Publishing your novel is just the beginning—getting readers to actually buy it is the real challenge. As an independent author, you have full control over your book’s marketing and sales strategy, but that also means you must take an active role in reaching your audience. Fortunately, there are plenty of effective ways to get your book into the hands of readers.
Building your author brand, expanding your reach, and selling beyond online retailers are just a few of the strategies we’ll discuss in this series on selling your independent novel.
This post serves as an introduction to a series on successful book-selling strategies. In the coming weeks, we’ll dive deeper into specific tactics, but for now, let’s explore some of the key methods indie authors use to promote and sell their work.
You’ve done the hard part—you wrote and published your novel—but unless you know how to sell it, your story might never reach the readers it deserves. This post kicks off a new blog series on the sixth and final step of the novel writing process: selling your book. Whether you’ve chosen the independent route or you’re still weighing your publishing options, understanding how books reach readers is a crucial part of your author journey.
Handselling your books at book festivals and vendor fairs is one of the most effective ways to find your readers.
In previous posts, I’ve covered everything from brainstorming and drafting to revision and publishing. I’ve also discussed the pros and cons of both traditional and independent publishing. But when it comes to book sales, the reality is this: traditional publishing handles much of the marketing behind the scenes (and how much promotion your book receives can vary widely). Since I don’t have firsthand experience with traditional publishing—and because those strategies are often dictated by the publisher—this series will focus on what I do know from experience: selling an independently published novel.
Setting the right price for your independently published novel is crucial to maximizing your earnings while ensuring your book remains competitive in the market. The price you choose not only affects your royalties but also influences readers’ perceptions of your book’s value. Here’s how to make strategic pricing decisions and understand how royalties work.
An effective book pricing strategy will keep your novel affordable without devaluing your work.
Royalties are the payments you receive for each copy of your book sold. Unlike traditional publishing, where authors typically receive a small percentage of sales (usually 5-15%), independent authors keep a much larger share of their earnings—often 35-70% for ebooks and 40-60% for print books, depending on the publishing platform and pricing model. However, royalties are calculated after subtracting production costs, platform fees, and any distributor cuts.
For independent authors, feedback is invaluable. But when it comes to getting pre-publication opinions on your book, should you use beta readers, ARC readers, or both? While they serve different purposes, each plays a crucial role in refining and marketing your book before publication.
There is a major difference between a beta reader and an ARC reader.
What are beta readers?
Beta readers are early readers of your full manuscript draft. Think of them as workshop partners—people who help you shape your book before it reaches the final stages. They provide feedback that might lead to deep revisions, pointing out plot holes, character inconsistencies, pacing issues, or anything else that could improve the reading experience. Because of this, beta readers are typically used before the final proofreading stage, when there’s still time to make significant changes.
If you’ve spent time in publishing spaces lately, you’ve probably seen the heated arguments over AI-generated book covers—and the moral panic that sometimes comes with them. The core of the opposition sounds reasonable: artists deserve to be paid. Many AI image generators are trained on existing artwork without permission. Some argue that using AI is stealing from creatives and eroding the value of real human labor. In this view, choosing an AI cover over hiring a professional designer is not just a budget decision—it’s an ethical failure.
To be considered a new, copyrightable work, a derivative work must be substantially different from the original and reflect the artist’s own creative input. Where should we draw the line when the “artist” is AI? Should accessibility be a consideration?
It’s also true that AI doesn’t yet create perfect, consistent, or always-usable art. Many covers made with AI look slick on a screen but fall apart in print. Designers bring not just visual skill but marketing savvy, genre expertise, and an understanding of composition that a prompt can’t replicate.
And yet, the conversation around AI art often lacks nuance.
They say not to judge a book by its cover—but when it comes to indie publishing, readers absolutely do. Your book cover is often the first—and sometimes only—chance to grab someone’s attention, so it needs to make an impact. Whether you’re working on a shoestring budget or ready to invest in professional help, understanding your options for book cover design is crucial. In this post, we’ll explore the pros and cons of designing your own cover, hiring a designer, or trading services to create a cover that does your story justice.
In this series, we’ve reviewed the planning, writing, evaluating, and revising steps of the novel writing process. Now it’s time to publish your novel!
DIY book cover design
Designing your own book cover can be a cost-effective solution, but it requires a solid understanding of design principles. Many publishing platforms offer cover generators, but these tools are often limited and produce generic-looking covers. I used them for my first couple of books, but I quickly realized that I wanted to represent my work more professionally. If you choose to design your own cover, keep these key factors in mind:
Once you’ve finished writing your novel, the next big decision is choosing the right platform on which to publish it. With numerous options available, it can be overwhelming to determine the best fit for your book. Before diving into the platform selection process, it’s crucial to define your publishing goals. Below are a few examples of goals you may wish to achieve.
In this series, we’ve reviewed the planning, writing, evaluating, and revising steps of the novel writing process. Now it’s time to publish your novel!
Maximum reach: If you aim to reach a global audience and prioritize sales, platforms like Amazon KDP and Barnes & Noble Publish are excellent choices.
Creative control: If you want complete control over your book’s design, formatting, and distribution, platforms like Lulu and IngramSpark offer more customization options.
Royalties: Consider the royalty rates offered by different platforms. Some platforms offer higher royalties, while others may have lower rates but provide additional services.
Independently publishing your novel offers unparalleled creative control and the opportunity to bring your story to readers on your terms. Unlike traditional publishing, where a publishing house manages editing, design, marketing, and distribution, independent publishing puts those responsibilities in your hands. This path allows you to set your own schedule, retain full rights to your work, and earn higher royalties per sale.
In this series, we’ve reviewed the planning, writing, evaluating, and revising steps of the novel writing process. Now it’s time to publish your novel!
While it requires dedication and strategic planning, self-publishing is an empowering way to share your voice with the world. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the independent publishing process and launch your novel successfully.
Independent publishing has revolutionized the way stories reach readers. Once seen as a last resort for authors, it’s now a legitimate and empowering option that offers distinct advantages over traditional publishing. For writers seeking creative control, faster timelines, and a direct connection to their audience, independent publishing can be a game-changer.
In this series, we’ve reviewed the planning, writing, evaluating, and revising steps of the novel writing process. Now it’s time to publish your novel!
One of the greatest benefits of independent publishing is creative control. As an independent author, you retain full authority over every aspect of your book—from the story and title to the cover design and marketing strategy. This freedom allows you to create a product that reflects your unique vision, without the need to compromise to meet the demands of a publishing house.
The terms “self-publishing” and “independent publishing” are sometimes used interchangeably, but there are some subtle differences in their meanings. Referring to yourself as “independently published” rather than “self-published” can enhance your professional image and improve the perceived legitimacy of your work. The term “self-published” has historically carried a stigma, often associated with amateur work lacking professional editing, design, or quality control. While this perception is changing, “independently published” signals a deliberate and professional approach to the publishing process.
In this series, we’ve reviewed the planning, writing, evaluating, and revising steps of the novel writing process. Now it’s time to publish your novel!
By calling yourself independently published, you emphasize that you’ve taken on the role of a publisher, overseeing the same critical steps that a traditional publisher would handle—hiring professional editors, designers, and marketers to produce a polished, high-quality book. This distinction suggests a level of professionalism and commitment to producing work that meets industry standards, which can appeal to readers, reviewers, and industry professionals alike. It reframes your work as a serious endeavor, on par with traditionally published books, and highlights your entrepreneurial spirit in bringing your book to life.
Write on the World 