how to self publish an essay

How To Publish Personal Essays – From Small Press To Collections

by Robert Wood
June 1, 2015
One Comment

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Though they get less press than novels and short fiction , personal essays actually have one of the most welcoming markets in publishing. Dedicated essayists have a great chance of seeing some form of publication, so long as they’re willing to put the work in and understand the marketplace.

That’s why in this article I’ll be exploring the ins and out of publishing your personal essays, starting with how you can secure publication on the lowest rungs of the industry ladder, and then leading up to the anthology or collection publication of multiple essays. But whether you’re a writer of novels, plays, or personal essays, the first piece of advice will always be the same…

Read, read, read

As with any art form, there are trends in the personal essay market. It’s also the case that most publications will have preferences about things like tone, length, subject, and structure. Because of this, whether you’re writing essays in general or for a particular publication, the first step is reading as many as you can get your hands on.

Your research should be focused, however. Reading the great essays , collections by writers such as George Orwell or Oscar Wilde , is of course a good idea but the bulk of your reading needs to be targeted at the sort of publication you’re writing for.

There are many kinds of small touches, technicalities of rhythm and pace, which can only be learnt by reading good examples, but most publishers won’t just be interested in whether your work is good – they’ll be interested in whether or not your work suits their publication. The key is to study their publications relentlessly, first deliberately striving for the ‘feel’ of the work they publish and then gradually allowing it to become a natural style.

This sounds difficult, and at first it will be, but there are two facts which should make beginner essayists feel better:

The ability to assume a style is one which gets easier and easier with practice. The more different styles you learn, the easier you’ll find the whole process, and very quickly you’ll have a wardrobe full of styles you can slip into to suit the occasion.
Generally speaking, the better established the publication the less strict they’ll be about conforming to a set style. The demands on quality go up of course, but publications with existing industry and readership respect will be less concerned with the safety of conformity, and more concerned with showcasing the best of your unique talents.

It will take a while for these facts to come into play, but you should feel reassured that however difficult you find it starting out, that’s as difficult as it gets.

Reading should be a constant through your attempts to gain publication, but what you read should change according to where you are on the essayist’s pyramid.

The pyramid

The essayist’s pyramid is a way of combining the different levels of essay publication with the work it takes to move from one to the next. The pyramid basically consists of four levels. At the base are local and specialist publications, the next level up is regional publications, then national and international publications, then successful collections.

The pyramid doesn’t just represent a hierarchy; it’s a guide to progressing from one level to the next. One of the biggest deciding factors in whether a publication will consider your work is your reputation and publication history. Because of this, it’s necessary to have a lot of local publications under your belt before you contact a regional publication, a lot of regional publications before you try for national, and finally to be a frequently published national essayist before you can expect to be successful with a collection of essays.

Self-publishing gives you the ability to skip any of these steps, releasing your work to the world through blogging or e-books. While these are valid routes they’re unlikely to lead to success on their own unless you have a unique viewpoint or presentation. Instead it’s advisable to view websites as you would any other publication. Yes all websites are available to anyone, but realistically they still fall into a structure so similar to ‘local / regional / national’ that they can be discussed in the same breath. Once you have a few essays on a few minor websites you can try moving up, and keep going until there’s sufficient audience to follow you to your own online venues and digital publications.

So now we’ve looked at the route essayists can take to success, it’s time to discuss how they can get started.

Finding publications

The more local a publication the more likely they’ll be to publish you. This isn’t just a matter of circulation, but it doesn’t hurt. A sense of community + a small pool of potential talent = welcoming publishers. For the same reason specialist magazines, those which deal with a specific realm of subjects, are likely to be similarly well disposed towards your work.

Local publications can be found… well… locally. Eateries, libraries, and healthcare centers are good places to search. Established local publications, especially newspapers, will often have adverts for less well-known magazines.

If you’re working online then it’s just a matter of searching around and gauging which publications will be most appropriate for your work. Either way this approach is one which works all the way to the top of the pyramid. Regional publications will contain adverts for local ones, and national magazines are a good source for regional publications.

Each block of the pyramid stays aware of the block below (everyone wants to know where the talent is coming from), and so the more you work the more recognizable you’ll be to those you need to contact next.

The submission system

As I mentioned in my article on publishing short fiction, if you’re serious about publication then you need to establish a system where you’re always submitting and waiting to hear back about a submission.

Waiting to hear back from one publication before submitting to another is wasted time. Ideally you should have a few articles ready to go ‘out’ when you begin, then spend the time before you hear back writing more.

Every writer experiences more rejection than acceptance (mainly because the same piece can be rejected a hundred times, but only accepted once.) You shouldn’t be disheartened, but equally you shouldn’t let any necessary rejections on your road to success waste time you could spend succeeding.

Reading, writing, and submitting are a constant process. Getting published is a job, and it’s one you have to keep showing up for. Do so, though, and you can reach the achievement every essayist dreams of…

Collections and anthologies of personal essays

‘Anthologies’ are collections of essays in which your work can be featured, whereas you can publish a ‘collection’ made up entirely of your own work.

To make it into an anthology you need to scour literary magazines for one with a theme you think you’d suit. Here the need to tailor your writing to the publication in question is more important than ever. Hang a list of their guidelines in your writing space and stick to it . Anthologies gather most of their audience based on interest in the overall theme, so deviating from it will get your work quickly dismissed.

If you’ve worked your way up the pyramid those who have already featured your work will likely be thrilled to trumpet your achievements, so if you do make it into an anthology make sure to contact former publishers. They may want to advertise your work, or even have you write something.

This is doubly the case when you publish a collection all your own, as there will be fewer other sources of exposure. Thankfully former publishers will almost always be genuinely happy to acknowledge your success, and it will also help their own prestige to be associated with a successful author. Collections are almost always the exclusive preserve of famous essayists – the kind you see week-to-week in national newspapers – but there is a healthy market for self-published collections by lesser-known but established authors, especially when they deal with specialist topics. Whether you’re a beer brewer, a trout fisher, a doll collector, or really almost any kind of hobbyist, there’s a niche for your work already waiting.

Building the pyramid

As I said before, finding some form of publication is just a matter of hard work. Moving up the pyramid you need to keep experimenting with your style and making sure that the work you’ve done on one level supports what you’re attempting to do on the next. A firm base is vital, and is the greatest tool in what have to be constant efforts to improve both your art and the places it can be found.

Above all, remember these three things:

Always be reading, writing, and submitting.
Write with your publication of choice in mind.
Keep building.

For more advice on the logic behind entering competitions and anthologies try Should you enter a writing competition? Or for how to build an email list, a must for writers who will be moving from publication to publication, check out Why you need to have an email list right now .

Robert Wood

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The Writer’s Journey: Where To Publish Personal Essays

Table of contents:, 1. what is a personal essay , 2. key features of personal essays:, authenticity: , individual perspective: , emotional connection: , 3. how to write a personal essay, choosing a topic: , organizing your thoughts: , adding details: , being honest: , 4. where can you publish personal essays, online literary magazines: , writing communities and blogs: , newspaper and magazine op-ed sections: , literary anthologies and essay collections: , online writing contests: , specialized niche websites: , 5. guidelines for submission:, 6. reading submission guidelines:, word count: , formatting requirements: , theme or topic preferences: , submission method: , rights and originality: , 7. craft an engaging title and introduction:, 8. polishing your essay:, proofreading: , clarity and coherence: , conciseness: , 9. originality and avoiding plagiarism:, 10. adhering to ethics and sensitivity:, 11. submission process and follow-up:, key concepts and profound details, conclusion:.

Just Press Play To Hear The Piece.

While no one can deny the power of personal essays, there are many reasons why you might be looking for a place to publish your own. You may have been asked to submit an essay to a contest or publication and want to know if it meets their standards, or maybe you’re just hoping to get some feedback on your latest writing project.

Whatever your reason is for Essay Publishing, book publishers New York got you covered! Keep reading for information on where to publish personal essays and what they look like.

Personal essays are a great way for individuals to express their thoughts, experiences, and opinions on a personal topic. Whether a lighthearted tale or a heartfelt reflection, these essays give readers a glimpse into the writer’s mind and emotions.

To ensure that your essay is impactful and engaging, it can be beneficial to seek professional assistance. Ghostwriting services can help you bring your ideas to life and create a well-crafted essay that resonates with your readers. These services enable you to collaborate with an experienced writer who can transform your thoughts into clear and engaging prose.

Moreover, proofreading services can play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of your essay. These services involve meticulously reviewing your essay to identify and correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Additionally, professional proofreaders can offer valuable feedback on the overall clarity, structure, and coherence of your writing.

It’s important to find your unique voice and share your personal experiences with the reader when it comes to personal essays. However, don’t underestimate professional assistance’s impact on the final result.

When writing a personal essay, make sure that the following key features are included in it

Personal essays are all about being true to yourself. You can be honest and authentic, sharing your genuine feelings and experiences.

Each personal essay is unique because it comes from your viewpoint. It’s your chance to share what matters and how you see the world.

These essays often aim to connect with readers emotionally. Whether it’s joy, sadness, excitement, or contemplation, personal essays can evoke various emotions in readers.

