One book can reach readers in many ways: on a phone, in the car, through a screen reader, in large type. This course is for authors who want their book in every format that suits it, without the jargon.

You will be able to

  • Choose reflowable or fixed layout for your eBook, and name the file each store wants.
  • Prepare a clean ePub, check it with free tools, and make an eBook cover that reads at thumbnail size.
  • Make your eBook easy to navigate for readers who use screen readers or magnification, and write good alt text.
  • Estimate your audiobook's length and budget, compare narration routes (AI narration included), and choose where to sell.
  • Plan a genuine large print edition with the right type size, trim and page count.

The lessons

  1. 7.1 How eBooks work: reflowable and fixed layoutThe two kinds of eBook, which one suits your book, and the file each store wants. Read now
  2. 7.2 Making a clean ePubPrepare a manuscript that converts cleanly, check the ePub with free tools, and fix the usual problems. Read now
  3. 7.3 eBook covers and thumbnailsAn eBook cover that meets the main stores' specs and still reads at thumbnail size. Read now
  4. 7.4 Accessible books: structure, alt text and why it mattersStructure and alt text that open your book to more readers, and the European Accessibility Act in plain words. Read now
  5. 7.5 Audiobooks: narration options and what they costEstimate your audiobook's length, compare the ways to narrate it, and sketch a budget. Read now
  6. 7.6 Publishing an audiobook: the main platformsWhere audiobooks sell, exclusive or wide for audio, and files every door accepts. Read now
  7. 7.7 AI narration and what each platform allows (dated, re-checked by the quarterly review)Which platforms welcome AI narration, how each asks you to label it, and the fastest legitimate route. Read now
  8. 7.8 Large print editionsWhat makes a genuine large print edition, and how to set one up as its own edition. Read now

Prerequisites: none; Course 11 helps (a clean manuscript makes a clean ePub), and Course 10 pairs well with lesson 7.7.

Open the Course 7 page

Course 8 12 lessons · about 120 minutes · Beginner

Launching and Marketing Your Book

Marketing made friendly: help the right readers find your book, at a pace you can keep.

A taste of the lessons

See all 12 lessons and what you will learn in Course 8

Marketing is simply helping the right readers find out your book exists, and you can do it as an introvert, with a day job, or while you would rather be writing. This course is for authors who want a friendly, realistic plan instead of a hundred things to feel guilty about.

You will be able to

  • Describe your ideal reader in one sentence and name a short list of comparable titles.
  • Set up the few platform pieces worth your time, including a simple author website and a friendly, legal email signup.
  • Run a small, rule-safe advance reader program, and sort any review idea into go, go with disclosure, or stop.
  • Fill a four-week launch calendar and plan a price promotion with KDP's own tools.
  • Work out your break-even before a small Amazon Ads test, and take one friendly step with a library, bookstore or local event.

The lessons

  1. 8.1 Marketing starts before the book is finishedYour ideal reader in one sentence, a short list of comparable titles, and small habits that grow while you write. Read now
  2. 8.2 Your author platform: what you actually needThe few platform pieces worth your time now, your free author pages, and permission to skip the rest. Read now
  3. 8.3 Your author websiteA simple site with the pages readers, librarians and journalists actually look for. Read now
  4. 8.4 Building an email list from zeroA friendly, legal signup with a reader magnet, and your first welcome email. Read now
  5. 8.5 Advance readers and early reviewsA small, rule-safe advance reader program that brings honest early reviews. Read now
  6. 8.6 Reviews: what is allowed and what gets authors in troubleSort any review idea into go, go with disclosure or stop, in the rule-makers' own words. Read now
  7. 8.7 Your launch plan: the four weeks around release dayA four-week calendar, so launch week is for celebrating, not scrambling. Read now
  8. 8.8 Price promotions and reader newsletter sitesPlan a price promotion, use KDP's promo tools correctly, and check a deal newsletter's rules. Read now
  9. 8.9 Amazon Ads basicsHow Amazon Ads charge, your break-even ACOS, and a small test on a budget you are happy to learn with. Read now
  10. 8.10 Social media without burnoutOne channel that suits you, and a light, joyful posting rhythm. Read now
  11. 8.11 Libraries, bookstores and local eventsHow libraries and bookstores really get books, and one friendly local step this month. Read now
  12. 8.12 Series and the long gameThe path that leads a reader from one book to the next, and a series the stores show as a set. Read now

Prerequisites: none. Start it while you are still writing: that is the whole point of lesson 8.1.

