With all the decisions you have to make during your publishing process, it might feel like a choose your own adventure book. Our Author Learning Center content will give you the information you need to make informed decisions—and have the best publishing adventure possible.
Get Started Self-Publishing Your Book
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How Much Money (and Time) Can You Spend Self-Publishing?
When it comes to self-publishing a book and budget, money springs to mind. But what about time, too? Learn about determining your budget for self-publishing.
Press-Ready Cover Requirements
Got a cover you want to use for your book? Make sure it meets these requirements.
Publishing Timelines at Mill City Press
Learn about the Mill City Press publishing timeline and approximately how long your book might take to publish, along with our turnaround time for each stage.
General Book Terms Glossary
Get an overview of general book terms, including author royalties, book genre, imprint, and subsidiary rights.
Book Tech Glossary
Get up to speed on tech terms related to publishing a book, such as responsive web design, download, operating system, and address bar.
Manuscript Formatting Guidelines for Mill City Press
Learn the Mill City Press manuscript format guidelines so you can guide your designer with formatting tags to ensure your book’s layout is how you want it.
Book Production Basics
Publishing Timelines at Mill City Press
Learn about the Mill City Press publishing timeline and approximately how long your book might take to publish, along with our turnaround time for each stage.
Book Production Glossary
Brush up on your book production terms in our book production glossary. Learn the lingo.
The Book Editing Process
A step-by-step guide to the editing process and everything you need to know about self-editing, beta readers, developmental editors, copy editors, proofreaders.
ISBN or International Standard Book Number
Learn what an ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is and what they’re used for. Want one or more for your book? Find out how to buy an ISBN here.
LCCN or Library of Congress Control Number
Learn what a Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN) is, how to get one, whether you’re eligible for a number, and where to display the LCCN in your book.
How to Use Track Changes in the Editing Process
Learn how to use Microsoft Word Track Changes during the editing process to keep or discard suggested changes. Use these best practices for a clean manuscript.
Get Editorial Feedback with a Manuscript Evaluation
Publishing a book? Get a manuscript evaluation, which provides editorial feedback on plot and character development, editing amount needed, and marketability.
Back Cover Copy Includes the Book Summary and Author Bio
What’s on the back of the book counts. Learn how back cover copy is a powerful sales pitch to hook potential readers through a strong book summary & author bio.
What is a Book Barcode?
In every book barcode is a book’s ISBN. A Bookland EAN & UPC barcode allow you to sell your book in stores. Self-publishing? This is the barcode info you need.
Copyright Registration
Learn how copyright registration protects your book, what kind of protection copyrighting your book offers, and how it affects the self-publishing process.
Book Cover Design and Interior Layout
How to Choose an Interior Font for Your Book
A lot hinges on the font for the interior of your book—readability, genre expectations, overall professionalism. Here’s how to avoid making the wrong choice.
Enhanced Ebook Features
Ebook formatting often is more simplified than print, but enhanced ebook features can help your content to stand out.
Book Design Glossary
Get comfortable with book design terms so you can best communicate with your cover and interior layout designer.
Examples of Book Covers
View a selection of well-designed self-published book covers. The best book covers go beyond look and feel, and should include a smart packaging strategy.
Book Interior Layout
When you reach the interior layout stage, it’s time for your book to get set up correctly for the printer. See what that means and how to avoid costly mistakes.
Book Cover Design
What makes the best book cover design? Learn how a cover designer translates your creative vision into a cover & how marketing strategy is key in cover design.
Everything You Need to Know About Book Printing
Choosing Your Book Specs
What do you want your book to look like? Choose your book specs: trim size, binding type, hard or soft cover, cover finish, paper color, and interior ink color.
Book Printing Costs for Print-on-Demand
Learn which factors influence print-on-demand (POD) book printing costs, then get estimates for our POD printing with our interactive book printing calculator.
Book Printing Glossary
Here’s what you need to know about printing a book, including digital and offset printing, as well as saddle stitch, perfect bind, and trim size.
How Many Copies of Your Book to Print
When you’re publishing a book, a lot of questions crop up, such as “How many copies should I print?” The answer? It depends on goals, marketing, and budget.
How to Choose Between Offset and Digital Printing
Learn your book printing options (digital and offset) and which factors—interior color treatment, author platform, special features—will influence your choice.
Book (Trim) Sizes for Print-on-Demand Books
Learn the standard book (trim) sizes for print-on-demand (POD) books, and how binding, paper type, and interior color options affect trim size options.
How Long Does It Take to Print a Book?
Printing books takes time… but how long? Offset and digital (plus print-on-demand) printing times vary. Check out our infographics for comparison and reference.
Book and Ebook Distribution
Understanding the Trade Discount in Print-on-Demand (POD) Distribution
How the trade discount taken by wholesalers and retailers directly affects author royalties.
How to Determine Your Ebook Royalties
Learn how to calculate your ebook royalties, plus how the online retailers’ percentage and list price affect your cut of book sales.
How to Set Up Your Book Marketing Plan for Distribution
When you’re prompted to create a book marketing plan for distribution, how do you start? Here’s your guide to figuring out your marketing plan for distribution.
Direct-to-Reader Sales Page Examples
Direct-to-reader sales pages simplify the process of selling your book directly to readers. Here's a preview of what a direct-to-reader sales page looks like.
Wholesale vs Retail Distribution
When it comes to book distribution, it’s vital to understand the difference between wholesale and retail distribution, and how it affects author royalties.