By understanding and emphasizing the key features of personal essays, writers can craft compelling pitches to attract publishers’ attention. Pitching to publishers opens doors for personal essays to be published, shared, and appreciated by a wider readership, creating opportunities for meaningful connections and impact.

For Essay Publishing, you first need to know how to write it. Here is how you can write a personal essay in a few steps:

Select a topic, akin to finding a book title by its plot, that is meaningful to you…

. It could be a personal story, an idea, or an experience you want to share.

Plan how you want to present your story. Consider the beginning, middle, and end of your essay. You also need to plan on formatting for publishing according to the requirements of where you want to publish. When you think through all of this, the process of writing an essay further can be easy.

Use descriptive language, as detailed in how a writer can edit a narrative , to paint a vivid picture for your readers. Include sensory details to make your essay more engaging.

Be true to yourself. Don’t be afraid to share your true feelings and experiences, even if they might feel vulnerable.

When it comes to sharing your work with the world, finding the right platform is crucial. Here are various places where you can consider sharing your stories:

These websites are like treasure troves of interesting content. Places such as “The Sun Magazine,” “Tin House,” and “Narratively” love personal essays.

They’re on the lookout for captivating stories that touch the hearts of their readers. These platforms aim to collect different perspectives and thoughts, making them perfect for your essays.

Websites like “Medium” and “WordPress” offer spaces for writers for Essay Publishing. They provide an excellent opportunity to showcase your work to a broad audience.

Additionally, Medium has a Partner Program that could reward you based on how much people enjoy reading your essays.

Consider sharing your essays with the opinion sections of well-known newspapers like “The New York Times,” “The Guardian,” or “The Washington Post.”

These places have lots of readers and discussions. Contributing here allows you to be part of important conversations happening in society.

Some organizations create collections of essays on particular themes. Submitting your work to these collections can get your essays published in print or online, giving you exposure to a wider audience.

Writing contests hosted by websites like “Writer’s Digest” and “The Writer Magazine” are great avenues for getting your essays noticed.

These contests often have different themes and offer prizes, making them an exciting way to share your stories.

Depending on the topic of your essay, there are websites dedicated to specific interests. Whether about travel, parenting, mental health, or lifestyle, these platforms cater to diverse topics, providing a perfect space for your unique stories.

Submitting your essays to different platforms requires attention to specific publishing contracts , guides and practices. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown to help you ace the submission process:

Before submitting, carefully read and understand the submission guidelines and publisher-author relations of the platform you’re interested in.

Each platform has its own set of rules, preferences, and expectations for submissions. Pay close attention to details such as:

Ensure your essay meets the specified word count requirements. Some platforms might have a specific range they prefer.

Check for specific formatting guidelines, such as font size, spacing, or file format (e.g., .docx, .pdf).

Some platforms might have themes or topics they’re particularly interested in. Align your essay’s subject matter accordingly.

Note whether submissions are accepted via email, online forms, or submission portals. Follow the specified submission procedure.

Understand the platform’s policies regarding ownership of the content. Ensure your essay is original and not previously published elsewhere.

Capturing the attention of editors or readers starts with an enticing title and introduction. Craft a title, similar to how you’d write a thank you note , that reflects the essence of your essay and compels the reader to delve deeper.

Your introduction should be engaging, drawing in the audience and setting the tone for the rest of the essay.

Editing and revising your essay are crucial steps before submission. Ensure your writing is clear, concise, and error-free. Here are some tips:

Check for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and punctuation issues. Consider using grammar-checking tools or seeking assistance from a trusted proofreader.

Ensure your ideas flow logically and are presented coherently. Avoid overly complex sentences or jargon that might hinder readability.

Eliminate unnecessary details or repetitive information. Keep your essay focused on its central theme or message.

Maintain the authenticity of your work by ensuring it is entirely original. Avoid plagiarism by attributing sources correctly if using external references or quotes. Plagiarism can severely impact the credibility of your submission.

Be mindful of sensitive topics or personal information shared in your essay. Respect the privacy of the individuals mentioned and adhere to ethical considerations. Ensure your content does not harm or offend any particular group or individual.

Follow the platform’s submission instructions meticulously. Submit your essay within the specified timeframe, if provided. After submission, be patient. Responses may take time. If allowed, follow up politely if you haven’t received a response within the expected timeframe.

The world of personal essays offers a myriad of opportunities for aspiring writers. From online journals to renowned newspapers, the options are vast. Selecting the right platform involves understanding your essay’s theme, audience, and aspirations as a writer.

Authenticity, clarity, and adherence to submission guidelines are paramount for Essay Publishing. Lastly, embracing your unique voice makes your essays resonate with readers across the globe.

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11 Tips For Writing A Publishable Personal Essay

I'm not gonna lie: the hardest thing to get printed on Bustle as a freelancer is a personal essay . That said, personal essays are also what I'm most in need of as our features editor . The reason they're so difficult to get accepted is not because I don't need or want them — it's because they are among the hardest to write well.

Though personal essays sometimes have an unfair reputation for being somehow "soft" or "self-indulgent," in my opinion, they are actually one of the most effective ways to communicate a point, experience, or even a feeling to a wide audience. So if you're thinking of pitching a personal essay to Bustle — or any other online publication, for that matter — know that we very much want to hear your stories.

But before you pitch, there are several things you can do to ensure you have the best chance possible of actually getting your essay printed . When it comes to writing for the web, the rules are not the same as they might be in school, or in a literary journal — and you're going to need to know how to adjust your essay accordingly.

Here are my tips, as the editor who decides what runs — and the writer who's totally been there.

1. When In Doubt, Start With What's On The Tip Of Your Pen

Having an idea of what you're going to write about is obviously where you want to start. Sometimes I get pitches that seem like four essays in one — even though the topics might be interesting, there's too much material to fit into an (ideally for us) 1000-1400 essay with any real resonance.

So how do you narrow things down — or figure out what to write about in the first place? I recommend free writing to find out . Take out a journal and write longhand for ten to twenty minutes. Don't let yourself pause — the important thing here is to keep writing without censoring yourself. Don't worry about it being intelligible. If you're stuck, write, "I'm stuck, I'm stuck," until something else comes out. You might try starting each sentence with "I remember" or "I see/smell/hear/feel" in order to drum up more details from the recesses of your mind.

2. Scan Your Freewrite For Details

When you're done with your freewrite, your creative muscles will already be warmed up — and you'll be able to see the patterns in your verbal diarrhea. Chances are, there's more good stuff there than you think. You might pick out a particular moment — a line even — that sparks a memory.

I suggest starting small: perhaps you notice that you're writing a lot about your ex. Is there one line about them that stands out to you, like maybe the memory of the time they snatched the remote away from you? Then I recommend starting your essay at that scene, and going from there. Remember, you can always change your beginning — the important thing is to pick a jumping-off point that feels doable rather than daunting. Is there a memory you can start with? Some dialogue? Remember, details are your friend, and, as a rule, the most powerful personal essays are quite specific.

3. Map Your Arc

Structure is the main place I see personal essays stumble. I like the advice I heard on a Moth podcast a few years ago, which I'll paraphrase here: Every good story gives the audience a sense of where the protagonist began, a moment of change when something in the protagonist shifts, and ends with a sense of where the protagonist is now — and why it matters.

Now, that might sound a lot like a beginning, middle, and end — but it's not quite the same. This kind of arc can be nonlinear as well, as long as it communicates those three things. (Nor should your essay ever be tied up in a pretty, simple bow.)

For example, I wrote a personal essay about my experience of realizing that being gluten-free wasn't right for me. The essay began with a very visual moment of me squatting in the woods, anxious about whether I'd be able to poop. (Hey, whatever draws the reader in.) From there, the essay then details my experience — why I became gluten-free in the first place, and how I started questioning whether I needed to be. The essay then ends back in those woods — chronologically, we're in the same moment we started, but are left with my aha moment, and a clear sense of how my perspective changed.

I picked such a graphic scene to begin and end my essay because looking back on an experience that spanned two years, I didn't know where to start. But in journaling, I found that my mind kept returning to that moment in the woods as a turning point and a clear image connected to my experience. Starting it with a scene made an overwhelming essay feel much more doable. Knowing that would be both my starting an ending point, it became much less daunting to write everything in between.

I suggest mapping out what your arc is, and making sure it's clear in your mind before you start writing. It will make your essay much clearer, and easier for the reader to draw meaning from.

4. Write Like Your Family Won't Read It

This advice comes straight from the most talented personal essayist I know — Bustle's own Gabrielle Moss. She jokes that this is easier for her since she's actually estranged from her family, but even if you're not, it's good advice to write like they aren't watching. Often, we censor ourselves way more than we need to, and it keeps us from writing with the kind of honesty that makes an essay connect.

See if you can write as though no one's reading. Tell yourself you can always edit out certain details later, and try to write with as much honesty as possible. You'll end up with more details this way, and likely, a much better personal essay.

If you feel scared about telling the whole truth, think about the personal essays and books that have most affected you. Chances are they resonated because they were honest, and expressed something you'd felt that you hadn't been able to put into words yet. If you can tell your story honestly and with vulnerability, it is a real gift to give your reader. They aren't going to judge you for it — in fact, it's exactly what will make them respect you as a writer.

Which brings me to...

