book publisher tools

Kindlepreneur

Book Marketing for Self-Publishing Authors

Every author needs a toolkit to help them write and publish best-selling books.

We’ve spent years compiling (and building) tools to help self-publishing writers get things done. We’ve personally tested tools in every area of book publishing from outlining, to writing, editing, publishing and beyond.

We’ve compiled our favorite tools on this page to help you sell more books without having to test drive every piece of software yourself.

You’re welcome!

Tools we’ve built

Amazon sales rank calculator.

This tool lets you convert Amazon’s Best Seller Rank into a rough estimate of how many Sales Per Day the book receives.

Book Description Generator

Easily generate the HTML code you need for your book description for websites like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, & Rakuten.

QR Code Generator

A tool that lets you create QR codes to any link, and brand it with your author logo or a book cover.

Free Amazon Ads Course

Learn how to advertise your book and creative effective ads on Amazon’s Book AdvertisementSystem , formerly known as AMS.

Free MailerLite for Authors Course

Learn how to setup your author email list and start building your list with this FREE course on MailerLite!

Publisher Rocket

Our premium tool for finding keywords and categories to help you hit best-seller status faster and earn more money in book sales.

Our tool for writing and formatting beautiful ebook and print books. Available on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chromebook!

Affiliate Disclosure

Please understand that many links on this page are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to purchase one of the products below. Please understand that everything below was chosen because I have used it myself and find them beneficial to the Kindle Publishing cause. But make sure you make your own judgment before purchasing.

Most Popular Tools for Self Publishers

Publisher rocket #1 for book research.

This is an award-winning, easy to use software that helps authors validate their book ideas, gives them profitable keywords to help their books get discovered, choose categories that will help you become an instant bestseller, and saves authors hundreds of hours in Book Marketing. It works on both Mac and PC. To learn more about how to use Publisher Rocket to target great keywords check out my article on Kindle Keyword Mastery.

Atticus #1 for Book Writing and Formatting

Atticus is the ultimate book writing and formatting tool from the same folks that brought you Publisher Rocket (that’s us)!

Atticus is what you get if Vellum, Google Docs, and Scrivener got together and had a baby.

By using Atticus, authors can easily write and format elegant books that can be quickly and simply exported to the required format.

ProWritingAid #1 for Book Editing

Get my favorite Editing Software that not only checks your spelling and grammar, but will teach you how to write better by giving your better recommendations and reports. You can learn more from my full review here.

Use the following coupon code to get your 20% off: KINDLEPRENEUR20

Plottr #1 for Book Outlining

Outline faster, plot smarter, and turbocharge your productivity today with the #1 visual book planning software for writers.

Plottr lets you easily arrange (and rearrange) your scenes, plots, and character arcs so you can quickly find your way to the end of your tale — no corkboard required.

MailerLite #1 for Email Marketing

If you’re just getting started with your book marketing, you’re going to want an email service that caters to you. That’s why I like MailerLite. MailerLite will help you to automate your email lists, manage landing pages, and engage your audience with pop-ups, and more! Plus, it’s absolutely free to get started.

Browse Tools by Category

• Book Formatting
• Book Marketing
• Book Writing
• Cover Design

BGS Amazon Ads

Books Go Social has a great track record when it comes to Amazon Ads. Their done-for-you Amazon Ads service means you’ll have no more time wasted getting it all to work. Their experts can supercharge your monthly royalties.

Their experience includes data from over 20,000 Amazon ad campaigns, so they know what works and what doesn’t with Amazon Ads.

Spiffing Covers

SpiffingCovers is a specialist team of industry professionals who comprehensively understand the requirements and expectations of authors and independent publishers, enabling the highest possible standard of service.

Book cover design, typesetting, proof-reading, editing, eBook development, distribution, print, print-on-demand, websites and marketing & PR tools are their core services.

Coverjig is a good DIY option for authors looking to design their own book covers for Amazon KDP. They take care of all the technical considerations and make it quick and easy for you to make professional-looking covers with features that appeal to fans of your genre.

Atticus is the ultimate book writing and formatting tool from the same folks that brought you Publisher Rocket (that’s us)!

If you’re just getting started with your book marketing , you’re going to want an email service that caters to you. That’s why I like  MailerLite . MailerLite will help you to automate your email lists, manage landing pages, and engage your audience with pop-ups, and more! Plus, it’s absolutely free to get started.

Fiverr is not ideal for making professional covers but then again, many of us can’t afford top-notch designers or software. So, if you are going to use Fiverr, then I highly recommend you read my article which was featured on Entrepreneur.com on how to  get more out of a Fiverr gig for your ebook cover.

Damonza has a team of award-winning cover designers who have a knack for creating captivating and alluring book cover designs. They have a 100% satisfaction guarantee and a special discount of 5% off just for Kindlepreneur fans. Just use the code ‘ KINDLE5 ‘

Jeff Brown Graphics

Jeff Brown is a book cover illustrator and designer , specializing in sci-fi and fantasy. He has worked on over 500 book covers and has over 15,000 hours of professional experience as an illustrator. Jeff has worked on covers for bestselling authors such as Steven Erikson, Michael Anderle, Ken Lozito, B.V. Larson, Glynn Stewart, Lindsay Buroker, Nick Webb, Dennis Taylor, and Craig Martelle. His process is very collaborative and he likes to start with a video call brainstorming session when possible. He is always taking on new clients.

DIY Book Covers

Derek Murphy is one of the best in book cover designs. So, when he created an online software and top-notch training on how to  really  make DIY book covers , I paid attention, and it paid off.

A while ago, I made a survey on an author Facebook group asking what their favorite web hosting company was. Unanimously,  SiteGround was #1 .  The comments from users talked about the reliability and the amazing customer service. Out of all the others, SiteGround was the only one where people were generally happy.  So, I gave them a try and I completely agree – I now only use them for all of my author websites.  I HIGHLY recommend  SiteGround .

For those of your not willing to pay for an optin plugin, SumoMe is an excellent option. Although it doesn’t offer A/B testing, it is STILL incredible. Make sure to spend some time and learn about all of the free tools they have at your disposal.

OptinMonster

There are many paid optin plugins on the market, but this one seems to be my favorite. Highly customizable, it affords me many liberties in programing and overall design. Furthermore, it has A/B Testing which is crucial in ensuring your optin process is effective and efficient.

GetResponse

My all-time favorite email service, and yes, I have tried them all. Always at the forefront of adapting with the times, Get Response is user-friendly, reliable, and cheap. Find out exactly how GeResponse compares to Aweber, and Mailchimp. You’ll clearly see why its the best in  this article .

This mobile cloud service is not only free, but a necessary security mechanism for your hard work. Life throws crazy punches at our computers and when it does, if you don’t have your work stored on a mobile cloud like dropbox, you could lose all of your hard work. Did I mention it is free for your first 5 GB. This is usually sufficient for authors, but for me, I store my websites, their backups, my photos….basically my entire business.

ProWritingAid

Get my favorite Editing Software that not only checks your spelling and grammar, but will teach you how to write better by giving your better recommendations and reports.  You can learn more from  my full review here .

Use the following coupon code to get your 20% off:  KINDLEPRENEUR20

Scrivener is a must for any serious writer. Sure you can write a book using Microsoft Word, however, Scrivener was designed by authors for authors. It has multiple features that help to boost productivity AND help you to organize/layout your book. Check out my  complete review on Scrivener  and my side-by-side comparison of  Word vs Scrivener .  Also, if you act now, you can get a  20% scrivener discount  as well.

Created solely for the purpose of formatting ALL ebook versions, this program is worth every penny. It will unlock some amazing tricks that even the best of HTML’ers wouldn’t know how to do. Plus its super easy to learn.  Check this out  and you’ll see it in action. I’m sure you’ll love it – then you can switch back here and  buy Jutoh with confidence .

Ebook Launch

If you are looking to have a professional format your book then look no further than Ebook Launch. Since 2011, they have helped thousands of authors. They come highly recommended by the major players in indie publishing.  As a matter of fact, they are my preferred designer and use them for all of my books!   Check out their  affordable prices and quick turnaround times .

This is an award-winning, easy to use software that helps authors validate their  book ideas , gives them profitable keywords to help their books get discovered, choose categories that will help you become an instant bestseller, and saves authors hundreds of hours in Book Marketing. It works on both Mac and PC. To learn more about how to use Publisher Rocket to target great keywords check out my article on  Kindle Keyword Mastery .  Otherwise, see the lowest price possible  here .

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10 Free Book Publishing Software And Tools For Self-Publishing Authors

Here are 10 of the best free book publishing software and self-publishing apps to help with your book publishing and promotion.

We all need some help.

I use many of the following free book publishing software and writing tools almost every day, so I can vouch for how useful they are.

Take a look at the choices you have to help you write, edit, publish, and promote your new book. The best part is that most of them are free or at least have a free version for you to use.

My ten best and most useful free book publishing software tools

There are so many aspects to being a self-published author.