Book Distribution Glossary
Get familiar with common book distribution terms, including wholesaler, list price, and publication date.
How to Determine the Royalty Amount for Book Sales
Your book royalties depend on book sales and your distribution model. Here’s how to determine your author royalties when you self-publish a book.
How to Set the Retail Price of Your Book
Learn how to set the right retail price of your book so you can sell your book at a competitive price compared to other books in your genre.
Which Type of Book Distribution Is Right for Me?
Everything you need to know about book distribution, including the advantages and disadvantages of expanded and print-on-demand (POD) distribution.
Ebook Distribution
The best way to sell ebooks? Ebook distribution. Reach readers by listing your book with third-party retailers. Learn about ebook distributors & where to sell.
Why You Should Enroll in a Book Returns Program
Improve your chances of getting your book in a brick-and-mortar store with a returns program. Learn how a book returns program functions.
Sell Your Book Directly to Readers To Increase Your Book Royalties
It's easy to sell your book directly to readers and maximize your profits. Learn how to calculate your book royalties and profits with our helpful infographic.
Book Marketing Tips and Advice
Facebook for Authors: Etiquette and Strategies
With over one billion users worldwide, marketing your book on Facebook is a must. Learn the etiquette of this social media giant to grow your author platform.
Twitter for Authors: Vocabulary and Basics
Twitter has over 300 million users worldwide. Learn the vocabulary and basics of Twitter to grow your author platform.
Facebook for Authors: Vocabulary and Basics
Facebook has over one billion users worldwide. Learn the vocabulary and basics of this social media giant to grow your author platform.
How to Set Up Your Book Marketing Plan for Distribution
When you’re prompted to create a book marketing plan for distribution, how do you start? Here’s your guide to figuring out your marketing plan for distribution.
Bookstore Sell Sheets
A bookstore sell sheet (also known as one sheet) presents vital book data bookstores need to order your book and are a great promo tool. See examples here.
Book Marketing Glossary
Learn book marketing lingo, including terms such as author platform, book review, book trailer, and media kit.
How to Build an Author Platform
Get the word out about your book. Learn how to build an author platform before your book’s release date with social media, blogging, a website, and more.
How to Publish a Book Like a Pro
Publish your book like a pro to compete in the industry. Invest in editing and custom design, understand publishing timelines, and market strategically.
When to Start Marketing Your Book
Strategic marketing can help sell more books. Get started early, gain traction, and keep momentum going throughout your book publishing process.
How to Publish an Ebook
Fixed-Layout Ebook
If your book is heavily designed with full-page images or text that overlaps images, you’ll want a fixed-layout ebook. Here’s what you need to know.
What You Need to Know About Ebook Formatting and Conversion
Ever wondered how files are converted and formatted into ebooks? Get a step-by-step look at the ebook formatting process and a few limitations unique to ebooks.
Enhanced Ebook Features
Ebook formatting often is more simplified than print, but enhanced ebook features can help your content to stand out.
Ebooks vs. Print Books
Learn the difference between ebooks and print books, why a PDF isn’t an ebook, and what goes into creating your ebook.
How to Determine Your Ebook Royalties
Learn how to calculate your ebook royalties, plus how the online retailers’ percentage and list price affect your cut of book sales.
Direct-to-Reader Sales Page Examples
Direct-to-reader sales pages simplify the process of selling your book directly to readers. Here's a preview of what a direct-to-reader sales page looks like.
Ebook Glossary
Learn everything you need to know about ebooks, including what EPUB, MOBI, DRM, and book metadata are.
How to Price an Ebook
Learn how to price an ebook by understanding what affects ebook prices like author royalties, book length, and genre so you can stay competitive and profitable.
Ebook Distribution
The best way to sell ebooks? Ebook distribution. Reach readers by listing your book with third-party retailers. Learn about ebook distributors & where to sell.
What Is an Ebook?
Get familiar with ebook publishing, including the formats (MOBI and EPUB), how ereaders work, and why ebooks are optimized for different ereaders.
How to Publish a Children’s Book
Examples of Illustrated Children’s Books
Here are a few illustrated children's book examples to give you a feel for great book design and what to look for when illustrating your own book.
Top 5 Facts About Self-Publishing a Children’s Book
Self-publishing a children’s book has unique challenges and special considerations. Save time and money by knowing these five facts before getting started.
Hiring a Children’s Book Illustrator
The quality and originality of illustrations in a children’s book can make or break its success. Here’s how to choose and work with a professional illustrator.
Self-Publishing Glossary
Book Design Glossary
Get comfortable with book design terms so you can best communicate with your cover and interior layout designer.
Book Production Glossary
Brush up on your book production terms in our book production glossary. Learn the lingo.
General Book Terms Glossary
Get an overview of general book terms, including author royalties, book genre, imprint, and subsidiary rights.
Book Distribution Glossary
Get familiar with common book distribution terms, including wholesaler, list price, and publication date.
Ebook Glossary
Learn everything you need to know about ebooks, including what EPUB, MOBI, DRM, and book metadata are.
Book Printing Glossary
Here’s what you need to know about printing a book, including digital and offset printing, as well as saddle stitch, perfect bind, and trim size.
Book Tech Glossary
Get up to speed on tech terms related to publishing a book, such as responsive web design, download, operating system, and address bar.
Book Marketing Glossary
Learn book marketing lingo, including terms such as author platform, book review, book trailer, and media kit.