5. Value & Cultivate Honesty

Whenever you write, keep the question Am I being honest? in the front of your mind. If something reads somewhat disingenuous, or you're only telling half the truth — know that readers and editors can smell it a mile away. It's natural to want to protect your ego or privacy, but try to stay genuine and raw; it's a personal essay, after all. Often, a couple days of distance between you and a first draft can help provide perspective on this one, tempting as it is to keep tinkering.

As a writer, it's also important that you continue working on your own self-awareness . Therapy, meditation, walking, yoga, journaling, spending time alone — all of these practices help us get to know ourselves better so that we can call ourselves on being disingenuous in our writing (and life). The time you spend processing your thoughts is what gives your words meaning, so you should spend as much time getting to know yourself as you do trying to write honestly.

6. Make The Personal Political

This doesn't mean you literally have to make every personal essay political (though I love that too and here are some great examples !). What I mean is, as you're writing, try to keep this question at the front of your mind: Is this relevant to someone who doesn't know me?

Now, this certainly doesn't mean you need to explain yourself, or your point, explicitly. Some of the best personal essays let the reader infer meaning, simply by evoking universal feelings. That said, I often see writers stumble under the assumption that because an experience was important to them or happened to them, it will be important to everyone.

That can be true — but you need to have a sense of how it matters before you start writing, otherwise it can be easy to get too caught up in your own *feels*.

Ask yourself: How is this relevant to people who don't care about me personally? Does my story represent a larger struggle or common experience?

The answers should be yes, even if you're writing, say, about the experience of coming out, and know all women are not gay. This essay is a great example of a writer communicating a very specific experience in universal terms that the reader can empathize with.

7. Review Your Essay For "Texture"

It's a writing class cliche, but it's true: show, don't tell. That doesn't mean you can't ever tell; it just means that after you've written your essay, you should review it for texture, as I like to think about it.

A good essay usually has some moments of telling, some scenes, some beautiful descriptive language, some dialogue, and often, some outside perspective (i.e. stats, quotes from other essays or articles, social/political context). Those are not hard-and-fast rules of course — you might write an essay that is pretty uniform and simple in style, like this one . But where I see most people tripping up is in describing everything and showing next to nothing.

Once you've finished a first draft, look at the essay and see where you can replace a telling graph with a scene or dialogue that illustrates the same point.

8. Be A Ruthless Self-Editor

Often, I get personal essays that have clearly not been closely edited. They have typos, lack structure, or have too much repetition and rambling. When you're pitching for online publication, you need to assume that the editor reviewing your essay is completely inundated with emails and pressed for time. She has potentially already read dozens of pitches that day. One way to make your essay stand out among them is to make sure your copy is as clean and tight as possible.

After you feel pretty good about your draft, read it out-loud to yourself.

Ask yourself: Where can I condense this? Do I repeat myself anywhere? Are there any places I could turn a "telling" graph into a scene or dialogue, or otherwise give it more texture? Does anything sound like something I wouldn't really say or believe? Is my arc clear?

Of course, you'll also want to read for typos, style, and punctuation. I also suggest trying to break your paragraphs up as much as possible so that you're not sending huge walls of text to an editor's screen — once again, the experience of reading something online is not the same as in print. You're targeting an audience with a shorter attention span.

You can read more about all my tips for being a good self-editor here .

9. Have Someone Else Read It Before You Pitch

I can't emphasize enough how valuable it is to have a trusted friend, partner — whoever — as an editor. I'm lucky in that my partner is actually a professional editor, but even if he weren't, I'd show him my work before sending it off to pitch because he knows me. Even if your trusted person isn't a writer or editor, someone who knows you well will be able to tell you where something doesn't make sense, and perhaps, where you're not being as genuine as you could be.

Ask them to consider the same questions I asked in section six, and also add: What did you think the point of this was? How did it make you feel? If they aren't getting what you want the essay to communicate, or seem unaffected by it, you might want to keep tinkering before you send it off.

10. Know How To Pitch To The Site You're Emailing

Knowing how to pitch is extremely important. Each site is different, and you should tailor your pitch to their preferences. But no matter the site, I do think it's safe to assume that any editor is relatively pressed for time. You want to package your piece as clearly as possible. Don't write a huge introduction, and I suggest copying and pasting the essay in the body of the email to save them even more time, unless they specify otherwise.

These days, many sites like ours also require images of the author themselves for personal essays, so you could make your piece even more approval-ready by attaching a few relevant photos of yourself as well. My article on how to pitch to Bustle will break down the details of what you need to know even further, so check it out, no matter what you're pitching.

11. Stay In Shape

It isn't easy to get a personal essay accepted to Bustle. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't keep trying, or pitch a rejected essay elsewhere. If you have several pitches rejected in a row, don't get discouraged — but don't keep trying the same things either. This might be when you want to follow up with me or another editor and ask what you could do to improve.

Of course, it is also very important that you continue to read writers you admire and study the craft of the personal essay . You can't expect yourself to spew genius if you don't allow other writers to inform and inspire you. You should also read personal essays on the sites that you are pitching to; if you're not familiar with the publication's tone and general form, it will be apparent to the editor and will put you at a disadvantage.

Finally, as every writer knows, writing is a muscle, and the more you keep exercising, the better shape you'll be in. Make your routine targeted, regular, and tailored to you, and you'll be kicking ass in no time.

Images: Pexels; Giphy

Write Nonfiction NOW!

5 Tips To Help You Publish A Personal Essay

November 4, 2010 By nawnfinimport 4 Comments

Self-Publishing 101: A Step-by-Step Guide to Sharing Your Idea With the World

The ProWritingAid Team

The self-publishing industry is growing every year.

More and more authors are choosing to self-publish their own books rather than rely on the traditional publishing process. There are benefits to both routes and authors should make that decision based on their skills and comfort with self-promotion.

Scroll down to learn how to go from idea to self-published author. You will find a clear roadmap with specific, practical information on planning, writing, editing, publishing, and marketing your book. We've also included links to download some free books to help you on your way.

The Pros and Cons of Self-Publishing

The greatest benefit of self-publishing is that you get to keep all the income from your books (Yay!). The greatest hurdle to self-publishing is that you are solely responsible for finding your readers and making those sales (Argh!).

As a self-published writer, you’re the CEO of your own business: one that sells books. It’s on your shoulders to make sure your manuscript is the best it can be , to create and manage your author platform, to market your book(s), to manage inventory (if you’re selling print books), and to take care of the financial and administrative aspects of running your company.

For many authors, this is an exciting new challenge. For others, the idea of actively promoting themselves and their book fills them with horror. But it doesn’t have to be scary. There are a thousand ways to promote your book to prospective readers. Each writer just needs to find the tactics that feel right to them.

Read on to learn the 12 key steps to becoming a successful self-published author.

Is This the Death of Traditional Publishing?

Of course not. Traditional publishing is still a valid means for authors to get their books into the hands of huge numbers of readers.

Books that are published through traditional methods have the benefit of a large publishing machine behind them. The agents and editors in big publishing houses like HarperCollins or Penguin Random House hold a lot of sway when it comes to getting your book into the big booksellers like Barnes and Noble .

These publishers also have some of the strongest editorial, marketing, and promotion teams out there. This will ultimately lead to greater visibility and reach for your book. They also cover the upfront costs of publishing your book, including an advance .

The downside to traditional publishing is that it is incredibly difficult to break into. The gates are heavily guarded by powerful submissions teams, and if you can’t get past them you don’t get in.

You also lose creative control over things like your cover, blurb, marketing activities, etc. And most importantly, you receive a much lower royalty rate. After the publishing house and agent take their cut, most authors receive around 10% of the royalties on print books, and 30% on eBooks.

What Does the Self-Publishing Process Look Like?

Self-publishing is an ongoing, cyclical process. Many authors have multiple books that are at varying stages, so there can be a lot of balls to juggle.

Each stage is essential—you can’t really cut any corners here. When you’re self-publishing, the work doesn’t end when you have a finished manuscript. In fact, in many ways, it’s just beginning.

12 Steps to Successful Self-Publishing

From story idea to published book, these are the key self-publishing phases that you need to be prepared for:

Let's dive in.

1. Planning/Outlining Your Book

Before you publish your book, you have to write it.

Whether you’re a plotter or a pantser , it’s important to have at least a loose plan down for your book.

Here are some key questions to consider:

What is your main goal for writing your book? Is it money, fame, personal branding, or do you just have a story inside you that is bursting to get out?
What is your book about?
What genre are you writing?
Who are your main characters or what is your main subject?
What are your key narrative structure and plot points?
If you are writing non fiction, what level of knowledge will your readers already have?
What research do you have to undertake in preparation for writing?
When do you hope to have your manuscript completed?
Who are your target readers?

Getting these details down on paper will help you during the writing process. As lovely as it would be, most writers don’t have a cozy cabin in the woods that they can disappear to in order to write undisturbed.

Even a loose plan will help you take advantage of the writing time you do have in your real life so you know exactly what to focus on during the minutes of writing you can squeeze between your other obligations.

Tip: If you are planning to write a novel, there is even more to think about. Download our free book The Novel-Writing Training Plan: 17 Steps to Get Your Ideas in Shape for the Marathon of Writing to help you get organized.