It is sometimes hard to count the number of hats you need to wear every day.

If you have the best online publishing tools and software, you are one step ahead.

You have to write, format, design, publish, promote, market, and write blog posts.

Then, you have to find time to connect with your readers.

You need the best publishing software you can find to help you save as much time as possible.

These free book publishing tools will help you do that.

Then you can do what you do best, which is writing books.

All the tools and software on my list are totally free or have a free version.

Take a look and see what these publishing apps can do for you.

Canva is a must-have free tool for all authors.

It’s one of the easiest ways to create stunning ebook covers or experiment with book cover mock-ups.

Images are vital in attracting attention. But you should use unique images and never copy or download images from Google Image Search.

Canva is a great graphic design tool that solves this problem with ease.

There are loads of professionally designed templates.

You can find Facebook headers, social media posts, logos, ebook covers, business cards, and Twitter posts, just to name a few.

There is a paid option. But the free version comes with plenty of free images, graphics, icons, shapes, and backgrounds for almost any image project you can imagine.

You can upload your own stock images to use with Canva.

Then you can create truly unique images for your blog or online magazine and share them on social media.

Best of all, it is user-friendly and very easy to use.

You can also merge book cover images with Canva.

For authors, you have all your bases covered for your book covers and promoting your books.

You need to write a book.

Are you looking for free book publishing software to write a book or novel?

Well, Shaxpir really packs a lot of features into its free version.

The main feature is the Manuscript Builder, where you can use drag-and-drop tools to rearrange any part of your manuscript.

You can also move and change the order of your scenes or chapters.

You can set writing goals for your book project and keep track of your progress.

Importantly, it lets you take notes about your events, characters, and places.

You can collect and save any concept art you find and add your margin comments.

There is also an in-built spellchecker.

There is a lot of free software designed for writing books.

But Shaxpir offers you the widest range of features I have seen in a free version.

You can download Shaxpir for both Mac and PC. There is also an option for cloud access.

3. ProWritingAid

Always triple-check your spelling and grammar.

Prowritingaid is a fantastic grammar and writing checker.

It includes so many checks and reports to help analyze your writing.

It is one of the best writing aids for self-publishing authors.

The tools and reports dig deep into your text and offer you a huge range of suggestions to improve your writing.

You can add extensions for Chrome, Microsoft Office, Google Docs, and Scrivener.

There is a free browser extension version of ProWritingAid available that offers you plenty of functionality to help you check your online writing.

But authors might think about the modestly priced premium version, which includes all the reports and editing tools, with no word count limits.

The ProWritingAid desktop editor is my number one go-to editing tool when I need to work intensively on book manuscripts.

4. Ahrefs Amazon Keyword Tool

You need to research your Amazon keywords.

Whenever you publish a book or ebook on Amazon, you need to add seven search keywords.

Don’t rush into this because finding the best keywords is vital to the success of your book.

There are many ways you can do Amazon keyword research for free.

But one of the best free keyword search tools for Amazon keywords is the Ahrefs Amazon Keyword tool .

All you need to do is enter your seed keyword and then check the results for the best ideas and related search phrases.

For each search, you will get a list of 100 keyword suggestions.

It shouldn’t take you long to find plenty of ideas for your Amazon search keywords.

One other useful feature is that you also get an approximate search volume for each keyword phrase.

An ebook editor, and much more.

Without a doubt, as far as book publishing software goes, Calibre is the number one ebook tool every indie author should have.

It does everything you could need to do when it comes to ebook creation.

It is also a great free tool for converting from Microsoft Word to mobi and epub ebook files.

You get an ebook reader and an ebook library, and you can sync to e-reading devices.

For those with a little technical skill, you can also edit HTML, epub, AZW3 (Kindle), or mobi files.

6. ImageOptim

Crunch your images for faster site loading.

ImageOptim is a free software application for Mac and Linux users.

It reduces the size of images before using them on blogs or websites by using drag-and-drop.

Quick, easy, and very efficient.

7. DIY Book Covers

3D book mock-ups for your book promotion.

DIY Book Design offers a free tool to create single or composite 3D book covers.

It only takes three quick steps.

Choose your template, upload your book cover image and then download your 3D book cover .

The example above took me less than 30 seconds.

Best of all, it’s free to use for as many covers as you want.

You always need an image editor.

Working with images is a regular task for authors now.

But Photoshop is very expensive. GIMP is a free, open-source alternative that works exceedingly well on all platforms.

If you are new to image editing, it will be a learning curve.

But no more so than for Photoshop or any other image or DTP software.

For Mac users, there is also  Seashore. I also use it from time to time for book design mock-ups for covers.

9. Kindle Create

A free tool from Amazon Kindle.

Kindle Create is one of the must-have self-publishing apps for all authors.

It is the best ebook publishing software for authors.

There are all the tools you need to easily create and format perfect ebooks for Kindle.

It will also automatically create a table of contents.

Kindle Create is very easy to learn how to use it. You will be up and running in no time at all.

It’s also possible to use this app to format your print book.

You need to download and install the web app on your computer from Kindle Direct Publishing.

It is available for both PC and Mac.

10. Reedsy Book Editor

Kindle Create is a terrific app for formatting ebooks for KDP.

But what if you want to output your manuscript in EPUB or PDF?

If you are self-publishing on services other than Amazon, then the Reedsy Book Editor might be the answer.

It’s also a free application, and you can register using your Google account or your email address.

The setup process asks you a few questions before you can begin. Nothing out of the ordinary, but it does ask for your location.

I imported one of my novels, and it loaded very quickly, and I could start editing and formatting immediately.

Reedsy offers a lot of other services, so you will probably get some email offers.

But if you only want to format your ebook before publishing and output in EPUB or PDF, this free editor might be a good option.

There is a wide range of free book writing software , free word processor applications, and online tools for self-publishing authors.

But apart from my favorites listed above, I use a few premium apps to help save me more time.

Not everything is free nowadays.

But if and when I am convinced a tool, application, or online service is worth paying for, I will.

However, most online writing tools and applications a self-publishing author needs to use each day are available for free.

Related reading: What To Include On The Copyright Page Of Your Book

About The Author

Derek Haines

More articles.

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11 thoughts on “10 free book publishing software and tools for self-publishing authors”.

Informative, Thank you

I thank you so mych for this. I am so appreciative.

I’ve started 9years ago to design and publish a book but just seemed best to leave it to the professional publisher’s but their prices exceeded what I would get from advertisers for the small market I’m targeting. Thanks for this article I will be downloading at midnight. Gavin

thank you so much for sharing

Any help or know a publisher who wants original children’s books, written and illustrated by the author?

For a self publishing author like me these tools are my best companion. From designing the cover of my book to write and edit it, they are a complete performance package.

Tools to help guide and teach with ther terminology to aid in the overall experience and the confidence to self-publish.

Very useful article, thanks or sharing

Very helpful.

Thank you, Derek. A very useful set of tools.

I hope so, Penelope :)

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Last updated on Feb 07, 2023

The Best Book Writing Software of 2024: Scrivener, yWriter, and More

There isn’t any writing software that can miraculously make you a professional author. However, plenty of digital tools can help you improve your writing, become more productive and publish a book. To help you sort through a sea of apps available on PC, Mac, and mobile, we’ll run through some of the best book writing software available today.

This post will help you find the best app for your particular needs as a writer.

Developing your craft

The best way to become a better writer is simply to write prolifically. But it might also help to have a kindly electronic tutor looking over your shoulder.

Price: Free online, or $19.99 to download the desktop app

The Hemingway app is for authors who want to bring out their inner Ernest by writing prose that’s “bold and clear.”

To help you improve your writing in real-time, the app highlights text with colors that indicate run-on sentences, passive voice, qualifiers, adverbs, and complex phrasing to reduce. Our full Hemingway app review discusses these functions in more detail, but one drawback is that it doesn’t exist as an extension to browsers and word processors. You either have to write your book elsewhere and import it onto Hemingway for an edit, or you write on Hemingway and forfeit other book-related functions like formatting tools and goal-tracking.

If you struggle to write consistently, sign up for our How to Write a Novel course to finish a novel in just 3 months.  

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ProWritingAid

Price: $120/year

ProWritingAid aims to improve your writing by providing language-checking features that spot not only grammar mistakes but also stylistic weaknesses like purple prose or passive voice — though these should be taken with a grain of salt. The app has integrations to most major word processors and browsers, so you can easily apply it to book writing software like Word or the Reedsy Book Editor. For a more in-depth analysis of its functions and uses (plus a discount code!), head to our ProWritingAid review .

Writing productivity

Inspiration is nothing without the discipline to complete your first drafts. The features on these apps are designed to help you become more productive writers.

FocusWriter

Price: Free

Sometimes even word processors like the ones discussed so far feel overwhelming and distracting with all of its formatting tools and features. What if you just want a clean slate with absolutely nothing to distract you from the flow of your words — not even a toolbar with unnecessary functions? FocusWriter can provide you with a virtual sheet of paper (cloaked in the theme of your choice). 