Open the Course 8 page

Course 13 11 lessons · about 110 minutes · Beginner to intermediate

Meet the Printers: KDP, IngramSpark, Lulu and More

Know exactly what each printer does best, and choose the one (or the pair) that fits your book.

A taste of the lessons

See all 11 lessons and what you will learn in Course 13

KDP, IngramSpark, Lulu, Barnes & Noble Press, Draft2Digital Print: which one should print your book? This course answers "which printer, and why", fairly and side by side, for authors choosing where their print books are made and sold.

You will be able to

  • Say in one sentence what each major print-on-demand service is best at, and pick the one (or the pair) that fits your book.
  • Explain what KDP's Expanded Distribution does and does not do, and how it differs from listing with IngramSpark yourself.
  • Compare formats, bindings and printing charges across KDP, IngramSpark, Lulu and other print options.
  • Run KDP and IngramSpark side by side with one ISBN, matching metadata and the right files for each.
  • Order author copies on time, judge a proof copy fairly, and plan where your book will sell and print outside the US.

The lessons

  1. 13.1 Print-on-demand printers side by side: what each one is forEach major service in one sentence, and how to pick the one or the pair that fits. Read now
  2. 13.2 Amazon KDP Print: formats, trim sizes, papers, distribution and what a copy costs youWhat KDP prints, where it sells, and how its printing cost shapes your price. Read now
  3. 13.3 KDP Expanded Distribution or IngramSpark: the bookstore and library questionWhat Expanded Distribution does and does not do, and how to choose for your paperback. Read now
  4. 13.4 IngramSpark: paperback, hardcover and dust jackets, print charges, wholesale discounts and returnsEverything IngramSpark prints, how its charges work, and the settings that decide whether bookstores order. Read now
  5. 13.5 Lulu: formats (incl. coil and saddle stitch), the Lulu Bookstore, selling direct and store integrationsWhen Lulu is the right printer, how its distribution works, and what to prepare. Read now
  6. 13.6 Barnes & Noble Press, Draft2Digital Print and other print optionsWhat each offers for print, its current limits, and when it is worth adding. Read now
  7. 13.7 Two printers at once: the KDP plus IngramSpark setup (ISBNs, files, prices)KDP for Amazon and IngramSpark for everyone else, with one ISBN and matching details. Read now
  8. 13.8 Author copies, proofs and shipping: ordering books for events and signingsThe right number of copies, from the right printer, in time for the event. Read now
  9. 13.9 Print quality: paper, color, binding, and how to judge a proof copyChoose paper, ink and binding on purpose, and tell normal variation from a real problem. Read now
  10. 13.10 What changed at the printers this quarter (a living lesson, rewritten at every quarterly review)The quarter's printer changes in two minutes, and which of your settings to re-check. Read now
  11. 13.11 Publishing beyond the US: Amazon's marketplaces, Kobo, tolino and printing near your readersWhere to sell outside the US, the channels that matter in Europe, and printing close to your readers. Read now

Prerequisites: none; lesson 1.6 (print-on-demand, explained) is a good warm-up, and Course 6 teaches the uploads themselves.

Open the Course 13 page

Course 10 8 lessons · about 80 minutes · Beginner

AI for Authors: Your New Publishing Assistant

Use AI brilliantly at every step of publishing, while your voice, your facts and your rights stay yours.

A taste of the lessons

See all 8 lessons and what you will learn in Course 10

AI is one of the best things ever to happen to independent authors, and this is the school's signature course. It is for every author who is curious about AI, already using it, or wondering what the platforms will ask about it.

You will be able to

  • Name the publishing jobs AI does brilliantly, and sort any AI use into "assisted" or "generated" the way KDP does.
  • Use AI to brainstorm, outline and get unstuck while every sentence in your book stays in your own voice.
  • Use AI to catch errors and to draft descriptions, keywords and ad copy, then edit every word until it is true and yours.
  • Use AI images for covers and marketing, and explain what the US Copyright Office says you can and cannot register.
  • Answer each store's AI question accurately, and set up a workflow that protects your manuscript and keeps one clean master file.

