Self-Publishing FAQs
Publishing Support for Writers and Artists. Explore seven focused FAQ sections. Each category contains concise, authoritative answers and links to in-depth information pages.
Publishing Choices, Author Rights & Contracts
Understand the main publishing choices, what contracts should (and shouldn’t) say, and how to retain your rights while buying only the services you need.
ISBNs, Barcodes and Legal Deposit Libraries
Do you need an ISBN? How UK legal deposit works. Creating a scannable barcode and keeping your imprint and metadata under your control.
Manuscript Preparation and Editorial Options
Editing, proofreading, indexing, notes and front matter. What each stage does, what to budget for, and how to hire the right professionals.
Book Titles, Cover Design and Thema Codes
Choosing effective titles and subtitles, why genre matters, how to brief a designer, and how Thema codes help your book get found.
Print Options and Production Costs
Print-on-demand vs short-run/litho, sensible print quantities, pricing, and practical packing and posting.
Distribution Channels and Online Sales
How books reach shops and online retailers, typical discounts and returns, working with Waterstones & Gardners, and Sale or Return.
Publicity, Marketing & Promotion
Marketing basics, getting reviews, Goodreads and other book-recommendation sites, your Author webpage, social media and eBook platforms.