Now, you can access a toolbar with several features like a timer for writing sprints, and a daily goal tracker — but in its default state, this writing software tucks them safely out of view. Recent updates have made it possible to save your work as Word files, which means you can write with FocusWriter and easily share your manuscript with others for feedback.

Reedsy Book Editor

Designed to meet the key needs of authors, our Reedsy Book Editor is a free, all-in-one piece of book writing software . On its unobtrusive interface, you can write your book with the help of a built-in spell-check system (tailored to your preferred language) and a goal-tracking feature that will help you hit your deadlines. Simply enter your target length, tell the RBE which days of the week you intend to write, and the app will automatically set your daily word count goals .

FREE WRITING APP

The Reedsy Book Editor

Set goals, track progress, and establish your writing routine in our free app.

Price: $39.96/year

If you’re struggling to find enough discipline to make the Pomodoro method work, it might be time to call in the distraction-busting big guns. You can install freedom on one or all of your devices, and during your writing sprints, the app will cut off your access to your apps, the entire internet, or a self-selected collection of ‘distracting websites’ (Facebook, Instagram, OK Cupid, etc.).

Planning your story

Many writers love plotting out their books on corkboards and spiral-bound notebooks. But if you’re looking for tidier alternatives (or programs that can prompt you in the right direction), you may want to check these out.

Price : Free

yWriter looks a bit dated, and it’s not yet available to Mac users, but it’s a formidable piece of writing software for anyone writing science fiction or fantasy — or any project with a lot of complex worldbuilding details. By dividing your work into scenes (on which you can tag relevant characters and locations), yWriter helps you track every development in the manuscript as you write. 

Campfire Write

Price: Starting at $1.50 per month 

Another option for science fiction and fantasy writers is Campfire Write. Created with these genres in mind, this web-based book writing software lets you map your story by Elements (characters, locations, maps, species, cultures, philosophies, etc.), which can be purchased individually, as needed. Say you only subscribe to the manuscript writing feature, it’ll cost $1.50 a month. If you want to have several character profiles, a culture outline, and a couple of interactive maps, you can expect to pay $5.25 a month. 

Your work here can also be shared with an editor (who can leave comments on your work) or with the Campfire writing community at large. While it takes some time to familiarize yourself with its many details, Campfire can be a useful and fun tool for writers to build their universes. We've also reviewed Campfire Write in more detail.

For 20% off all lifetime purchases on Campfire, use the promo code REEDSY20 at checkout.

Price: $49 

Scrivener is a favorite among authors in no small part because it is one of the first writing programs created with authors in mind. With its corkboard function that allows you to see your whole project in one view, its split-screen mode for you to reference research as you write, and its clean-cut filing system, Scrivener gives authors a good workspace whether they need to outline their book before writing or figure out the big picture as they write.

Formatting your book

If you’re looking to join the self-publishing revolution and become the next big author on Kindle, you’ll need a way to turn your manuscript into a professional-grade ebook and paperback. Thankfully, there’s an app for that!

Oh look! A second appearance for the Reedsy Book Editor. But hey-ho: our site, our rules. 

With the RBE’s formatting abilities, you can import your manuscript from a .docx file and apply stylistic flourishes in minutes. Simply click ‘Export’ and choose a style — the Reedsy Book Editor will take care of aligning the text, inserting drop caps and chapter titles, and turning your work into an elegant EPUB or PDF file that can immediately be uploaded to ebook distribution platforms or printing services. It’s an effortless process that allows self-publishing authors to spend time and resources on other parts of their publishing projects.

At the end of the day, no app is going to be fully able to outline, write, or edit your book for you — but with these book writing software options in mind, you’ll at least be able to find something that makes the process easier, streamlined, and more enjoyable. Now get out there and start creating!

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The best desktop publishing software makes it easy to create both printed and digital publications, from newspapers and magazines to ebooks and e-zines, as well as marketing assets including brochures, flyers and more. Whether you're a professional designer or an enthusiastic amateur – or somewhere in between – there's a range of desktop publishing software to choose from. But what's the right choice for your needs and your budget?

In this article, we’ve gathered together the very best desktop publishing software available today. We explain what each tool has to offer, what makes it distinct, and all the details you need to choose between them. If you've already got your heart set on InDesign , the current industry standard, check out our Adobe Creative Cloud discount page, or see our guide to how to download InDesign . Meanwhile read on to see the other options available.

The best desktop publishing software in 2021

Why you can trust Creative Bloq Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test .

01. Adobe InDesign

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

If you work in media or publishing, you’re probably already using Adobe 's InDesign. It’s the indisputable industry standard for desktop publishing, whether you're laying out pages, designing a brochure or creating a poster. It’s perfectly suited to any design work that requires you to combine images and text.

InDesign has been the go-to software for print professionals for over a decade now. In recent years, Adobe has also added lots of useful digital publishing tools, making it a great choice for e-zines, e-books and pretty much anything else you can add an ‘e-’ to. The software is fully integrated into the Creative Cloud, making it easy to pull in Adobe Fonts, Adobe Stock images, and work you’ve created in other Adobe apps, such as Illustrator or Photoshop . 

The one big downside to InDesign is that you need to pay a monthly subscription, either for the single app or as part of an All-Apps subscription to the Creative Cloud. If your company is paying for that, then no worries, of course, but if you work for yourself, you may want to investigate some of the alternative apps on this list before making your decsion.

02. Affinity Publisher

Serif's Affinity range of apps unashamedly offers cheap, subscription-free alternatives to Adobe tools. They match most of the features of Adobe's software while also including some of their own unique tools. Affinity Designer is, therefore, a close match for Adobe Illustrator , Affinity Photo for Photoshop and, launched in 2019, Affinity Publisher is a direct rival to Adobe InDesign.

Affinity Publisher doesn’t quite match up to InDesign's feature set. For example, it lacks document setup presets on launch (although you can find third-party templates for this elsewhere) and the way it works with layers can take some getting used to if you’ve been using InDesign for years. But in all honesty, the differences are quite minimal, and if you’ve not spent a lifetime using InDesign, they probably won’t matter to you too much. 

Crucially, Affinity Publisher allows you to work with Adobe file types, including the ability to import IMDL files, documents created in InDesign. It works on Mac and Windows, and there’s interoperability across all three Affinity apps to allow for a smooth workflow. While there’s no iPad version yet, you can open, edit and export Publisher documents in the iPad version of the other two Affinity apps. It's well worth checking out. Given the cheap price, it may well even be worth buying it and using it alongside InDesign, as many designers say they find it faster and more efficient for particular tasks.

03. QuarkXPress

Back in the 1990s QuarkXPress was the market leader in desktop publishing software. That was before Adobe launched InDesign at around half the price, and publishers voted for their wallets. However, Quark, as it's often known as, is still used in many companies. Since InDesign is now subscription-only, it may be worth considering if you don't want to pay monthly. 

First launched in 1987, QuarkXPress is still being updated on an annual basis and it remains a very capable, high-end too, both for print media and digital publications. Available for PC or Mac, it can also import InDesign files and it can also now design functioning web pages and even iOS apps. It's still not cheap, but if you want a one-off purchase, then it’s a good option.

04. Microsoft Publisher

First released in 1991, Microsoft 's tool for desktop publishing puts more of a focus on page layout and design than you'll find in Microsoft Word, which is squarely focused on text composition and proofing. Nonetheless, Microsoft Publisher has been a little neglected in recent years. As a result, it's lagging behind rivals.

However, if you already pay for a Microsoft 365 subscription, then you have this software along with Word, Excel and others, so it's worth giving it a try (as long as you have Windows that is; there's no version for Mac or Linux, and no mobile apps). Despite its lack of pro features, there is a lot to like about it, including some useful templates and preloaded colour presets. 

All files are automatically encrypted and stored in your Microsoft OneDrive, which adds a nice layer of security. Customer support is usually very good, and we like the Design Checker feature, which can help you make sure your documents are printer-ready before you send them off. Note that if you want Microsoft Publisher without Microsoft 365, you can buy a standalone licence.

05. VivaDesigner

Working on Linux? Then we recommend VivaDesigner, as the best desktop publishing software for the platform. This little-known German software has a surprisingly impressive range of features, and it works as both a desktop app and a web app. 

There’s a free version that’s very capable, while the paid version offers a wider range of file formats for import and export, and more advanced features such as preflight settings, font embedding, smart guides, bullets and numbering. This is certainly the closest thing to InDesign that runs on Linux, but at such an affordable price it’s worth considering for other platforms too, especially as there’s a free demo version of the full software so you can see what you'll be buying.

06. Xara Page & Layout Designer

For newcomers to desktop publishing software, Xara Page & Layout Designer is worth considering for its cheap, one-off price and easy-to-learn interface. There are also some good tutorials to follow, which makes learning the ropes even easier. It also offers some decent royalty-free templates to help you create letterheads, brochures, business cards and other common designs.

