10 Self-Publishing Resources for Authors

You need to keep learning in order to become a better author

Photo by Shiromani Kant on Unsplash

“Writing a book makes you an expert in the field. At the very least, when you hand someone a book you wrote, it’s more impressive than handing a business card.” — James Altucher

I have said it before and will say again, “there has never been a better time to write and publish a book than there is now.” I write about it all the time because it’s true. 

Since 2019, I have published four books, with two more in the works. And I’m not letting up anytime soon. Here’s the thing, when self-publishing books, you need to keep learning.

While things change a lot, everyone is learning to write a better book, create a better marketing plan, and compete more aggressively for readers. So, every self-publishing and indie author needs to keep learning.

Why You Need to Read About Self-Publishing

It only makes sense to me that we would continue to read in every effort to learn about self-publishing. After all, in a way, buying books on self-publishing is a way to pay it forward. 

It is also a great way to see what others are doing. Successful writers share their journeys; sometimes, they have hints, tips, and experiences that can help us. I have found this to be true over and over again.

So, today, I wanted to share a few more books to help you with your self-publishing journey. A while back, I shared ten books to help you become a better writer. Today, I want to help you self-publish your books.

10 Books for Self-Publishing

“At heart, self-publishing is kind of like a bake sale. The end product does not need to resemble the one that comes from a commercial bakery, but it must taste good. No-one wants the lumpy under baked oatmeal cookies with spinach and alfalfa flavored chips.” — D.C. Williams

One of my favorite things about reading self-publishing books is learning about that author's experience. Everyone sees and experiences things differently. Yet, we can learn a lot from others' experiences. This is why I want to share these books with you.

Some of these books I read some time ago. They impacted the way I worked on and promoted my last book. I have read more recently, and they will make a difference in how I do my next book.

Why These Ten Books?

There are probably hundreds, if not thousands, of books on writing and self-publishing. Yet, these books are the ones I have read recently, and I want to share them with you.

Some of them you will have heard of before. However, a good chunk of them will probably be brand new to you. I hope to help you learn from other self-publishers and get resources from people in traditional publishing too.

Don't be afraid of traditional publishing or self-publishing advice. Anything you can learn and apply to your books will help you. One of these books could break you into thousands of orders, a number one bestseller, or a new career.

№1 — The Amazon Self-Publisher by Dale L. Roberts

You might have heard of Dale before. He is a YouTube Author who has written tons of books. He took his passion for writing, turned it into a side hustle, and now it is his full-time job. Dale is a great resource; you can also find him on YouTube.

№2 — Start by Jon Acuff

I love Jon Acuff. His books are always inspiring to me, and this one was perfect if you are starting. His words helped me start a blog years ago, and I have returned to this book whenever I start a new project. I highly recommend it to you!

№3 — The Unofficial Author’s Guide to Selling Your Books on Amazon by Richard McCartney

This short book I came across this year gave me some great insight into selling books on Amazon. I read it after my last book, so I am looking forward to trying out some of the tips he shared with my next book. However, it is a great book to learn a thing or two from, and it’s short.

№4 — Successful Self-Publishing by Joanna Penn

Joanna Penn is one of the early self-publishing authors who has created an extensive business. She writes fiction and non-fiction, teaches what she has learned, and helps others become bestselling authors. I love her books, and this one helped give me some great insights over the years.

№5 — Write to Market by Chris Fox

This is a more recent read that I will be using for some future book projects. The great key to this book is that we can learn to write our books to an audience already out there and look for more books on a topic. Sometimes, our best books will be the books people are looking for and not the ones we want to write.

№6 —Leverage Your Expertise by Alina Vincent

This is actually about creating online courses. However, I learned much about how to write better books based on my knowledge. This will be helpful for future projects, but I think it is suitable for any self-publishing author or writer.

№7 — Marketing Made Simple by Donald Miller

Most of us have heard of Donald Miller. However, this is an excellent book to read regarding the marketing aspect of your book. Remember, when you are self-publishing, you are the marketing department too. It is vital to get good information and resources from pros.

№8 — Book Launch Formula by Anita Nipane

This was a book I bought on a whim. I wasn’t sure if there would be good information in it. However, I was pleasantly surprised. The information available helped force me to ask questions for my future books.

№9 — Consistent, Creative, Content by Lee Hall

This book is one of the best I have read in a long time. It’s suitable for writing online, self-publishing, and writing in general. He has excellent tips on social media and blogging. Hands down, I probably should have put this at the top of the list.

№10 — Self-Publishing Empire by Michael L. Banner

The detail of starting a self-publishing/indie author business was immense for me. This book helped me reframe my thinking on how to write books, publish them, and turn this into a serious business. I highly recommend this book if you want to make this a full-time lifestyle.

Are there books I left off this list?

Sure there are. I have another ten books I could have added to the list. But, I think these are important ones for the beginner and those who have published a few books.

These ten books have the potential to unlock a whole new world for your self-publishing efforts. Or, if you want to get into publishing books, you can have everything you need with this list and my previous list.

If you want more books to read, I have taken this post and turned it into a free ebook in my Gumroad store with three bonus books to check out. These three bonus books are not specifically for self-publishing but directly impact my efforts from here on out.

Final Thoughts on Self-Publishing Books to Read

Most books you read now are a launching ground for you. Their ceiling is your floor. That’s what I love about these books. What you can learn from these authors will help you reach something new and better.

And you never know, in two, three, or five years, you might be writing a book that goes on a list like these. The point is, that you have a chance to create books that will help others.

But, you need to learn a thing or two to get your books into other people’s hands. And these books will help you do that and do it well. Check them and see what happens with your self-publishing efforts.

Is there a book missing from this list? Share in the comments below!

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Grab your free download of these ten books plus the THREE bonus books now!

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J.R. Heimbigner is a #1 Bestselling Author on Amazon who loves helping people grow in their faith and help writers become authors. You can connect with him on Medium, his website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Substack!