2. Writing Your Book

How you write will depend largely on your availability and writing style. You might have large chunks of interrupted time to dedicate towards writing or you may need to sneak in a few sentences here and there on your coffee breaks. Either way, it’s important to build a schedule and try to adhere to it.

Be realistic about what you can achieve. You’ll make more headway if you schedule your writing in a way that makes sense for your lifestyle. If you only have ten minutes a day to write, that’s okay. Set an appointment for those ten minutes in your calendar so you don’t forget and commit to doing just that every single day.

If you’d rather work one day a week for a longer chunk of time, that’s fine, too. Many writers get burned out trying to overcommit. The key is to commit at a level where you can still make progress without setting unrealistic expectations for yourself.

3. How to Self-Edit Your Book

Self-editing is a crucial stage for all authors. We have all read self-published work that’s full of grammar mistakes, confusing characterization, and awkward phrasing. It’s the fastest way to make your reader lose faith in your ideas and interest in your story.

Fortunately, as the author, you are the best person to do a thorough self-edit. You know what you want to say better than anyone else.

During the self-editing stage, you want to examine the characters, plot, language, and style in your book. That way, if you choose to hire a professional editor, they can spend more time focussing on making improvements to your writing that you may not catch.

The types of edits you’ll take on will depend on whether you’re working on a fiction or non-fiction book.

Regardless of what type of manuscript you’ve created, your edits will fall into two stages:

2. Line Edits

What is Developmental Editing?

Developmental edits are when you look in-depth at the substance of your work. You may have also heard this editing stage referred to as content editing or substantive editing. These terms are all similar: they refer to editing the ideas of your book.

If you’re working on a fiction manuscript, your developmental edits are where you’ll look at your plot, characters, and settings. You may examine your manuscript to see if your settings are vibrant and clear and if your characters have clear motivations and arcs throughout the story. You will also dissect your plot to make sure it flows logically and makes sense.

If you’re working on a non-fiction manuscript, you will take a deep look at your argument during the developmental editing stage. Make sure your writing is clear and persuasive and that you’ve used enough evidence to back up your key points.

What are Line Edits?

After you’ve completed your developmental edits, it’s time to move on to your line edits. You may also have heard this editing stage referred to as copy editing. The goal of the line editing stage is to examine the language and style in your book with a microscope.

Using technology during the line editing stage can help speed up the process. Often, as writers, we don’t notice mistakes or bad habits in our work. An editing tool like ProWritingAid can give you important feedback.

The ProWritingAid Pop-Up Showing an Educational Video about Passive Voice

ProWritingAid doesn’t just help you catch mistakes, it helps you improve as a writer by teaching you good writing technique as you edit. When the software suggests a change, there are articles, videos, and even quizzes to help you understand the theory behind the suggestion.

ProWritingAid suggestions are based on techniques you would learn in a university-level writing course.

Tip: Want to try editing software for yourself? Sign up for a FREE ProWritingAid account today.

When self-editing, it’s up to you to make sure you’ve chosen the most effective words, used proper sentence structure, and set up a readable story for your audience.

ProWritingAid’s 20 different writing reports cover everything from bad adverb usage to sentence construction to acronym consistency so you can ensure your prose is polished and error-free when you send your manuscript off to your editor.

To save you time on the editing process and to avoid mistakes as you’re writing, ProWritingAid has integrations for MS Word , Scrivener , GoogleDocs , Chrome , and more so editing can link seamlessly to your writing process.

Here’s what you should focus on during the self-editing stage:

Readability:

Many writers (when they’re just starting out) write in a way that is difficult to follow and understand. Most bestsellers are actually simple and easy to read, not laden down with complicated language and structure. Clear words and sentences will let your ideas shine.

If you’re writing a fiction book, aim for a seventh-grade reading level. This doesn’t mean you need to simplify your ideas, just the words you’re using to get them across.

If you’re writing non-fiction, your desired reading level might be a bit higher, but it’s still important to ensure your work is accessible. Consider which domain-specific vocabulary your reader will understand and which will just confuse them.

Word choice:

In writing, every word counts. As a writer, it’s your job to use a rich and varied vocabulary that is also accessible to your audience. During your self-edit, have a deep look at the words you’re choosing. Are they offering a vivid description for your readers? Can you improve the specificity of your word choices to make your writing more engaging?

Sentence structure:

Clear sentences make clear stories. If your writing isn’t clear at the sentence level, then there’s no way that your overall message and narrative will be clear. When looking at your sentences, here’s what you should ask yourself:

Am I using passive voice when I could be using active?
Are any of my sentences overly long and challenging to read? (Reading out loud is a great way to test this.)
Are most of the words in my sentences essential to the meaning of the sentence ?
Are there places where I can cut out or rewrite sentences that are overly wordy and laden with nonessential information?

20 Editing Tips From Professional Writers

Tip: Download this free guide to learn the 20 most important writing tips and techniques from a wide range of professional writers.

4. How to Find an Editor

Once you’ve completed a thorough self-edit of your book, it’s time to call in a professional.

A professional editor might help you flesh out an important subplot or identify places where one of your characters is acting in a way that doesn’t align with their motivations. These edits will help ensure your book is reader-ready.

If this is your first time working with a professional editor, there are a few things you should consider.

First, you should always give editor candidates a sample page to edit before you commit to using their services, even if they come highly recommended. Send them a small excerpt from your book and see what suggestions they send back. Compare the results from several candidates to assess whose suggestions you prefer.

Hiring a professional editor can cost anywhere from $25 to $100+ per hour, with most editors conquering between 2-10 pages per hour.

5. The Importance of Proofreading

The final step in editing is proofreading. Depending on your budget, you may use a professional editor for proofreading or you may use editing technology to make sure your work is free of errors.

Hiring a professional proofreader can cost anywhere from $10 to $100 per hour depending on the experience level of the person you’re hiring. Sometimes proofreaders charge a by-the-word fee of anywhere from $0.01 to $2.00 per word.

There are many places to find professional proofreaders. If you’re budget-conscious, you can compare quotes and find someone in your range on sites like Upwork and Fiverr . You can also find experienced proofreaders through organizations like the Editorial Freelancers Association .

Lastly, never underestimate word-of-mouth referrals. Ask your network which proofreaders they use and love.

6. Book Cover Design

Designing your book cover is an important part of the publishing process. Your book cover is the first impression readers will get of your book. Take the time to research common elements of popular books in your genre. If possible, use the services of an experienced cover designer to ensure your cover is professional and effective.

Bestselling author Nick Stephenson conducted an experiment where he trialled three different book covers for his new novel. By changing out the cover to match readers' genre expectations, he nearly doubled the number of people clicking through to the book page on Amazon. Wowzers.

Your cover doesn’t have to be a detailed work of art. In fact, some of the most iconic book covers are also the simplest.

Iconic book covers for Jane Austen, Margaret Atwood, and more

Learn more about book-cover design: How to Get a Killer Cover Design for Your Book

7. Write a Book Blurb

If your book’s cover is your reader's first impression, then the blurb is what convinces them to purchase it. Your book description needs to be engaging and concise to make readers want to read your book.

A good book description connects potential readers to the characters and settings in your story, drawing them in with vivid details. Your book description should never just be a recounting of important events in your story—save that for a future Wikipedia page. Drop your reader into the action and make it immediately clear who the protagonist is… and what’s at stake if they fail.

If you’re writing non-fiction, you can still focus on the stakes. Ground your book description in the importance of your topic and how it can drive transformation for your readers.

8. How to Price Your Book

Several factors should go into deciding on your book’s price:

Is this your first book or have you published before?
How are similar books in your genre priced?
How many pages is your book?
What did it cost you to produce this book?
What kind of income do you want to make from your book sales?

Depending on your ultimate goal as an author, you may even decide to give your book away for free.

Sometimes, new authors will give away their first book or the first book in a new series in exchange for readers opting into their newsletter . This exchange can help you build your email list so that you can market subsequent books to more people more effectively. More on this later.

9. How to Format Your eBook for Self-Publishing

In order to publish your eBook, you need to make sure that it is formatted correctly as either a mobi or epub file. Some software (like Scrivener ) allows you to export your manuscript in these formats automatically, but if you are writing in other platforms, you will have to do it yourself, or hire someone to do it for you.

Here are some best practices for formatting eBooks:

Use one standard, easy-to-read font throughout your text. Readers can choose the font they want on their eReader, so it’s important to upload in a standard font to ensure there won’t be any conversion errors.
Keep your margins small and uniform. We recommend using .5”.
Avoid wrapping text around images. For best results, place text above or below images on its own line.
Don’t use the tab bar to indent your paragraphs; it will mess up your formatting. Instead, use the paragraph settings in Word to set indents to the first line of each paragraph.

10. How to Distribute Your Book When Self-Publishing

You have two options when it comes to distributing your book.

2. You can choose a book distribution service to distribute it for you.

There are benefits to both options, so again, it depends on your experience and the time you have available.

You can publish directly on all of these book distribution platforms:

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDPSelect)
Apple Authors
Nook (Barnes and Noble)

Book distribution services, on the other hand, take the hassle out of the system. They will get your manuscript up and selling on all the major retailers for you, across various regions of the world.