Note that this is not fully featured professional desktop publishing software by any means, but it's not entirely amateurs either. Sitting somewhere in the middle, it allows you to create both single- and multi-page documents. The ‘Snap Lines’ tool lets you attach elements to existing objects, while the Page and Layer Gallery gives you a good overview of how everything’s looking. There are no tools for creating tables or graphs, however, so you would need to design those manually and then import them into your documents. Overall, while Xara Page & Layout Designer lacks many features you’ll find in other apps, the upside is that the interface is less cluttered, creating a shorter learning curve. 

07. Scribus

If cash is short, then Scribus may be the solution you need. It’s open source and completely free, plus it also has a good range of features. Available for Windows, Mac and Linux, Scribus takes an InDesign-like approach in terms of frames and layers, and packs in some professional-level tools. It can handle CMYK and spot colours, directly create PostScript and PDF files from documents, and it can perform pre-flight checks to make sure your files are good to send to the printers.  

The drawing tools are surprisingly versatile, and there are some decent templates too. The main downside is that you can’t import files from other apps like InDesign or QuarkXPress. For zero cost, that’s a compromise most people will be willing to make. And overall, this is a great choice for anyone who can't spare the cash for a paid desktop publishing software. Since it’s been around since 2001, Scribus also has an enthusiastic community around it, so it's easy to find advice and tutorials if you get stuck on how to do something.

08. Swift Publisher

If you're interested in cheap desktop publishing software for the Mac, Swift Publisher is another option that's worth a look, especially for beginners. It's not free, but at $19.99 it's a very low price for an easy-to-use platform. This is by no means a pro tool, but rather a good starter app for people new to desktop publishing and who need a guiding hand. 

It comes with more than 200 templates to help you create designs quickly, and 2,000 clip art images. If that’s not enough, you can also buy an ‘Extras Pack’, which Includes over 40,000 royalty-free clipart images and 100 Open Type fonts. It's a nice little app for designing printed or digital assets such as flyers, booklets, newsletters, posters, brochures, CD and DVD labels, business cards, menus, facing pages and Facebook/ Twitter covers. If clip art isn't you're thing, then Swift Publisher probably isn’t for you, but if you need the guiding hand, this is a nice package.

09. LucidPress

If you like browser-based software that you can use on any of your devices with no need to download and install anything, meet LucidPress. This intuitive desktop publishing software works with all major web browsers and is a great option for non-designers who want to create and share marketing assets like flyers, brochures, business cards, invitations, leaflets, newsletters, magazines, and photobooks and more. 

LucidPress comes with both free and paid-for templates so you don’t have to design everything from scratch. It works nicely with Google Docs, YouTube , Dropbox, Flickr, Facebook and Unsplash, making it easy to import text and images. And once you’re done, it's easy to share assets to social media, download them as print-ready files, or send them straight to the LucidPress print shop. There is a free version, but it limits you to three documents of up to three pages each per month, and doesn't include many of the best features. The paid versions start at $10 / £8 per month.

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Tom May is an award-winning journalist and editor specialising in design, photography and technology. Author of the Amazon #1 bestseller Great TED Talks: Creativity , published by Pavilion Books, Tom was previously editor of Professional Photography magazine, associate editor at Creative Bloq, and deputy editor at net magazine. Today, he is a regular contributor to Creative Bloq and its sister sites Digital Camera World , T3.com and Tech Radar . He also writes for Creative Boom and works on content marketing projects. 

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Puzzle Maker Pro

All of our puzzle modules, with the exception of Nonogram/Griddler, are incorporated within Puzzle Maker Pro. As a unified download, Puzzle Maker Pro serves as a framework for the various puzzle modules, offering:

• A streamlined workflow across all puzzle modules.
• Shared features, promoting ease of use for every module.
• Effortless transitioning between different puzzle types, while maintaining generic options and settings.
• Consistent access to new features and updates for all puzzle modules.

Let’s explore the different powerful options of Puzzle Maker Pro:

Puzzle Maker Pro Overview

Puzzle Maker Pro boasts a compact main window design, specifically tailored to accommodate users working on smaller laptops while ensuring full visibility of options and buttons. For those who prefer a larger interface, the window can be maximized or easily resized by dragging the edges to the desired dimensions.

At the left you can see the puzzle settings. The content of this area will be different for each puzzle type. At the right you can see the preview panel – This will show a preview of the current puzzle type, using all the customization and options that you selected.

There are four additional tabs with lots of options, and there are some specialized dialogs for color and font setup.

Output Settings

• Generate separate files for puzzles and solutions on your computer for maximum versatility and convenience.
• Set up project folders for your different projects
• Automatically set up subfolders, based on date, puzzle type, or project name, to help you organize your puzzles and puzzle books
• For some puzzle modules SVG and/or XML export are available
• Commercial Rights! You can sell the puzzles and keep the profits.

Instant Puzzle Books

• Generate Puzzle Books in PDF or MS Powerpoint format from the puzzles you create
• Set your own trim size
• Set your own margins and padding
• Puzzle layout is 1 puzzle per page by default, unlock additional options with the Time Saver add-on for your puzzle type
• Customize titles for the puzzles and solutions
• Commercial Rights! You can sell the puzzle books and keep the profits.

Read more about Instant Puzzle Books .

Enhance your puzzle creation experience with the Time Saver Add-On, tailored for each puzzle type, such as Sudoku, Mazes, and Word Search. This powerful add-on offers two distinct functionalities:

• Additional Layout Options : Elevate your designs with grid layouts featuring more than one puzzle or solution per page. More information: Instant Puzzle Books
• Produce puzzles with varying difficulty levels for Sudoku or diverse sizes for Mazes and Word Search
• Generate Sudoku puzzles with multiple variations
• Effortlessly create word search puzzles using different word lists, either combined or separate

Some functions that work for Puzzle Maker Pro as a whole:

• Save window position between sessions
• Set a default ‘new project’ name
• Clear project folder
• and more…

For each puzzle type, you can save all your customization settings as a preset. This includes the font settings, puzzle variation, size, colors, and more.

Additionally, you can use presets in the Time Saver Add-On, this will save all the settings for the Time Saver.

In the TIme Saver Add-On, you can also use the regular puzzle presets, so you can create a puzzle book that’s built with your own pre-saved puzzle preset settings.

Font Setup Dialog

In most modules in Puzzle Maker Pro you can set the font settings with an advanced dialog window:

Color Setup Dialog

In Puzzle Maker Pro you can use our custom Color Select Dialog, with different options to specify colors:

• RGB – Red Green Blue notation, either decimal or hexadecimal
• HSL – Hue, Saturation, Luminosity
• Use the rainbow bars to click a Hue, then the saturation and the luminosity

Optimized for Windows

Currently, Puzzle Maker Pro is for MS Windows only. It should work on Windows 7, all development is done using version 10 and 11. There are no plans at the moment to create a Mac version. However, it will work on a Mac when you use software like Parallels or Virtualbox.

Support and Updates

Puzzle Maker Pro licenses are a one-time purchase, which will give you eternal rights to use the module or modules you purchased. Updates to Puzzle Maker Pro usually include new or improved generic functions. However, new puzzle modules are an additional purchase.

We’re a small team, and we try to fix bugs quickly, however, we have to balance software development and maintenance with customer support. Sometimes you’ll have to wait a day or two for an answer. Please see https://help.bookpublishertools.com for lots of information about the different puzzles and puzzle modules.

It’s stated elsewhere as well, but it’s also being asked a lot:

The regular license is a Personal and POD license – you can use the puzzles and puzzle books for yourself (or family, students, friends, etc) or on POD / Printables platforms, where your customer is the end-user.

If you intend to sell the puzzles and puzzle books to others, you will need a Reseller / PLR license, which is an additional purchase for each product type. If you plan to sell the puzzles through syndication sites or similar approaches, please contact me for a custom agreement.

In all cases you cannot hold BookPublisherTools or Hans Miedema responsible or accountable for the copyright or other legal issues with words or images that you are using in Puzzle Maker Pro.

A Beginner’s Guide to Microsoft Publisher

T he world has fast evolved into a digitally driven space, where everyone has at least one finger in technology. You no longer need to hire a graphics professional to design a simple card or brochure.

Now, many applications can help you achieve your dreams with proper knowledge and a few clicks and drags. One such application is Microsoft Publisher.

Here, we’ll explain what Microsoft Publisher is and how it works. We will also briefly discuss the basic features and terms peculiar to the application and guide you through a simple design using these features and tools.

What Is Microsoft Publisher?

Microsoft Publisher is a multipurpose, user-friendly application that enables users to create professional-looking print and digital publications, such as brochures, flyers, and newsletters.

As part of the Microsoft Office suite, Publisher offers many templates, design tools, and fonts that make it accessible for beginners and professionals. One feature that distinguishes Microsoft Publisher from similar software is its affordability.

Once you subscribe to Microsoft Office and get a license, you have access to all available tools, including Microsoft Publisher. There are even ways to help you get a Microsoft license for free .