The lessons

  1. 10.1 AI is your new publishing assistant: what it is brilliant at, and where you stay in chargeThe jobs AI does brilliantly, assisted versus generated, and the three things that stay yours. Read now
  2. 10.2 Brainstorming, outlining and getting unstuck with AI (and keeping your own voice)AI as brainstorming partner, outline coach and unsticker, with every sentence still yours. Read now
  3. 10.3 AI as an editing partner: catching errors, tightening prose, checking consistencyCatch typos, continuity slips and inconsistencies, and accept or reject every change yourself. Read now
  4. 10.4 AI for the words that sell: descriptions, keywords, blurbs and ad copyDraft fast, then edit until every word is true, specific, yours and inside the rules. Read now
  5. 10.5 AI images for covers and marketing: what you can do, and what rights you holdCover concepts, cover art and marketing graphics, and what you can register. Read now
  6. 10.6 Telling the platforms: what KDP and the others ask about AI (dated, re-checked by the quarterly review)Answer each store's AI question accurately, as of the date we checked. Read now
  7. 10.7 AI narration and AI translation: new editions, fasterThe main AI narration and translation routes, how each is labeled, and how to check an edition you did not make yourself. Read now
  8. 10.8 A smart AI workflow for authors: privacy, your files, and the tools that do the heavy liftingProtect your manuscript, keep one clean master file, and use the right tool for each heavy job. Read now

Prerequisites: none. AI also appears in the lessons where it helps across the school (2.2, 5.8, 7.7, 14.7 and more).

Open the Course 10 page

Course 9 6 lessons · about 60 minutes · Intermediate

Beyond the First Book: Grow, Refresh and Repeat

Your first book is out; now learn to grow it, refresh it and make the next one easier.

A taste of the lessons

See all 6 lessons and what you will learn in Course 9

Your book is out in the world. Congratulations! This course is for published authors who want to understand their numbers, keep their book fresh and make the next one easier.

You will be able to

  • Find your way around KDP's reports, tell estimates from official royalties, and know when the money arrives.
  • Tell a quick correction from a new edition, know when you need a new ISBN, and update a live book without losing your reviews.
  • Check your translation rights, compare human, AI and hybrid translation, and set up a translated edition correctly.
  • Package a series as a box set that follows the store rules, and set up a simple direct store without a KDP Select conflict.
  • Turn everything you have learned into a repeatable plan for your next book.

The lessons

  1. 9.1 Reading your sales reportsFind your way around KDP's reports, tell estimates from official royalties, and know when you are paid. Read now
  2. 9.2 Second editions and updating a published bookA quick correction or a new edition, when you need a new ISBN, and keeping your reviews. Read now
  3. 9.3 Translations and foreign-language editionsTranslation rights, human, AI and hybrid translation compared, and a translated edition set up correctly. Read now
  4. 9.4 Box sets and bundlesA box set that follows the store rules, priced with the royalty math in mind, and your print options. Read now
  5. 9.5 Selling direct to readersA simple direct store for eBooks and signed print, what you keep, and the KDP Select conflict to avoid. Read now
  6. 9.6 Your next book: a process you can repeatEverything you learned, turned into a plan that makes the next book faster, calmer and more fun. Read now

Prerequisites: none; Courses 6 and 8 are suggested first.

Open the Course 9 page

Workshops

Hands-on workshops, short and practical.

Open your file and follow along: four ten-minute lessons each, with the same format and the same quarterly review as the courses. Workshops sit on their own shelf and do not count toward a certificate. Two are made by the teams behind our sponsors, and they are labelled that way on every page.

Workshop A From our family

Using a BookDesignTemplates.com Template

A free, hands-on workshop in 4 ten-minute lessons: choose a template, pour in your manuscript, style it, and export a print-ready PDF.

4 lessons, about 40 minutes. No certificate.

See the 4 lessons in Workshop A

This workshop is made by the team behind BookDesignTemplates.com, one of the three companies that sponsor Publishing 101, for authors laying out their book in one of its templates. It is hands-on: open your template and follow along.

You will choose a template that fits your genre, the app you write in (Word, Pages or LibreOffice) and your trim size, and pick the licence that matches your plans. You will pour your manuscript in one chapter at a time, keeping your italics and leaving old formatting behind. You will style every part with the template's own styles, fill in the title and copyright pages, and use section breaks so chapters, running heads and page numbers behave. Finally, you will export a print-ready PDF at your trim size with the fonts embedded, and check it before you upload.