Payment is usually made as a percentage of sales. Some of the most popular companies offering book distribution services include Ingramspark , Draft2Digital , and Smashwords .

Certain services also offer the ability to print and deliver a physical copy of your book on demand. While many authors choose to just release in eBook format, you can explore this option if it makes sense for you. If you choose a print-on-demand service, the company will take care of printing and fulfilling hard copy orders through sites like Amazon.

All you have to do is upload the finalized version of your manuscript and book cover in the appropriate format and they’ll take care of the rest. This option is useful because it allows you to just print hard copies for people who purchase your book, rather than placing a large upfront order of physical copies and then trying to manage that inventory. Options for this type of service include IngramSpark , KDPPrint , Lulu , and Bookbaby .

Check out this walkthrough of IngramSpark to get more of an idea how it works:

11. Book Promotion Essentials

After you’ve set your book live on the online retailers of your choice, it’s time to start promoting it! There are hundreds of ways you can get readers for your book, but here are some of the most essential.

Build your author platform

Self-publishing authors need to have a website where they can share information about themselves and their books. This is where your fans can find you.

Some authors just go for the bare minimum—bio and books. Others create whole communities around their books’ topic. Some authors blog often, others only occasionally. Some link their books with associated services or affiliate products.

Check out the author pages for other authors that you know and love. What are they doing right? Figure out what is working for them and then create your own version.

Tip: Download this free guide to start building your author platform today: How to Build Your Author Platform on a Shoestring .

Build your email list

We've already alluded to this, but it deserves its own mention because it's just so important .

Every author should spend time building their email list. If someone signs up for your emails, they are essentially asking you to let them know when your next book comes out because they want to buy it. Email lists are like gold dust—treat them with care.

One great way to build your list is to offer something of value for free if they sign up. Maybe you have a short story? Or a helpful guide?

Many authors create and run advertising campaigns on Amazon , Facebook , and/or BookBub . It’s a good way to find new readers and stand out among the busy crowds. But it can be expensive, and if you don’t know what you are doing, there is a bit of a steep learning curve. If you are going to advertise, it pays to invest some time learning the ins and outs of digital marketing.

If you’d like more support in building out a structured plan, programs like Draft2Digital , BookFunnel , and Storiad can help you build out a robust promotional calendar.

There are lots of ways to find readers through outreach activities. Make connections with people and they are more likely to be interested in buying your book.

Reach out to bloggers in your genre and offer them a free copy in exchange for a review to their audience.
Find niche forums and communities on places like Reddit, Quora, Facebook, and Tumblr and run a small promotional giveaway.
Reach out to other authors in your genre and do joint promotions—you email your list about their book, and they do the same in return.
Create a profile and then get active in online writer communities like WattPad , NaNoWriMo , and Critique Circle . There are also hundreds of Facebook groups for writers .

Social media

Building up your presence on social media is a great way to keep yourself top-of-mind for potential buyers. If someone has made the choice to follow you, then they are interested in what you are doing and are more likely to buy your book when it’s ready.

Use social media scheduling software like Buffer or Hootsuite to plan your posts. Scheduling in advance means that social media doesn’t become overwhelming.

Don’t just spend every post promoting your books. Mix it up by sharing other content that you enjoyed yourself, like memes or articles related to your book’s topic.

12. Start All Over Again

Your book is complete. You’ve got an amazing cover. It’s live on Amazon and people are buying it. What’s next?

Why, write another book of course! Start the process over. You’ve written one book already. How hard can a second be?

Ready Set Go!

Self-publishing might feel daunting at first, but the benefits are many and varied. Every great journey starts with the first step.

Your story deserves to be heard.

Be confident about grammar

Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send.

The most successful people in the world have coaches. Whatever your level of writing, ProWritingAid will help you achieve new heights. Exceptional writing depends on much more than just correct grammar. You need an editing tool that also highlights style issues and compares your writing to the best writers in your genre. ProWritingAid helps you find the best way to express your ideas.

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5 places to submit your personal essays

where to submit personal essays blog 1200

The best stories often come from real-life experiences. If you enjoy writing personal essays, consider submitting your work to one of the publications on this list. (Fiction writers and poets, there are some gems for you here too.) All the journals on our list are currently open for submissions and none charge fees.

Note: We are a creative writing school and compile these lists for the benefit of our students. Please don’t send us your publishing queries or submissions :). Click on the links to go to the publication’s website and look for their submissions page.

Adelaide Literary Magazine accepts personal essays and narrative nonfiction (up to 5,000 words) written in English and Portuguese. You can also submit short stories (up to 5,000 words) and poetry (up to 5 pieces per submission). They publish online once per month and generally respond within two months.

bioStories focuses exclusively on personal essays (500-7500 words). They publish essays on nearly any topic and are especially interested in work that celebrates the extraordinary within the ordinary. Pieces are published as they are accepted, and the editors generally respond to submissions within two months.

HuffPost Personal wants personal stories from writers of diverse experiences and welcomes essays on nearly any topic so long as they’re told with an authentic voice and point of view. There are no specific word limits, but writers are asked to pitch the editors before submitting their piece for consideration.

Quarter After Eight is an online literary journal published once per year. The editors are seeking work that ‘directly challenges the conventions of language, style, voice, or idea’. In addition to essays and creative nonfiction (no specific word limits), they also accept flash fiction, short stories (up to 7,500 words), and poetry (up to 4 pieces per submission). Submissions are open through 15 April 2021, and the average response time is 2-3 months.

The Rappahannock Review is an online literary magazine that publishes twice per year. In addition to essays and creative nonfiction (up to 8,000 words), they’re also looking for flash fiction, short stories (up to 7,500 words), and poetry (up to 5 poems per submission). They generally respond within one month.

3 responses on "5 places to submit your personal essays"

Just found this- Thanks for the info!

Hi, thank you very much for sharing this useful information. Now, I know where I can submit my personal essays. Writing essays make me occupied with writing and reading everyday.

Thank you! I was looking for places to submit personal essays!

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7 publications that pay well for personal narrative essays

Despite The New Yorker declaring that the personal essay boom was over in 2017, I’ve seen the opposite. Whenever I look on Twitter, I see callouts from editors for candid, revealing and thought-provoking first person pieces. For freelance writers, the advantage of writing a personal narrative essay is that you are drawing on your own experience, so there is very little need for external research or case studies. Many writers also say that writing down their own experience and sharing it with others feels validating, affirming and therapeutic.

Before I became a full time freelancer , I wrote quite a few personal narrative essays.

Why? Because personal narrative essays are one of the fastest and easiest ways to get published.

When I was writing my first-person pieces, I found numerous articles about how to sell personal essays in the age of over-sharing and how to write compelling first person pieces for major publications.

I quickly learnt that if you are willing to open up and share your own experience, you can be compensated well for it.

And if you’re interested to learn more about how to write a personal essay (and how to get paid for it!) I’ve created the ultimate guide to step you through the process.

It takes you through:

Choosing the perfect topic for a personal essay
How to start a personal essay (including what to do and not to do and examples of banging beginnings)
Common mistakes people make when writing first-person narratives
How to write a compelling personal essay that keeps people reading right to the end
Examples of great personal narrative essays
How to pitching your story to an editor
And lots more!

The guide also includes 15+ paying markets for personal narrative essays, but I know that it can be tricky to find publications that accept freelance submissions.

The good news is that there are plenty of online and print publications looking for personal essays.

So if you have a personal story you want to share, where can you pitch it?

If you’re a writer who has had a book published, it’s definitely worth pitching to Allure (a magazine predominantly for women about beauty) as they pay up to $3,000 for personal essays up to 2000 words.

For those mere mortals among us who haven’t written a book, the rate for personal essays seems to be more like $250 – $500.

Glamour is another women’s magazine that heavily focuses on beauty, fashion and entertainment stories. Personal essays published by Glamour are reported to fetch around $2/word.

3. The Guardian

You have to love an editor who puts what she wants from writers out there and Jessica Reed from The Guardian certainly delivers. For beautifully written personal essays, The Guardian reportedly pays 60c/word.

4. Marie Claire

If you’ve got something compelling, insightful, intimate, funny, relatable or awkward to say about your love or sex life, then a personal essay directed to Marie Claire might be just the ticket. Writers report that Marie Claire pays $2/word.

Are you spotting a theme here? Women’s magazines love personal essays. If you want to write first hand experience about fitness, food, health or culture, it’s worth pitching to SELF magazine, who pay up to $700 for 2000 words.

A dynamic site covering world affairs, pop culture, science, business, politics and more, Vox pay around $500 for personal narrative essays. What’s even better is their clear pitching guidelines for their First Person section .

7. News.com.au

If you feel like a sharing a real life story like this one , you can pitch to the lifestyle vertical on the Australian website news.com.au. Writers are reportedly paid around $500 for a post.

Great examples of personal essays

You could spend years reading all the personal narrative essays that get published, but here are my picks for some of the best:

My washing line is heavy with the weight of our ash-ridden tent hung out to air. I wonder if the smell of smoke will ever be gone. I have no recollection of the tent being packed away – I was focused on the children, keeping them calm. All I know is that we’d never packed up a campsite so damn quickly. But then, we’d never fled a bushfire. You can read the rest of the article here.