Other features include its ease of use, integration with other Microsoft Office applications, and the ability to export publications in various formats. Furthermore, Microsoft Publisher provides various online resources such as tutorials, templates, forums, and third-party websites that offer tips and tricks to help users create and design exceptional publications.

Whether you want to create designs for yourself, your business, or a corporate organization, Microsoft Publisher is a powerful and adaptable tool that can help you design high-quality publications effortlessly.

Basic Terms in Microsoft Publisher

Like other Microsoft applications, Microsoft Publisher has some specific terms you should understand to better grasp its functionalities. Some of these terms are:

• Publication : A publication is any document that you create in Microsoft Publisher. It can be a brochure, a flyer, a newsletter, or any other type of design.
• Template : A template is a pre-designed layout that you can use to create a publication quickly. Publisher has many templates, from cookbooks and restaurant menus to birthday cards and wedding albums.
• Page : A page is a single sheet of a publication. In addition, you can add or remove pages from a single publication as you see fit.
• Master Page : A master page is a template that allows you to apply consistent design elements, such as headers and footers, to all pages in a publication. The master page is usually the first page of your publication.
• Text Box : A text box is a resizable and moveable holder for any text you add to a publication. Text boxes can be of different sizes and have different boundary designs.
• Picture Placeholder : A picture placeholder is a container for images you add to a publication. It helps you to maintain consistency in image sizes and placement.
• Object : An object is any element you add to a publication, such as a shape, a line, or a picture.
• Background : The background is the color or design behind the text and images in a publication.
• Color Scheme : A color scheme is a set of colors used consistently throughout a publication. Publisher provides a variety of color schemes to choose from.
• Layer : A layer is a transparent plane that helps you organize and arrange objects in a publication. You can add or remove layers and adjust their order to suit your choices.
• Gridlines : Gridlines are the lines that appear on a publication page to help you align and position objects. They are adjustable, as you can tweak their spacing and visibility.
• Guides : Guides are non-printing lines that allow you to align and position objects precisely. These guides can be removed or adjusted, depending on your design or publication goals.

Basic Features of Microsoft Publisher

Each Microsoft application has features that make it unique, user-friendly, and easy to navigate. Some, like Excel, have advanced features for different operations and tasks . In the same way, Microsoft Publisher has some features that make designing a seamless process.

• Templates : This application offers various pre-designed templates that creators can use to quickly create flyers, brochures, newsletters, cookbooks, and other types of publications.
• Design Tools : The software offers an array of design tools that users can use to customize the appearance of their publications. This includes color schemes, fonts, and images.
• Layout Guides : The layout guide feature helps you to align and position your text and graphics properly to create a professional-looking publication.
• Mail Merge : With Mail Merge, users can create customized mass mailings for events such as newsletters, fundraising letters, and direct mail marketing.
• Page Navigation : This feature lets you move quickly between pages in a document, make edits, and add new pages as needed.
• Text Formatting : Publisher offers extensive text formatting tools, including font size, color, style, and alignment, as well as paragraph and line spacing options.
• Picture Editing : Whether you need to crop, resize or add special effects to your photos, Microsoft Publisher makes editing and enhancing pictures a smooth and straightforward process.
• Object Layering : This feature allows you to move text and images around the document without affecting other elements.
• Design Checker : This feature helps you to check and confirm the consistency of your design just before you print it. Running the design checker will bring up a list of errors you can correct or uncheck before you save, mail, or print your design.
• Export and Print : Publisher allows you to save publications in different formats such as PDF, HTML, and JPG. Additionally, you can print directly from the app or export the document if you want to print it elsewhere.
• Integration with Other Microsoft Office Applications : Microsoft Publisher integrates with other Microsoft Office applications, such as Word and Excel, making it easier for designers to create professional-looking publications with data from other programs.

Common Designs You Can Create With Microsoft Publisher

While people in different industries use Microsoft Publisher for various types of designs, there are some standard designs for which most people often use the software. So much so that these designs exist on Publisher as templates. Some of the most common ones include:

• Brochures : There are a variety of brochure templates that you can customize with your text and images. These templates have different layout styles, such as tri-fold or bi-fold.
• Fliers and Posters : Fliers are a great way to promote an event, sale, or business. To this end, Publisher allows you to create eye-catching fliers with bold text and compelling images.
• Newsletters : Microsoft Publisher provides newsletter templates for creating professional-looking newsletters. You can add articles, photos, and other content to enrich your newsletter.
• Business cards : Your business card is often a great point of contact when relating with potential clients. As such, Publisher allows you to create custom business cards that speak volumes about your brand.
• Food menus : Publisher allows you to create menus for restaurants, cafés, and other food businesses. With many layout styles at your fingertips, customizing existing templates for each dish can make your menu captivating.
• Calendars : Calendars are a valuable tool for organizing your schedule and keeping track of important dates. Also, they make good souvenirs for different occasions. Publisher provides calendar templates you can customize with photos and events.
• Greeting and Invitation Cards : Publisher allows you to create personalized greeting and invitation cards for birthdays, holidays, and other occasions. Thanks to the many available templates, you have an array to choose from.
• Certificates : Publisher is perfect for designing certificates for employee, student, and volunteer awards and recognition. Available templates make it even easier—all you have to do is edit the text and add your logo.
• E-books : Publisher is one of the many tools for creating E-books in PDF or EPUB format. This software allows you to add text, images, and other content and customize the layout for different devices.

Simple Design With Microsoft Publisher: Start to Finish

Before creating a design, you should have a general idea of the final product you expect. Next up, you'll have to decide whether to modify an existing template or start your creation from scratch.

Let’s take the design of a basic certificate as a case study. First, open a new publication in landscape or portrait mode.

Add a background from the Page Design tab and borders from the Insert tab.

Draw your textbox and type in the text. You will need different textboxes for different sections on your page. Luckily, Publisher's text boxes work the same as those in Microsoft Word .

Microsoft Publisher also supports common keyboard shortcuts like other Microsoft Office applications . For instance, Ctrl + P is for printing, and Ctrl + O is for opening a new document. Once you have your text, you can add objects (shapes and pictures) to the page if you like. Each text box or object has a box-shaped border that allows you to resize or reorder them.

When you finish your design, run the design check before you print. On the File tab, click Info > Run Design Checker . When the results come up, you can select and correct each error until all the errors clear out.

Finally, the last step is to either mail or print the design.

Enhance Your Designs With Microsoft Publisher

While there are other types of desktop publishing software, Microsoft Publisher stands out as accessible and affordable, offering a variety of tools and features for creating professional-looking documents.

Its intuitive interface and integration with other Microsoft Office applications make it a convenient choice for individuals and small businesses. Users can create eye-catching designs with a wide selection of templates and design elements, reducing the need for extensive graphic design expertise.

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How Do I Self Print and Publish a Book?

Publishing a book is a dream shared by millions of soon-to-be-published authors worldwide. Whether your passion is storytelling, education, or advancing your brand’s visibility, learning how to self publish a book can help you realize your personal dreams and professional goals. 

In recent years, more writers and content creators have become interested in how to self publish a book and make money. Unlike publishing your book with a traditional publisher, self-publishing offers you more creative control, higher royalties, and a faster publishing process. You can also choose whether to print physical copies of your book or publish an eBook. 

Whether you dream of publishing your poetry or providing valuable resources to your customers—or anything in between—this article will help you organize your thoughts and create a step-by-step plan for self-publishing a book you can be proud of. 

Step 1: Preparing Your Manuscript

Writing your book and preparing your manuscript to publish are the most time-intensive aspects of the publishing process. 

Once you have the copy and content written for your book, it’s important to polish it before publishing. If you take the extra time to edit and properly format your manuscript, you will be happier with the final product. 

In this step, we’ll discuss editing, formatting, and obtaining an ISBN and copyright for your book. Your book! 

Developmental Editing

Your book’s structure, content, and storytelling will influence its impact on readers—and whether they tell all of their friends to buy a copy. 

From strengthening the plot to selecting relevant anecdotes or making sure your manuscript is clear, developmental editing has many benefits. 

Copy Editing

In addition to editing for structure and cohesiveness, it’s also important to focus on copy editing, which focuses on correcting grammar, spelling, punctuation, and syntax errors.

You certainly don’t want to skip this step when publishing a book because spelling and grammar are essential for establishing your credibility—and publishing something people enjoy reading. 

Line Editing

Like copy editing, line editing can improve your work’s flow, rhythm, and clarity. Language style, word choice, and clarity are the main focal points within line editing. The goal here is to ensure that what you have written is error-free and resonates emotionally and intellectually with your audience. 

Proofreading

Proofreading is the final review to catch any errors that may have been overlooked in the previous developmental, copy, and line editing stages. 

Formatting: eBooks vs. print 

A book’s formatting varies depending on whether you plan to publish it as an ebook or print. 