It is the companion to lesson 4.9 and Courses 11 and 12.

  1. W-A.1 Choosing your template, your app and your trim sizeA template that fits your genre, your app and your trim, and the licence that matches your plans. Read now
  2. W-A.2 Pouring your manuscript into the templateMove your book in one chapter at a time, keeping your italics and leaving old formatting behind. Read now
  3. W-A.3 Styles, front matter and the copyright page inside the templateThe template's own styles, your title and copyright pages, and section breaks that keep page numbers in line. Read now
  4. W-A.4 Exporting a print-ready PDF from your templateA print PDF from Word, Pages or LibreOffice at your trim size, fonts embedded, checked before upload. Read now

Open the Workshop A page

Workshop B From our family

Using BookDesigner.ai

A free, hands-on workshop in 4 ten-minute lessons: prepare your upload, pick a trim and design, ask for changes in Revise, and use Cover Studio.

4 lessons, about 40 minutes. No certificate.

See the 4 lessons in Workshop B

This workshop is made by the team behind BookDesigner.ai, one of the three companies that sponsor Publishing 101. It is for authors with a finished manuscript who want to see how Cantos, our book-design AI, turns it into a book, and how to get exactly the result they want.

You will prepare a file Cantos reads the way you intend, choose the services your book needs, a trim size and a design, and answer Cantos's design questions with confidence. You will read the first build with a proofreader's eye and ask for changes on Revise in plain words. Then Cover Studio: design and refine your cover, and learn which delivered file goes to which printer (and which never goes to a printer at all).

BookDesigner.ai is not built for children's picture books or cookbooks; lessons 4.12 and 4.14 cover those books.

  1. W-B.1 Preparing your uploadA manuscript file Cantos reads exactly as you intend, and what happens at the upload door. Read now
  2. W-B.2 Choosing what your book needs, a trim size and a designThe services your book needs, a trim size and a design, and confident answers to Cantos's design questions. Read now
  3. W-B.3 Reading your book like a proof, and asking for changes in ReviseRead the first build with a proofreader's eye, and ask for changes in plain words. Read now
  4. W-B.4 Cover Studio and the files you receiveDesign and refine your cover, and know which delivered file goes to which printer. Read now

Open the Workshop B page

Workshop C

Working with a Professional Designer (interiors and covers)

A free workshop in 4 ten-minute lessons: find a book designer, read a quote, ask the right questions before you sign, and give feedback that works.

4 lessons, about 40 minutes. No certificate.

See the 4 lessons in Workshop C

Hiring a professional designer for your cover, your interior or both? This workshop shows you what to expect and what to ask, so you can hire with confidence and enjoy the process. It is neutral and for everyone.

You will find designers through trusted directories and read a portfolio like a pro. You will read a quote line by line (scope, files, turnaround and revision rounds), spot what it leaves out, and compare it with typical prices from published surveys, labelled as typical rather than a quote. You will ask the eight questions that protect your book before you sign, from the files and fonts you will own to image licences, printer specs, rush fees and who owns the cover art. Finally, you will write a brief, give feedback that moves a design forward, and spot red flags early.

Contract points are general information, not legal advice.

  1. W-C.1 Finding a designer and reading a portfolioFind book designers through trusted directories, and read a portfolio for a cover, an interior or both. Read now
  2. W-C.2 What a quote should include: scope, files, turnaround, revision rounds and typical pricesRead a quote line by line, spot what it leaves out, and compare it with published survey prices. Read now
  3. W-C.3 Questions to ask before you sign: files, fonts, images, specs, rush fees and who owns the cover artThe eight questions that protect your book, and the answers to get in writing. Read now
  4. W-C.4 Briefing your designer, giving feedback, and the red flagsA brief that gets you the book you imagined, feedback that moves the design forward, and the warning signs. Read now

Open the Workshop C page

Questions authors ask

Straight answers, no jargon.

A few of the questions the courses answer, in short. Each answer is the quick version of a full ten-minute lesson.

How do I self-publish a book, step by step?

In five stages, in this order: get the words ready, set up the business side (imprint, ISBNs, copyright and pricing), make the book (inside, cover, eBook and audio), choose your printers and publish, then launch and keep going. Order matters because each step feeds the next: the final text sets the page count, and the page count sets the width of your cover's spine.