“I love you so much.” Those whispered words make everything better – and when my soul mate and husband died, five years ago, I truly believed I would never hear them again. You can read the rest of the article here.

My epiphany came, like many of them do, while I was taking a dump. Specifically, it came while I was trying to take a dump in the woods after three years of struggling with gastrointestinal issues. It went something like this: you don’t need to be gluten-free anymore. You just need to relax. You can read the rest of the article here.

The rules for pitching a personal essay are much the same as when you query an editor for any other kind of writing assignment.

You just need a strong hook and engaging writing style.

The writers I know who create personal narrative essays love it.

They feel free and are absolutely thrilled when readers respond to their articles with “me too!”

After all, isn’t the point of writing to reach and connect with others? Personal essays tend to do that in a very special way.

Do you write personal narrative essays? Have you found other well-paying markets?

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How To Publish A Collection Of Essays

by Writer's Relief Staff | Craft: Short Story Writing , Submit A Book For Publication , Submit A Short Story Or Essay , Submit Your Writing | 7 comments

Review Board is now open! Submit your Short Prose, Poetry, and Book today!

Deadline: thursday, april 18th.

At Writer’s Relief we are often asked how writers can get their collection of essays published, and we recommend the following tips to help essay writers approach editors and literary agents with greater confidence and success.

How can I generate an editor or agent’s interest in my book of essays?

Publication credits . If you’ve previously published essays in reputable literary journals, make sure to include these credits in your query letter . We highly recommend that you build your publication credits before approaching an editor or agent with a collection of unpublished essays. The market for an essay collection is limited unless you have significantly newsworthy experiences or have a background that proves your writing has mass appeal. Wide publication credits will help indicate readers’ interest in your work.

If you are still in the process of building credits, investigate local venues for your essays—newspapers, newsletters, etc. There are also free specialty publications covering every imaginable topic (check out coffee shops and bookstores) that may be receptive to personal essays). Start locally but aim for national exposure for the best results. If you’ve published a personal essay in a reputable national literary magazine, you’ve increased your odds of selling a collection by quite a bit.

Theme . Collections do well when they include essays with a common theme. For example, David Sedaris is best known for his humorous essays, and C.S. Lewis once published a collection of religious essays. Other themes may include women’s studies, travel, sports, or city life. Unique themes get attention—people love to read about real-life experiences that are highly unusual—but even the most outrageous stories must be backed by good writing.

How can I find editors or literary agents who work with essay collections?

Research, research, research . Study the essay collections at local bookstores and libraries—and don’t forget to investigate the nonfiction areas such as travel, cooking, or parenting. Note who publishes these collections and what kind of essays are selling. Check the books’ acknowledgment pages for possible references to literary agents or editors.

Study book reviews and buy compilations of essays (for example, The Best American Essays ) to learn where each was published. And don’t forget about networking. Writers’ groups, college English departments, conferences—get to know fellow writers and ask questions.

Search for literary agents who welcome essay collections. You can find thousands and thousands of resources online and in bookstores. You’ll need to examine literary agency listings carefully in order to determine which are best for you. And, if you’re short on time, Writer’s Relief can help you. We maintain a database of information—current and constantly updated—to help you target your submissions more successfully. We’ve been helping writers get their work published since 1994.

Interesting, always go the independent route. Learn to believe in your own merit. Take your time when writing. Don’t get into this industry with the mindset that you are going to make copious amount of money. Frankly, the writung industry has been depreciated by too many 2nd-rate writers.

My essay project is “Integral Perspective Of The Human Factor In A Mechanical, Digital World Environment”. It is 14 double-spaced pages, consisting of 7 parts, an introduction, a brief conclusion, and my background. It is a positive response for thought and action in the dehumanizing trend we are living in technology, climate change, education, culture,economy, and interpersonal relations. I want to publish the essay if I can. Whether I receive any compensation is immaterial.

Hi, I am working on editing 20 essays from different writers,they share a main event in their journey which is the theme of the collection. Do you have any advise on how to find a publisher for such a collection¿ Thank you

There are a few options you have. You may find this article about querying for short story collections useful: https://writersrelief.com/2018/05/03/query-letter-genre-essentials-pitching-a-collection-of-short-stories-writers-relief/

Also, we’ve found that submitting your essays individually and having them published in different literary journals increases your chances of getting a collection of them picked up for publication.

My essays have been published individually, but now I want them in one publication without the editor’s having edited out some of my breezy writing style!!! I write on art/artists/events such as the Medici’s at the Met Museum and just about anything I feel like writing. I am published in two online magazines and have been published in print magazines.

I’ve only written one essay so far, but I’m confident that I can develop it into a “series,” so to speak. The essay was my response to a school assignment requesting a story about a tragedy or significant adversity I’d experienced and how I overcame it. I chose to write about my four-month-recent suicide attempt. The detail I went into is truly gut-wrenching, but it is my truth, and I need to live it and speak it unapologetically. I shared my essay with a few other staff members at my school, most of whom have provided me with encouraging feedback. If I were to continue the essay into a series, I would most likely focus on my mental health journey and the incredible ways in which it has impacted me. It’s always been my dream (a rather stubborn one, might I add) to write and publish a book, but I never knew I could publish a collection of essays. Truth be told, I wasn’t aware they were a possibility until very recently; a memoir and a poetry book were really the only ideas I had. But a series of essays compiled under a single main theme seems much more achievable and tolerable, especially at my age (I’m a minor). I haven’t the slightest clue how to go about making this dream into a reality, but I know for certain that I’m willing to try. As ambitious as I am, however, I can’t do it alone; I would greatly appreciate a bit of guidance from anyone willing (and qualified) to give it. I understand that I have a lot to learn – I’ve barely even grazed the surface thus far – but I believe I am fully capable. I’m young, yes; one would assume I have ample time. The hard truth? Life is short. That’s something I’ve already learned time and time again even prior to The Incident. I’ve fought this war my entire life up to this point, and I will never stop fighting it. That’s not okay, not by any means – but most things aren’t, right? As world-shattering as the truths that hide in the dark crawlspaces of Life are, they’re still the truth. They’re still my truths, still my stories. Stories I need to share with the world. There are people out there like me – more than we want to admit – and they need to hear my story. They need to see my strength to find within themselves their own. I am determined to fight as long as I must to give them that, and that fight starts with finding my own Village to help me. So to whoever may read this: if you are willing, capable, and qualified to provide advice or guidance, I ask that you please take a little time to do so, and I in turn will give you my time. Thank you to all who read this, and thank you to Writer’s Relief for giving me the space and opportunity to share.

Hi Isabella,

Thank you for reaching out to us, and for sharing your journey with us.

We recommend taking a look at our free publishing toolkit. There are numerous articles about writing, publishing, finding an agent, etc. https://writersrelief.com/free-publishing-resources-toolkit-for-writers/

We also think the following articles might be helpful: https://writersrelief.com/how-to-write-about-trauma-in-your-memoir-writers-relief/ and https://writersrelief.com/how-to-write-a-personal-essay-worth-publishing-writers-relief/

We hope these resources will help you with your writing journey.

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How to Market a Self-Published Book For Bestseller Status Success

POSTED ON Apr 6, 2024

Written by Shannon Clark

When you’re writing a book and trying not to pull your hair out, it’s easy to think that putting pen to paper is the hardest part of authorship, but then you have to sell the book. Eep!

Self-publishing your book can be a rewarding experience because you not only have creative control but also get a larger percentage of the profits. However, success is not automatic. As with any business, you have to woo customers—get them to like you and your product. But, if you don’t know how to woo, things can get a bit complicated.

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If you’ve ever wondered how to get noticed as a self-published author or how to market a self-published book, we’ll take a look at some of the best tips and tricks for getting your book into the hands of eager readers.

Let's take a look at how to market a self-published book:

Since we’re talking about marketing self-published books to achieve bestseller status, let’s start by defining what we mean by book marketing and bestseller status .

What is book marketing?

Book marketing includes the strategies used to promote your book. The goal of any type of marketing is to get your product in front of your ideal customer. In the case of book marketing, it's the actions you take to get potential readers interested in buying your book. Some book marketing strategies include:

a genre-specific book cover
a great blurb or recommendation
an active and inviting website
social media activity
email newsletters
book reviews
street team ( book launch team )
advertising
book promotion sites
influencer marketing
podcast interviews

What is bestseller status?

While defining book marketing is relatively straightforward, bestseller status can depend on which circles you’re running in, where you have your book listed and the criteria that each list uses, but at its most basic level bestseller status refers to which books has the most sales.

Let’s take Amazon for example. On their website , they define bestseller ranki (BSR) as,

Amazon Best Sellers Rank (BSR) is a metric that appears on an item’s product page and indicates how it’s selling compared to other items within the same product category in the Amazon store. Amazon’s Bestsellers list showcases the top selling products within featured categories near real-time based on BSR scores, which are updated several times a day.

And, Amazon calculates BSR by, “using data about sales volume over time. Recent sales and all-time sales factor into BSR, with recent sales counting more than older sales.”

It makes sense that since this is an Amazon list, only books listed with Amazon are considered. This includes traditional and independent works.