Thankfully, there are software tools that can help make this process much more manageable, including: 

• Microsoft Word : a popular choice due to its familiarity, extensive formatting options, and compatibility with various file formats 
• Scrivener : novel, memoir, and non-fiction book writers like Scrivener because of its organizational features, flexible structure, and ability to export manuscripts to multiple formats
• Adobe InDesign : professional designers and publishers like Adobe InDesign because it supports high-quality graphics and offers advanced typography & superior layout tools
• Vellum : if you’re a Mac user, Vellum offers professional templates and an intuitive interface for designing perfectly formatted books for platforms like Kindle and Apple Books
• Calibre : authors and publishers enjoy the ease that Calibre offers for formatting and distributing ebooks, even converting from one ebook format to another
• KindleCreate : authors who publish ebooks on the Kindle platform using KindleCreate enjoy guided formatting features and templates 
• PressBooks : whether you want to self publish an ebook or a printed version, PressBooks is user-friendly, offering customizable templates and publishing tools to create perfectly professional books to sell through online retailers

ISBN and Copyright

How can you obtain an ISBN and copyright for your book, and do you need to do these things before publishing your book? 

If you want to distribute your book widely, obtaining an ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is a good idea because it will be easier for libraries, retailers, and wholesalers to find. 

Once you’ve written a book, you can register your copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office for more peace of mind and legal benefits. 

Step 2: Choosing the Right Self-Publishing Platform

Once you’ve prepared your manuscript, or maybe even while you’re still in the process, it’s time to consider the next step in publishing a book: choosing a self-publishing platform and deciding whether to use a print-on-demand service or bulk printing. 

Print on Demand vs. Bulk Printing: Pros and Cons 

Print-on-demand publishing means that you simply print copies as needed rather than having a whole bunch of books printed before you know you need them. Print-on-demand publishing services typically use digital printing technology. 

The pros of using print-on-demand services for publishing and distributing your book include: 

• It’s more cost-effective to print fewer copies or pay for prints as you need them, especially for individuals or small businesses 
• Print-on-demand offers more flexibility for people who want to choose how many books to print at a time, even if they only want to print one. In fact, it can be ideal for individuals who only want to print a small number of books. 
• Platforms that offer print-on-demand (POD) publishing often provide tools to help authors, publishers, and small businesses (like you!) upload and manage their content. 

While printing on demand may sound like the path you want to take, it’s also important to consider the cons, which include: 

• Higher costs per unit since the cost to print includes printing and shipping fees; this makes print on demand publishing less economical for large orders 
• You will likely have less control over the quality of your finished book with print-on-demand; since each book is printed individually, they may vary slightly in appearance 

Bulk printing and distribution , on the other hand, usually involves printing many books at once, usually using offset printing presses. Many writers and businesses who are working on high-volume projects prefer bulk printing. 

Here are a few of the pros of bulk printing: 

• Printing more copies at a time can be cost-efficient if you know you will need them all. The more books you print, the lower the price per book. So, if you know you will need a lot, then bulk printing books is an excellent option.
• Bulk printing services have faster turnaround times , especially for more copies
• Consistent quality can be achieved more easily with bulk printing services

The cons of bulk printing are: 

• Bulk printing requires an upfront investment , which can make it difficult for small businesses or individuals with smaller budgets to utilize this option
• There’s always a risk of overprinting and ending up with way too many books! 
• Bulk printing offers fewer customization options because it’s time-consuming to make necessary changes

Popular Self Publishing Platforms

As an author, you want to partner with a self publishing platform that gives you that sense of control over your book. After all, publishing a book is a really big deal, and you want to feel like your voice, preferences, and timeline matter in the process. 

These self-publishing platforms have become increasingly popular for authors and business owners who want to learn how to self publish a book and make money: 

• AmazonKDP : Kindle Direct Publishing is one of the most popular services because it allows you to self-publish print or digital books and easily distribute them to reach millions of readers via Amazon’s platform. 
• IngramSpark : IngramSpark specializes in helping you print hardcover, paperback, and ebook versions of your book, and they also help with global book distribution. They also offer a library of self-publishing tools to help customers learn how to self publish a book (and make money doing it)! 
• Lulu : Lulu offers print-on-demand services to people who want to publish a book and sell it without worrying about maintaining an inventory and fulfilling orders themselves. Print-on-demand and direct-to-consumer selling are a couple of the things authors love most about Lulu .  

When choosing a self-publishing platform, it helps to have a clear idea of your main goals for publishing a book. 

Are you publishing a book to earn money, for brand awareness, or because it’s always been a dream in your heart? 

Would you like to publish an ebook, a print book, or both? 

What is your budget for publishing, and how can you ensure that you receive a top-quality product within your budget? 

Many people wonder how to publish a book for free, and thanks to platforms like KDP and Lulu, it’s actually possible to do so without any upfront costs. 

Of course, whether you want to print one copy or a thousand, you can also self publish a book using the top-of-the-line book printing services at Printing Center USA. 

Costs and Royalties

While we’re on the subject of publishing a book for free, let’s take a moment to discuss the costs associated with publishing, as well as the royalty rate, retail price, and distribution costs, which may be deducted by popular book publishing platforms. 

Pro tip: Even when you publish a book for free, there may still be additional costs associated with publishing and distribution, so always make sure you’re on the same page with your publisher regarding these fees. 

Here are the costs and royalties you can expect from KDP, IngramSpark, and Lulu. 

AmazonKDP Costs & Royalties: The world of paperback book printing costs and paperback book royalties from Amazon can be confusing at first, but Amazon offers a helpful explanation and calculator to help you get an idea of the costs of printing and publishing a book through Kindle Direct Publishing. 

Then, they subtract the publishing costs from your royalties, which makes it possible for you to self publish a book and make money. The royalty for a paperback book sold through Amazon depends on the publishing costs and which distribution outlets you choose. 

IngramSpark Costs & Royalties: One of the great values that IngramSpark offers to people who are publishing a book is global book distribution through their many distribution channels. You can publish a book with IngramSpark for free, but printing and distribution costs will be subtracted from your royalties. 

They offer a calculator to help you discover how much you can expect to earn in royalties on your print book titles published with IngramSpark and sold through their distribution channels. 

Lulu Costs & Royalties: The cost of printing and distributing a book varies based on the type of book binding, print color, type of paper, and many other important details. So, when publishing a book, it’s important to remember that each of these decisions will impact the quality of your product and how much you can earn from it. 

Lulu also offers a calculator to help determine how much money you can make if you self publish on Lulu and sell your book through their channels. 

One of the benefits of working with a bulk printing company like PrintingCenterUSA is that you can potentially earn more money from each book in the long run, and you have more control over the process and cost of marketing and distributing your book. 

Step 3: Designing Your Book Cover

It feels like people have been saying don’t judge a book by its cover forever, but we all know we do exactly that. That’s why the cover design of your book is essential. It offers a first impression and will be front and center when you market it. 

The cover of your book gives it a whole personality. Here are a few tips for designing a cover that will make potential readers want to hear what you have to say within the beautiful covers of your book. 

DIY Book Cover Design Tips

• Search for book cover design inspiration on websites like Dribbble or Pinterest. You can save ideas you love on either! Create a mood board and begin to envision your book’s personality. 
• Consider the genre and themes as further inspiration
• Make the title stand out (even on a thumbnail) by choosing a font and color palette that complement each other. 
• Make it simple. Create a focal point , and leave plenty of empty space around that point. 
• Utilize design tools like Canva or Adobe Express , formerly Adobe Spark. 

Hiring a Designer 

Even though there are lots of great design tips and tools out there, sometimes, hiring a designer makes the most sense, especially if you aren’t super design-savvy or don’t have time to do the design work. 

It’s okay to take something off your plate and leave it to someone who enjoys it. You can focus on writing, marketing, or whatever brings you joy while allowing someone who enjoys designing to take care of that piece of the puzzle for you. 

We recommend these graphic designers to help aspiring self publishers (like you!) design book covers and more. 

Step 4: Printing Your Book

Once you have the cover designed, the manuscript polished, and the publishing platform chosen, it’s time to choose a printer. This is our favorite part! 

Choose a Printer

Publishing a book can’t happen without the book, so you need to find a printer you can trust to help make your vision come to life. Here are a few factors to consider when choosing a printer: 

• Cost : Compare the costs of various printers and look carefully to figure out how much it costs to print a book . 
• Quality : Read reviews to ensure that you choose a quality printer that will meet–if not exceed–your printing standards. 
• Location : Your printer’s location can impact the shipping costs and delivery time for your book. If you want to meet IRL with your printer or have a hands-on role in the publishing process, you may want to choose a geographically close printer. 

Print Specifications 

Again, the print specifications for your book will impact its price and printing cost, which can ultimately affect how much you get paid. Think carefully about which type of paper, binding, and cover finish will be best for your book–and your budget. 

We already have resources available to help you make each of these choices: 

• This article will help you decide which type of book binding to choose when publishing a book, 
• How to choose whether you’d like your book to be published as a hardback or paperback book, 
• And, of course,  how to choose the right paper for your book! 

