Self-Publishing 101 is an introduction to the world of independent publishing. This is a jumping-off point from which to learn more. Can you be a successful self-publisher? Take a look at these questions and see what you think:

• Are you prepared to be in business?

• Are you prepared to do three things (at least) for your book(s) every single day?

• Are you prepared to do serious research on self-publishing before you start writing?

• Do you know that the easy part is writing the book?

• What idea do you have for your second book?

• How does the idea for that second book relate to the first book?

Self-publishing is not for everyone. If you are not prepared to be in business and to work hard every day selling your book, you may wish to find a traditional publisher. When you self-publish, it is all on you.

The late Jan Nathan, executive director of IBPA, used to give one major piece of advice. Her advice: Those who are successful in self-publishing have discovered their niche, their small area, where they are the expert.

What is your niche?

Dan Poynter is the godfather of all things self-publishing. His book, The Self-Publishing Manual, has become the seminal work in the field. It is there that all successful (and not-so-successful) publishers begin.His website, Parapublishing.com, is overflowing with ideas, articles, techniques, and resources.

John Kremer is the mastermind behind 1001 Ways to Market Your Books. While there would be some discussion about what other books to purchase on book marketing, self-publishers are in agreement that the first one to purchase would be this book. In addition to his book, his website, BookMarket.com, has vast resources and information.

Fern Reiss represents the next generation of self-publishing expertise. Her The Publishing Game series of books have become must-reads for anyone serious about becoming a successful publisher. Fern's website, PublishingGame.com is yet one more place to begin. You do not want to skip it.

John Culleton of Wexford Press offers the following quote: Those who don't read about publishing often fail at publishing. It is obvious that Culleton prizes doing your homework and he is right on the money.

And, yes, to my mind, you should do that reading before you write the book. Readers will note that I only list three books below. You should in no way imagine that you will know enough to publish a book after only reading these three books. Yes, it gets you started, but there is much to learn. If you cannot afford to buy a few books, you might want to reconsider self-publishing.

The Self-Publishing Manual (Dan Poynter)has long been the "bible" of the field. It is now in its fifteenth edition and teaches you not only how to publish the book, but also about all the pieces that comes before (like the writing) and all the pieces that come after (like the marketing and the selling).

1001 Ways to Market Your Books (John Kremer) is the book that will teach you how to sell your book. If you are not aware that the selling is more important than the writing, you may not want to jump into this business. Yes, there really are 1001 ways. Will all of them work for you. No, but enough will that this book is highly recommended.

The Publishing Game (Fern Reiss) is a series of books. At the very least, you should get the first book in the series, but it is recommended that you get all three. The Publishing Game series fills in the edges of the other books and provide a unique perspective.

It is important to understand that, even though there are experts, you must read more than one expert. What worked well for one person may not work at all for another.

There are two basic frameworks for self-publishing a book. While both can be successful, you should make sure you understand what sort of book you are publishing.

Print-on-Demand means that you can publish as few as one book at a time although you will quickly discover that short runs are more economical. This method is gaining in popularity because self-publishers can:

• test-drive a book to determine if it warrants having many more books printed; or
• provides books in this manner to Amazon and elsewhere; or
• have little of their capital tied up in inventory.

Off-set Printing can start as low as 500 copies and go up into the thousands. The cost per book is often lower, so the profit margin can be higher. This method works well if you have a book that has the potential to sell many copies. However, failing at this can result in a garage full of books. You will want to be careful in selecting this method.Great rewards are certainly possible, but great losses are as well.

There are many companies that service the self-publishing community. These are but a few that you should know. Many others are listed in the books listed here.

Lightning Source is a print-on-demand digital printer. Many self-publishers start here because the cost is low to get a book produced. It is also a way to get your books into Ingram and automatically listed on Amazon. It is owned by Ingram.

Fidlar Doubleday is a print-on-demand digital printer. It specializes in print runs of 25 - 1000. It has a solid reputation in the self-publishing industry.

Ingram is the largest book wholesaler in the country. If you can get into Ingram, they will market your book to bookstores and other outlets. It is highly unusual for new publishers to be able to get an Ingram account. Most end up using the back-door through Lightning Source to get their books listed with Ingram.

Baker & Taylor is also a very large book wholesaler. While it most certainly can get you into bookstores, it is well-known for its library sales.

Self Publishing Yahoogroup is the place to start online. Primarily for beginners, no question is too silly (and it likely has already been answered multiple times. It is sponsored by SPAN.

New Self-Publishers Frequently Asked Questions is a good general FAQ. Created by Jacqueline Church Symonds of Creative Minds Press & Beagle Bay Press, it is incredibly user-friendly.

Independent Book Publishers Association is one of the two professional associations for self-publishers. It is the largest and its annual conference is well attended (in part, because it is schedule for immediately before Book Expo America).

Small Publishers Association of North America, while smaller, is creative and is always looking for ways to expand its reach. Its website has numerous resources. It is a good idea to join because many of the benefits with membership lessen the cost of self-publishing.

Amazon is the world's largest bookseller. You will want to have your books on Amazon even when the deal is not great. There are several ways to get your book listed and you will want to explore each to make sure you are making the right choice for you.

Barnes & Noble is working hard to catch up to Amazon in online booksales. Increasingly, self-publishers are at least consider B&N as an alternative.