On the other hand, you have organizations like the American Booksellers Association that produce a weekly list that’s divided into four categories: National, Regional, Specialty, and Indie based on bookseller results that fit into each category.

Compared to Amazon which only focuses on its channel, the American Booksellers Association bestseller list offers a “snapshot of what’s selling in indie bookstores nationwide and showcases the strength of the indie channel within the publishing industry.”

In general, like sports bowls and teacups, there’s something for everyone. You just have to find the perfect fit for you.

Here’s a short list of bestseller lists to consider:

Amazon Bestseller
American Booksellers Association
The New York Times Bestseller List
Publisher’s Weekly
Barnes and Noble
Bookstat (available through HotSheetpub.com- subscription)

The popular Wall Street Journal bestseller list stopped running theirs in 2023.

How much does it cost to market a self-published book?

This section will take a comprehensive look at all of the parts that can make up a successful marketing campaign and what you can expect to pay. In the section on “What is book marketing?” I mentioned the importance of starting with a solid foundation which means a phenomenal book that will sell.

Before we look at the finer details of book marketing, we’ll price out the foundational parts to get your book ready for market.

The pre-marketing steps

You might notice that some of the items below are technically a part of the cost to publish a book , but I wanted to include absolutely everything in order to be as accurate as possible for you.

After you've completed your rough draft, but before you hit “publish” you'll want to make sure you give the production process all the attention it deserves. This will not only provide a better reading experience for your future readers but, if done correctly, some of these steps will also act as built in marketing your self-published book.

Depending on the type of editing you need, the Editorial Freelancer's Association gives a range of $.02/wd and $.069/wd. for editing. Not only does the type of editing affect pricing, but the genre and complexity of the book as well.

Book cover design

For a professional book cover you can expect prices to begin around $150 for a customizable pre-made template to $3,000 for a high-end cover design. Investing in your cover design can offer great returns on your investment, but before you spend tons of money, make sure that the artist you select is worth the price. Check out their portfolio and follow the books to online websites like Amazon to see the number of reviews. While the customer reviews are generally for the book's content, the number of reviews can indicate the cover's success in pulling customers in. Great marketing plays a big role in creating traffic, but a book's cover is a big part of the draw.

Book formatting

It is possible to format your book for a one-time payment for a program like Atticus.io ($147) or Vellum ($249). The programs are user-friendly and have good results.

Interior book designers charge around $.02/wd to $0.39/wd for interior design with ebook formatting in the upper range. Some may also charge a project rate based on page count.

Book Description

If your front cover attracts the buyer, the back cover description reels them in. When writing the copy for the back of your book, think of it as a sales pitch—not like the slimy sales pitches that slide their way into your inbox unannounced. A book description should be engaging. It should invite the reader into an experience.

Distribution

Don’t limit your book’s distribution. Opt for multiple channels if it’s a good fit. Set-up costs for most distributors are free, but they will get a percentage of your sale (10-65%), so read the fine print.

Your author platform

For authors, a big part of learning how to market a self-published book is learning how to market yourself. This includes a branded website, social media engagement, an email list, and audience outreach. Let's see what that might look like.

An active and updated website is not for the author as much as it is for their audience. When I read a great book, I go directly to the author's website to find out more about who they are as well as see if they have any more books that I might want to read. It's a bonus if they have an email sign-up list. Since I'm an avid book reader, I enjoy hearing from authors that I follow.

On the other hand, if I can't find an author's website or it's not active, it's easy for me to lose interest—not because their books aren't good, but because other authors on the market engage with their readers. Engagement (even if it's not direct) makes me feel like I am more than just a number or a dollar sign.

Social media

Social media is technically free, but unless your post goes viral, you have to pay to play. From boosting posts to get more visibility to taking out paid ad campaigns for your book , social media is important for building an author platform, but it takes strategic planning to keep costs low.

Email marketing

As mentioned, email marketing is a great way to engage with your readers. Creating a newsletter that you can send out to your subscribers regularly creates a dialogue. When readers feel like they are a part of something, they are more likely to support and/or buy future books.

An email list is great to help market and sell your books. But if you are trying to get your email list up off the ground for the first time, you'll have to get creative. Start by creating a reason for future readers to join your list. Most authors do this by making a lead magnet that sparks interest in their upcoming book, but there are other ways to get people excited about subscribing.

As a self-published author, it's easy to get caught up in your writing world and not actively engage with your community, whether it's other writers, readers, or industry professionals. Taking the time to support other authors by buying their books or commenting on their posts is often reciprocated. Sending out newsletters and responding to readers when possible, helps to build relationships, even if they are at a distance. Joining industry groups and associations provides professional benefits that you might not get flying solo.

Genuine outreach in any form works in your favor because it gets your name out in front of others, and that's a form of marketing. (Fees will vary)

Post-publishing marketing ideas

When sharing our favorite book marketing ideas with our soon-to-be self-published authors, our goal is to keep it simple. Start with the marketing basics and a few of these high-impact, low-cost options. Then, scale your marketing up accordingly to match your book royalty goals.

Big book launches

You only launch your book once – make the most of this time!

When it comes to publishing a book, it's not enough to get it listed on Amazon or Barnes and Noble. There are lots of books flooding the market. Creating a strategy around your book before it's published and after it launches creates a buzz and the momentum that you need to get sales moving forward.

Book Trailer

Book trailers, like movie trailers, get readers excited about your book. You can hire a company to create one for you or do it yourself, but like book cover design, make sure that it looks professional and pulls potential readers in.

Book promotion sites

Book promotion sites allow you to get your book in front of a wider audience for a discounted price. Most of these are very affordable ($0 – $240) and a great way to generate more buzz and interest in your book.

Here are a few of the most popular ones:

BargainBooksy
BookDealio
The Fussy Librarian

Amazon reviews

Reviews speak for themselves and getting honest reviews for your book is a great way to show social proof (proof that other people are buying your product). It also makes the algorithms on bookseller sites take notice.

Start by having your ARC Team in place to post reviews of your book once it's launched. You can also encourage subscribers to your email list to leave an honest review. Sites like Reedsy offer reviews through their Discovery program. You can also place a note in the back of your book that encourages readers to leave an honest review.

Did you know? Our Elite authors get 100+ guaranteed Amazon reviews!

Podcast interviews

Podcasts are another great way to engage and grow your audience. Whether you decide to start a podcast yourself or appear on others' podcasts as a guest, this works great for both fiction and nonfiction authors. Whether you’re sharing a story, reading an excerpt or just being interviewed, planning some podcast content as a part of your book marketing can offer readers a different way to get to know you and your work.

Giveaways and Contests

Who doesn't love a free book? You can easily run giveaways and contests through your email newsletter by yourself, or you can partner with other authors in similar genres to do cross-promotion.

Do I need to hire a professional?

If you don’t have the time to invest in marketing but you have the budget to hire a professional, then go for it.

The book marketing learning curve can be steep, especially when it comes to ads and professional design services. Hiring a qualified professional can take some of the pressure off of you and allow you to focus on the parts of the book process that make sense to you.

When hiring a professional consider the following :

What is their area of expertise? It’s not enough to say “I’m a book marketer.” Book marketers can each have a different skill set. Find out which one you need (e.g. Amazon ads) and look for that person. Some professionals will offer consulting services which are often less expensive than getting them to do the work for you. They can set up a strategy and then follow up with you as you set everything up.
What is your marketing budget? It’s important to put a cap on your budget so that you can compare apples to apples when looking at different professionals. Offer them a set budget and then compare the types of services and duration that each offers to get a good feel for which one will best service your needs.
What type of work have they done for other authors? What were the results and how long have they been in business?
Are they a member of any professional organizations? This isn’t a deal breaker, but being a member of a professional organization can be an indication of their dedication to staying dialed into their industry.

Also, when hiring a professional, look for someone you like. If they don’t seem to “get you”, you feel rushed during conversations, or there are other red flags, move to the next person. As a self-publisher, every decision you make will impact the success of your book. You only want to work with people who are in alignment with your interests.

Are book ads worth it?

We mentioned advertising as a way to sell more books. But are ads worth it in the long run?

In self-publishing, as with other industries, you’ll often hear the phrase “pay to play”, and while this rings true on the surface (e.g. book cover, interior design, and editing), everyone doesn’t have the budget to play Whac-a-Mole when it comes to marketing.

For this reason, if you’re going to run book ads, you’ll want to have a strong strategy in place to mitigate waste (e.g. time and money) and get the best results possible for your investment. If you don’t have time to fully research the market or hire a professional, then using your budget to market in other ways might give you better results in the long run.

Getting on a bestseller list boils down to book sales, and book sales boil down to likeability, exposure, engagement and a phenomenal product. There are no guarantees, but having these pieces in place is an excellent launch pad. Learn your audience, know your numbers, invest the time, and continue to wash, rinse, and repeat what’s working and trash anything that’s not.

Bestseller’s lists will always be a numbers and timing game. Find which list is the best for your book, learn the criteria necessary to make it on the list, and then tweak your marketing strategy until you get there. If you don’t make it to the top of the list, at least you’ll be a lot closer and learn a lot in the process.