Many of these decisions are ultimately a matter of your personal preference and what your budget will allow. However, working with a knowledgeable printer can be a lifesaver when you’re having a tough time making these important book publishing decisions. 

Proof Copies 

Before printing, you should definitely order a proof copy to double-check that your book is error-free and meets your expectations. 

Sometimes, it’s easier to recognize errors or printing problems in a physical copy. There’s just something about holding a copy in your hands! Of your own book! 

Sure, you have to purchase an extra copy up-front, but catching the error before the final printing can save you more in the long run. 

Step 5: Marketing and Distribution

Different publishing and distribution platforms require different levels of commitment from you during the marketing and distribution processes. However, if you want to self-publish a book and make money doing it, you’ll have to market your project. Here are some ideas and strategies to help you build a platform, pre-launch, launch, and distribute your book. 

Building an Author Platform 

Building an author platform means engaging with your audience and establishing credibility and rapport with them so they will want to buy your book once it’s published. There are many ways to build your author platform. They include: 

• Creating an author website to share your brand, bio, upcoming events, and contact info.  
• Engaging on social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, or Instagram. There are many “Bookstagrammers” who would love to help spread the word. 
• Blogging and building an e-mail list can help you stay connected to your audience before, during, and after your book launch. 
• Networking with other authors, bloggers, and other professionals. There are endless collaborations and audiences you have yet to meet! 

Pre-Launch Strategies 

The pre-launch is all about laying the groundwork for a successful book launch. Using your platform, you can build anticipation for your new release by sharing photos of the cover, your writing or editing process, and connecting with your potential audience on a human level. 

Depending on how you choose to build your platform, you can share teasers on various social media platforms, send pre-release copies of your book to book bloggers or Instagrammers to review (early reviews will help you so much!) and share with their audiences. You can also post links for your fans to pre-order your book. 

Create a content strategy and optimize your book’s metadata to ensure that search engines and retailers can find it. Staying organized and having a plan in place will help you move smoothly from pre-launch to launching your new book. 

Launch Strategies 

There are many fun ways to launch your new book! 

• A virtual launch party on Facebook Live, Instagram Live, or Zoom – you could host a live reading, Q+A Sesh, or book giveaway. 
• Reach out to book clubs and offer exclusive content if they feature your book in the next few months. 

• Ask a local bookstore to host an in-person book launch event with you! 
• Pitch yourself as a podcast guest on podcasts with audiences the same as your target demographic. 
• Collaborate with other writers, business owners, or brands who are also releasing books or products. You can help each other with promotion! 
• Engage with your community through book readings, literacy events, and visits to schools or libraries. 

There are so many fun ways to promote your new book! 

So, if you have been wondering if it’s possible to self-publish and print a book, it is! We have helped thousands of individuals and businesses publish their books. We can help you start the process today and move one step closer to inspiring, educating, and captivating your audience. 

Ready to become a printing pro and level up your marketing? Hi! I’m Zoe, the marketing assistant here at Printing Center USA. I simplify complex topics with easy-to-follow tutorials and content designed to educate and empower. My mission is to demystify print ing to e quip your business ’s marketing strategy with endless tools and ideas ! Get ready for fresh social media tips and a dash of my “embrace the challenge” philosophy as I share our monthly content blogs and quick tip guides . Connect with me on Linkedin

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Best AI for Writing Non-Fiction Books: Top 5 Expert Picks for 2024

See how the latest AI writing tools stack up to one another

AI has had a MASSIVE week with OpenAI's (the team behind ChatGPT) latest updates. Their models can now translate languages in real time and interact with the world through voice and video. And these are just the updates they've shared with the public—there's no telling what's on deck.

Here's what that means for publishers:

• Going from idea to execution in a fraction of the time
• Having more control and power throughout the publishing process
• Generating even more recurring income and royalties as you build out your published library

There are already tons of AI writing tools out there, specifically tailored for non-fiction writers and publishers, but this blog post covers the top 5 that are making waves.

See what's possible with just a laptop + a free Amazon account. Stop by our no-cost publishing training and discover the formula that's already generated millions of dollars in royalties for total beginners with no publishing, writing, or tech experience.

Can You Legally Publish a Book Written by AI?

We've answered this question multiple times across our blog because it's one of the biggest concerns we hear among newbie publishers. The short answer, is YES, you can definitely publish a book written by AI.

Now, here's the long answer...

The laws surrounding purely AI-generated content are still evolving, but as of now, there are no legal barriers to publishing a book written or assisted by AI.

Any new technology is automatically going to have some resistance to it because that's how we humans are. We're usually not too fond of change. But at the end of the day, using AI like a co-pilot is really no different than hiring a ghostwriter. You still have to put in the critical thinking and creativity to make the final product worth your readers' time.

Amazon has started testing a new policy that requires self-publishers to declare if their content is AI-generated or AI-assisted, but this is strictly for educational purposes. It is NOT punitive despite some rumors you may have heard online.

What Is the Best AI for Writing Non-fiction Books?

When it comes to selecting the best AI for writing non-fiction books, the "best" tool is really going to boil down to personal preferences and the extent of the work you're looking for help with.

These are 5 recommendations for AI tools that have been gaining a lot of popularity on the publishing scene:

• Publishing.ai

#1: Publishing.AI: Best AI for Writing Non-Fiction Books

Although Publishing.AI is currently exclusive for members of Publishing.com's student community, it is a gamechanger for the industry. This powerful tool is specifically designed to cater to non-fiction authors and serve as a one-stop-shop to all things publishing.

Best Use Cases:

• Customer Research Reports: Gather essential data about your audience to actually tailor your content (most AI's fall completely short here).
• Comprehensive Text Generation: Capable of producing well-structured 30,000-word books from scratch.
• Book Descriptions and Marketing Copy: Helps create compelling descriptions specifically formulated for Amazon's KDP to reach more readers and boost your book sales.
• Detailed Research: Provides in-depth audience AND competitor insights.
• Structured Content: Generates comprehensive and well-organized text (which is also fully editable).
• Marketing Support: Optimizes book descriptions with SEO analysis already built-in!
• Built for KDP: Designed with Amazon's publishing guidelines in mind and offers helpful reminders so you can make sure your manuscript stays compliant.
• Exclusivity: Must be a Publishing.com member to gain first access.
• Limitations: The AI tool can't actually publish or market your book for you (...yet), so you'll still need to put in the 10% of work to bring your book across the finish line.
• Visit the Publishing.AI website for pricing updates.

#2: ChatGPT

ChatGPT has come a LONG way since its earlier versions, and it's still constantly being updated. Premium subscribers should already have access to its 4.o version, which is even faster and smarter than GPT 4, 3.5, and so on.

• Outline Draft Creation: Helps in setting up a clear and detailed book outline.
• Overcome Writer's Block: Unlimited idea generation for your chapters based on market research (though it might not always be completely up to date).
• Research Assistance: Suggests sources for further research or generates citations based on your preferred style (APA, Chicago, MLA, etc.). Just keep in mind that ChatGPT has been known to "hallucinate" facts, figures, and sources, so triple-check everything!
• Quick: You can get instant answers to practically any question on your mind.
• Accessible: The free version is open to anybody with a computer!
• On the Go: They also offer a mobile version, and there are rumors that future iPhones will all be automatically integrated with ChatGPT!
• Learning Curve: May require some practice to get used to prompting and providing the AI with feedback.
• Niche Limitations: Might not be perfect for every subject area, requiring manual edits.
• Free or $20/month for Premium Subscribers

#3: Scrivener

Scrivener is perfect for those who love having everything in one place. It lets you manage your research, notes, and first drafts, all from the same dashboard (just like Publishing.ai).

• Project Management: Organize your entire book project, from research to final draft, all in the same place.
• Detailed Outlines: Create comprehensive outlines with multiple features that let you really customize your experience.
• Multi-Format Support: Easily format your manuscript for various publishing platforms.
• All-in-One: Combines writing, research, and organization tools.
• Flexible: Supports various writing styles and project types.
• Distraction-Free Mode: Helps you stay focused while writing in Composition Mode.
• Learning Curve: Can be complex to learn initially.
• Not AI-Powered: Doesn't generate content or ideas for you; it's more of a management tool.
• Scrivener is available for a one-time fee of $59.99 for macOS and Windows , and $23.99 for iOS .

#4: WriteSonic

WriteSonic is another decent AI-powered writing tool for creating non-fiction books. It uses advanced machine learning algorithms (like ChatGPT) to generate content through chat-based prompts.

• Content Creation: Ideal for writing eBooks, articles, and other non-fiction content.
• SEO Optimization: Built-in SEO tools help your content rank better in search engines.
• Branding: Teach the AI what your preferred brand voice is, and it will automatically apply that feedback to future prompts.
• Multiple tiers: Choose which plan best suits your budget and content needs.
• Tool Suite: Also offers image and voice capabilities through Audiosonic and Photosonic.
• Versatile: Suitable for various types of writing projects (not just manuscripts).
• Not Perfect for Everyone: May not meet all writing needs and may not be as in-depth as other tools.
• Not Specific to Publishing: This is more of a general AI tool than a manuscript-specific one.
• WriteSonic offers a free plan and individual plans starting at $16 per month.