Read lesson 1.3 free

How much does it cost to self-publish a book?

There is no single price, because self-publishing is a menu, not a ticket. KDP's publishing tools are free, so your budget goes to the work around the upload (usually editing first and the cover second), and Course 1 sketches a lean, an essentials and a full professional budget so you can pick the one that fits.

Read lesson 1.4 free

How does print-on-demand work?

Your interior and cover files wait at the printer, and when a reader orders, one copy is printed, bound, trimmed and shipped: no minimum order and no boxes in your garage. Each copy costs more to print than it would in a big print run, and in return you carry no inventory at all.

Read lesson 1.6 free

How do I spot a publishing scam?

Follow the money: a vanity operation earns from authors' fees rather than from readers buying books, so watch for praise out of nowhere that ends in a request for money, and for pressure to decide fast. Before you pay anyone, check Writer Beware and the Alliance of Independent Authors' service ratings.

Read lesson 1.7 free

What is the difference between developmental editing and copyediting?

Developmental editing asks whether the book works: structure, plot logic, pacing, the order of an argument. Copyediting asks whether it is correct and consistent: grammar, spelling, punctuation, and the same names and choices every time. Line editing and proofreading are the other two kinds.

Read lesson 2.4 free

How do I prepare my manuscript for formatting?

Tell each paragraph what it is with styles (a heading style for chapter titles, Normal for the text) instead of formatting by hand, indent with the paragraph settings rather than the Tab key or the space bar, and use real page breaks instead of pressing Enter until the page turns. Your manuscript says what each paragraph is; the design decides how it looks.

Read lesson 11.1 free

Do I need an ISBN for my book?

To sell a print book through stores, yes, and each format is its own product: a paperback, a hardcover and an eBook need three ISBNs (on KDP, an ISBN is optional for Kindle eBooks). Free platform ISBNs are genuinely handy, but each one works only on the platform that gave it to you, which is why Course 3 compares them with owning your own.

Read lesson 3.2 free

What size should my print cover be?

It is measured from your book, not chosen: the printer, the trim size, the final page count and the paper set it. A 6 x 9 inch, 300-page KDP paperback on white paper needs a full wrap of 12.9256 by 9.25 inches, and if any one of those four facts changes, so does the cover.

Read lesson 5.4 free

My book has said "In review" on KDP for a day. Is something wrong?

Probably not: KDP says it can take up to 3 business days for a book to go live, and resubmitting only resets your place in line. When a file really is rejected, it is almost always a measurement, not a judgment: one number in your file disagrees with your setup.

Read lesson 6.10 free

Can I use KDP and IngramSpark at the same time?

Yes, and plenty of indie publishers love that setup: KDP sells to Amazon readers, and IngramSpark makes the same book orderable everywhere else. The house rules are one ISBN you own on both, KDP's Expanded Distribution switched off, and a separate cover file for each printer.

Read lesson 13.7 free

Can I use AI images for my book cover?

Yes, and they are a superpower for authors: generate the art without lettering, set the title in a real font, and check the tool's terms for commercial use. KDP asks you to declare AI-made images, and in the US copyright does not extend to purely AI-generated material, so your typography, layout and creative edits are where your authorship lives.

Read lesson 10.5 free

Do I have to tell KDP that I used AI?

Only for AI-generated content: text, images or translations an AI tool created, even if you edited them afterward. AI-assisted work (you wrote it, and AI helped you edit, check or brainstorm) needs no disclosure on KDP, and since each store asks a slightly different question, the lesson on it is dated and re-checked by the quarterly review.

Read lesson 10.6 free

Class starts soon.

14 courses, 145 lessons and 3 workshops are on their way, every one of them free. You do not have to wait to get a feel for it: 157 lessons are ready to read right now.

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Every lesson, every course and every certificate here is free, and it stays free because three book-design companies cover the costs. They help authors make beautiful books every day, and they built this school so you can make yours.

Professional book templates for Word, Pages, InDesign, LibreOffice and Google Docs, drawn by a working book designer. You format your book yourself, and it looks professionally made. Browse the templates → Cantos, a book-design AI, turns your manuscript into a print-ready interior and cover for Amazon KDP, IngramSpark and Lulu, in a design you choose. Try BookDesigner.ai → Handmade typesetting and cover design by master book designer Tracy R. Atkins, for authors who want their book made entirely by hand. Meet The Book Makers →