It’s possible to publish a book for free; however, “free” would only apply in the sense that you didn’t exchange any funds. The investment of your time and effort would be hefty, though. But maybe your project budget is strapped. If you’re willing to put in the work, you can write, edit, design, publish, and market your book with little to no financial outlays on your part—and you can pick up some new skills along the way.

Writing and Editing

Technically, you can write, edit, and publish a book without a financial investment. You don’t need a fancy computer or special software to work on your manuscript. Head to your local library to use its computers and the free online version of Microsoft Word or Google Docs. And on days when you need a break from writing, you can research your publishing options. Check out Kindle Direct Publishing, Lulu, IngramSpark, Draft2Digital, or Apple Books. The key here is that you want a print-on-demand publisher that reaches your target audience.

When your draft is complete, set your manuscript aside. You’ve hit the editing stage, but the best thing you can do for yourself is switch gears for a bit. Editing your own work is important, but it’s hard. You’ve spent so much time working on the details of your book that your brain will operate on instinct and blind you to errors within the text. Stepping back will make it easier for you to pick up on plot holes, logical fallacies, grammar issues, and awkward wording.

Ask your writing group for help with critiques when you’re ready to edit. And if you’re not sure how to improve your writing or tackle editing, the Libby library app has partnered with Universal Class. You can take writing and editing courses for free through the Libby app.

Prep and Design

Once you’ve picked your publisher, you’ll have to provide your book’s metadata, all the information programs and readers need to categorize the book. The title, keywords, categories, book description—all of that makes up your metadata.

Then you’ll be ready for the design stage. Your publishing site will have templates for you to use. Tweak your favorite free template until you’re happy with how your book looks. You can create your own cover art or use a free stock image. But the interior design is important too, so don’t skimp on testing different interior templates.

Marketing and Distribution

And, of course, while you’re finishing the editing and design stages, you’re working on your marketing campaign as well. Leverage your social media accounts so your network knows you’ve got a book coming soon. Look for opportunities as a guest blogger or speaker. Find podcasts related to your topic and connect with the host. When your book is available, add a link to it in your email signature. Join a local writer’s group or book club. Offer to do a reading at your library or local bookstore. Your college alumni newsletter or local newspaper may do a feature on you if you contact them.

When your book is ready, you announce the launch, and people may place their orders. With print-on-demand technology, you don’t have to pay for thousands of books at once. This is a great option for authors because you don’t have storage fees or boxes of your book cluttering up your home. And there’s no risk if, for some reason, your book doesn’t sell. The printer will only produce a copy of your book when someone buys it, so you don’t pay anything in advance. The printer charges a fee plus the print costs each time you sell a copy of the book.

And voilà—you’re now a published author.

Takeaways

So, yes, you can write, edit, design, market, and publish a book at no cost to you. But that is a very time- and labor-intensive choice. It’s a lot for one person to handle, especially if writing isn’t your full-time job. Outsourcing some of those tasks can provide you with a partner. You’ll benefit from their experience and expertise while saving yourself time and headaches. If you’re ready to partner up with a professional editor, send me a message! I’d love to learn more about your writing project. Together, we can make your writing bulletproof.