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Publish Your Personal Essay: 22 Magazines and Websites
To help you find the right fit, we've compiled a list of 22 publications that will consider your personal narrative essay, as well as tips on how to pitch the editor, who to contact and, whenever possible, how much the outlet pays. Here are 22 places to submit your personal essay. 1. Boston Globe. The Boston Globe Magazine Connections section ...
How to publish personal essays
Here the need to tailor your writing to the publication in question is more important than ever. Hang a list of their guidelines in your writing space and stick to it. Anthologies gather most of their audience based on interest in the overall theme, so deviating from it will get your work quickly dismissed.
The Writer's Journey: Where To Publish Personal Essays
7. Craft an Engaging Title and Introduction: Capturing the attention of editors or readers starts with an enticing title and introduction. Craft a title, similar to how you'd write a thank you note, that reflects the essence of your essay and compels the reader to delve deeper.
The Academic's Guide to Self-Publishing
Regardless of whether an academic chooses to publish in an ebook or bound format, or if the work in question is an essay or a book, the same rules apply: Know the material. Establishing and maintaining credibility in academia relies heavily on presenting reliable, verifiable research. ... Self-publishing academics posting their research to ...
Tips to Help You Publish Your Personal Essays
Think about the life experience essays you have written and about why one or more could be of interest to the editors of one of these publications. You may get paid only in copies, but you will get a chance to build up your publication history. Form the habit of being continually aware of publications.
The 4 Best Strategies for Savvy Self-Publishers
Strategy #2: Put together a publishing team. The next step is to find the kind of professional help you need to create a book that is in line with your goals. If you're not looking to compete head-to-head with books from larger publishers, then find the kind of assistance that makes sense for your budget.
How To Write A Personal Essay That Will Get Published Online ...
Once you've finished a first draft, look at the essay and see where you can replace a telling graph with a scene or dialogue that illustrates the same point. 8. Be A Ruthless Self-Editor. Often, I ...
5 Tips To Help You Publish A Personal Essay
Strive to paint a bigger picture—to show how your experiences are relevant to all people—and you'll turn editors into fans. 5. Submit your essays to the best-suited editors. If you're going to submit your personal essay, you've got to know the right people to send your work to. At Writer's Relief, we've got a database of thousands ...
Faculty Article: Four Steps to Publishing Articles and Essays
Those of us who publish often take these same steps again and again. 1. Do your research. The first step is to acquaint yourself with the market. There are literally hundreds of places that want your writing. Familiarize yourself with what's out there. Publications open and close quite frequently, so stay up to date.
The Truth About Self-Publishing
Jun 2, 2009. Self-publishing is not new. It's been around at least since the days of John Milton and Areopagitica, and defenders of self-publishing often point to such historical works in celebration of the practice. Businesses that offer publishing services have been advertising in Writer's Digest since its inception.
The Ultimate Guide to Self-Publishing for Awesome Indie Writers
From story idea to published book, these are the key self-publishing phases that you need to be prepared for: Let's dive in. 1. Planning/Outlining Your Book. Before you publish your book, you have to write it. Whether you're a plotter or a pantser, it's important to have at least a loose plan down for your book.
5 places to submit your personal essays
Click on the links to go to the publication's website and look for their submissions page. Adelaide Literary Magazine accepts personal essays and narrative nonfiction (up to 5,000 words) written in English and Portuguese. You can also submit short stories (up to 5,000 words) and poetry (up to 5 pieces per submission).
How to Pitch a Personal Essay
Here are some tips on submitting your personal stories to literary magazines and literary journals. Anyone can write a first-person piece of creative nonfiction based on personal experience. New writers at the beginning of a writing career can jump right into essay writing and transform their [personal narratives into completed essays] (https ...
How to Self-Publish a Book in 2024: Your Guide to Success
The next step in learning how to self-publish a book is to determine whether you would like to self-publish on Amazon KDP, Apples iBooks, or Kobo (more on these options later). This is also a good time to learn how to copyright a book if you haven't already. 7. Format & publish your book on the platform.
7 publications that pay well for personal narrative essays
Women's magazines love personal essays. If you want to write first hand experience about fitness, food, health or culture, it's worth pitching to SELF magazine, who pay up to $700 for 2000 words. 6. VOX. A dynamic site covering world affairs, pop culture, science, business, politics and more, Vox pay around $500 for personal narrative essays.
How To Publish A Collection Of Essays
Start locally but aim for national exposure for the best results. If you've published a personal essay in a reputable national literary magazine, you've increased your odds of selling a collection by quite a bit. Theme. Collections do well when they include essays with a common theme. For example, David Sedaris is best known for his ...
The Best 101 on Self-Publishing + Resources
Jane Friedman is a full-time entrepreneur (since 2014) and has 20 years of experience in the publishing industry. She is the co-founder of The Hot Sheet, the essential publishing industry newsletter for authors, and is the former publisher of Writer's Digest.In addition to being a columnist with Publishers Weekly and a professor with The Great Courses, Jane maintains an award-winning blog ...
How to Self-Publish: Guide for Book Creators
Learn how to become a self-published author with the best free resources from Lulu. To self-publish, start with a finished manuscript. Once your book is edited, you'll need to create a PDF formatted for printing and a cover file. Finally, you'll need to gather your book's information to correctly publish the book and make it available for sale.
How to Self-Publish a Book in 2024 [+ Checklist]
Download now. Facebook. 1. Write a book with market potential. If you want to know how to self-publish a book, it's likely that you've just completed your manuscript or you're actively working on it. If your masterpiece is finished, congratulations! That's an impressive milestone in and of itself.
How to Self-Publish a Book (Free Course)
How to Self-Publish a Book. Taught by: Martin Cavannagh. Start this course. Be the next Andy Weir or E.L. James by launching your writing career with a self-published book. In this 10-part course, learn what it takes to be a successful indie author. Learn all the basics of self-publishing and find out how to get your book up to professional ...
25 Best Places to Get Published Online
Send query in body of e-mail (no attachments, please) to Tricia Gilbert, managing editor. Accepts short stories, literary and/or writing-related essays and poetry. Pays $10/story, essay or poem, on acceptance. Buys right to publish work online for a particular month. Content used in 1-3 months. Guidelines available by e-mail and on Web site.
How to Write an Autobiographical Essay in 7 Easy Steps
There are 7 steps to writing an autobiographical essay. As previously mentioned, a standard essay consists of five paragraphs that make up three parts: Introduction (one paragraph) Body (three paragraphs) Conclusion (one paragraph) Step 1: Create an outline. Whether you're a plotter (someone who prefers outlines) or a pantser (someone who ...
How to Market a Self-Published Book For Bestseller Status Success
Book formatting. It is possible to format your book for a one-time payment for a program like Atticus.io ($147) or Vellum ($249). The programs are user-friendly and have good results. Interior book designers charge around $.02/wd to $0.39/wd for interior design with ebook formatting in the upper range.
How to Write Compelling Personal Essays: 9 Ingredients for Spicing Up
6. Use a tone that reflects your message. A tone can be affectionate, sarcastic, playful, or self-deprecating. Don't exaggerate the tone, unless it's for humorous effect, and then make sure it's obvious. You don't want to risk alienating your readers by being overly political, preachy, crude, gross, or intolerant.

How To Publish Personal Essays – From Small Press To Collections

Read, read, read

The pyramid

Finding publications

The submission system

Collections and anthologies of personal essays

Building the pyramid

Robert Wood

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The Writer’s Journey: Where To Publish Personal Essays

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11 Tips For Writing A Publishable Personal Essay

1. When In Doubt, Start With What's On The Tip Of Your Pen

2. Scan Your Freewrite For Details

3. Map Your Arc

4. Write Like Your Family Won't Read It

5. Value & Cultivate Honesty

6. Make The Personal Political

7. Review Your Essay For "Texture"

8. Be A Ruthless Self-Editor

9. Have Someone Else Read It Before You Pitch

10. Know How To Pitch To The Site You're Emailing

11. Stay In Shape

5 Tips To Help You Publish A Personal Essay

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Self-Publishing 101: A Step-by-Step Guide to Sharing Your Idea With the World

The ProWritingAid Team

The Pros and Cons of Self-Publishing

Is This the Death of Traditional Publishing?

What Does the Self-Publishing Process Look Like?

12 Steps to Successful Self-Publishing

1. Planning/Outlining Your Book

2. Writing Your Book

3. How to Self-Edit Your Book

What is Developmental Editing?

What are Line Edits?

Readability:

Word choice:

Sentence structure:

4. How to Find an Editor

5. The Importance of Proofreading

6. Book Cover Design

7. Write a Book Blurb

8. How to Price Your Book

9. How to Format Your eBook for Self-Publishing

Here are some best practices for formatting eBooks:

10. How to Distribute Your Book When Self-Publishing

11. Book Promotion Essentials

Build your author platform

Build your email list

Social media

12. Start All Over Again

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Be confident about grammar

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5 places to submit your personal essays

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7 publications that pay well for personal narrative essays

Why? Because personal narrative essays are one of the fastest and easiest ways to get published.

And if you’re interested to learn more about how to write a personal essay (and how to get paid for it!) I’ve created the ultimate guide to step you through the process.

3. The Guardian

4. Marie Claire

7. News.com.au

Great examples of personal essays

The rules for pitching a personal essay are much the same as when you query an editor for any other kind of writing assignment.

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