#5: Squibler

Squibler is a versatile writing tool known for its user-friendly interface and more comprehensive feature set, making it a great choice for fiction and nonfiction authors, writers, and publishers.

• Fast Drafting: Helps you quickly draft your non-fiction book, novel, or screenplay quickly.
• Collaboration: Supports real-time collaboration, perfect for co-authors or editors.
• Templates: Offers a variety of templates to kickstart your writing process.
• User-Friendly: Easy to navigate and use, even for beginners.
• Collaboration Tools: Allows for seamless teamwork on your writing projects.
• Goal Tracking: Keeps you on track with word count and chapter goals.
• Limited Advanced Features: The free version only allows 6,000 AI words generated per month.
• Genre Limitations: Its nonfiction writing capabilities are mostly specific to memoirs.

Squibler offers a free plan or a $20 per month plan for premium subscribers.

How Do You Know Which AI Writing Tools Are Worth Trying?

Here are some things to look out for when you're comparing AI writing software:

Accuracy and Reliability

In a perfect world, AI will always be accurate and reliable.

That includes things like:

• Context Understanding: The AI should get what you’re saying and keep the flow consistent.
• Error-Free Text: The tools should produce clean, polished content that doesn't require rewriting from scratch.
• Regular Updates: A good AI gets regular updates to stay sharp and current (look out for knowledge cutoffs, which are usually disclosed in the terms and conditions).

User Interface and Experience

Publishing takes a lot of focus and planning, so a smooth user interface can make a world of difference.

• Clean Layout: A cluttered dashboard isn't going to help produce a clean, organized manuscript.
• Intuitive Navigation: You want something easy to navigate without a ton of instructions and training videos required just to get started.
• Personalized Assistance: Look for tools that adapt to your writing style and needs.

Support and Community

Good support and an active community can be lifesavers, especially when you find yourself hitting a mental roadblock.

Look for companies that provide these things on top of the AI writing tool:

• Active Online Community: A place to share ideas and get tips from other users.
• Comprehensive Documentation: Helpful guides and FAQs that make using the tool easier.
• Responsive Customer Support: Quick, helpful responses when you need help.

Cost and Value

Ghostwriters, editors, and graphic designers start to add up, so your AI tools should help you get the best bang for your buck.

Think about:

• Pricing Plans: Compare different tools and see whether you can save money on an annual plan or whether the free plan is actually sufficient for your content needs.
• Value for Money: Look for tools that offer more holistic features to help you across multiple steps of the publishing process versus just writing or editing.

Use Cases and Practical Applications

There is always something new to learn about AI—even for those of us who have been using it for years.

Here are some practical ways to put these new tools to good use:

1. Research and Outline:

• AI tools like Squibler and Publishing.ai can simplify your research process, gather valuable information, and create a detailed outline for your book.

2. Content Generation and Improvement:

• Tools like ChatGPT and WriteSonic can speed up your writing by offering suggestions to improve your storytelling and convey information in a different way.

3. Editing and Proofreading:

• Scrivener can help you organize and manage your writing process, making editing and proofreading more efficient.

4. SEO Optimization:

• AI tools like WriteSonic can help you craft content that's already optimized for search engines to improve your book's online visibility.

5. Language Translation:

• WriteSonic and ChatGPT are already testing out translation, which can be a great way to add an additional income stream and reach new book markets. (In our opinion, these capabilities still aren't completely perfect, but they're definitely on their way there.)

Which AI Writing Tools Offer the Best Value for Money for Non-fiction Writers?

Publishing.ai does things a little differently than most AI writing tools . For one, it's specifically designed for DIY publishers and authors, and the main goal is to simplify the publishing process as much as possible.

From just one dashboard, you can generate:

-Unlimited book topic ideas

-Hefty customer and market research reports

-Optimized book outlines

-First-draft manuscripts based on your ideal chapter count ready for polishing and editing

See how Publishing.ai is changing the publishing industry!

Are There Any Free AI Writing Applications Suitable for Non-fiction Books?

If you're a non-fiction writer balling on a really tight budget, ChatGPT's free plan is the way to go.

Most blogs are going to recommend ChatGPT because it's so accessible and easy to practice with.

Sure, its output isn't always going to be perfect, but even if it can help you save a few hours of research time, that's ultimately more freedom over your time and schedule (which is why most people want to start publishing in the first place).

Ready to Take Off on Your Publishing Journey? Join the 7DPC

Our public 7-Day Publi$hing Challenge officially kicks off at the end of May, and the best part isn't even that THOUSANDS of people have already committed to publishing their first book...

The best part is that the challenge is completely 100% FREE!

Discover the exact formula for:

• Coming up with a good book idea
• Using an AI copilot for 90% of the writing process
• Getting your book formatted with zero hassle
• Hitting PUBLISH on your very first book on Amazon in as little as a week

Join thousands of other newbie publishers and see what the 7DPC is all about!

FREE WEBINAR

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Manderley Press, the publishing house with its own beguiling story

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Kate Finnigan . Photography by Genevieve Lutkin

Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

When you’re an independent book publisher on a mission to reprint old titles featuring distinctive houses and places and you happen to be called Rebeka, there is only one possible name for your press. “Daphne du Maurier is my favourite author and Rebecca is my favourite book – it was too good not to,” says Rebeka Russell, who started Manderley Press in 2021. “So many people remember that first line: ‘Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.’ The house itself is like a character in the book.”

It is fitting, too, that Manderley Press operates from a distinctive and historic location – Russell’s home. The charming yellow-brick gabled house was built in south London in 1868 for the Victorian writer William Hale White – with a little interiors help from William Morris, the 19th century’s most celebrated designer and founder of the influential Kelmscott Press. 

I’m obsessed with houses where people have written things

Russell moved to the house with her husband Mark and their family 10 years ago, and was well settled in the idiosyncratic property – its garden flourishing around a giant ginkgo tree said to have been donated by Morris – when she launched Manderley Press from a cosy, quarry-tiled room off the kitchen. Russell, a former bookseller and editor for Thames & Hudson and museums including the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery, had long wanted to create a publishing house reprinting forgotten books that spoke of memorable landmarks and locations. She spent her formative years growing up in the windswept seaside town of Whitby in North Yorkshire, which inspired Bram Stoker’s 1897 gothic masterpiece Dracula . “It’s one of those places that makes people want to paint and write. I just got the bug,” she says. “I became obsessed with houses where people have written things.”

Although the novels of Hale White are not Russell’s cup of tea (“They’re quite moral in that Victorian way,” she says), the house’s literary connection was a major attraction and discovering more about White and his circle informed its restoration. White had the house built (on the advice of the philosopher, writer and art critic John Ruskin) by the practice of Philip Webb, the architect of Morris’s arts and crafts home The Red House . 

White became a member of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings set up by Webb and Morris, which is still in existence today. “Knowing that, we felt we had a duty to keep things close to the original,” says Russell. The couple consulted the architect Elspeth Beard and, for the interiors, was advised by Ben Pentreath , both experts on the period. “All the wallpaper in the house apart from a small bathroom, which is Voysey, is from Morris & Co , from around the time the house was built,” Russell points out. “I don’t know for sure they would have been used, but they were certainly in existence in 1868.” Morris designed Trellis, used on the wardrobes in the master bedroom, in 1862. The design was inspired by the garden at The Red House and includes bird drawings by Webb.

“I like to think something of the house itself seeped into White’s writing,” says Russell. Certainly, it has seeped into her own work, creating an atmospheric setting for her beautifully considered press. The small cloth-bound hardbacks, printed on high-quality, uncoated paper and featuring vibrant cover art, are produced for the bibliophile who loves to judge a book by its cover. “Nobody’s going to buy an £18.99 hardback of a rediscovered book unless it’s beautiful as well as being a good read,” Russell explains. “I knew all of my books needed to be jewel-like, inside and out.” The studio  This Side designs the titles, and the artwork that appears on them is available as limited-edition prints, greeting cards and bookmarks.

Manderley released its first book in 2021: Edinburgh: Picturesque Notes , the 1878 humorous armchair guide to the city by Robert Louis Stevenson. With an introduction by Alexander McCall Smith and evocative cover art by Iain McIntosh , both Edinburgh residents, it was an unexpected hit. “I didn’t know at the time that the book had a winning formula,” Russell says. “It was short, so it wouldn’t cost as much to print. It had Edinburgh in the title, which was a perfect selling point for booksellers, and it’s by someone really well-known, but no one’s heard of this particular work.”

In June, Manderley will release its seventh title, The House in Cornwall , a children’s adventure by Noel Streatfeild; followed by Tales of London Town , a collection by Joan Aiken set in a magical “other London”. And the books are coming thick and fast – in the autumn, Florence: Ordeal by Water , a new edition of Kathrine Kressmann Taylor’s diary account of the 1966 flood of the Arno, will be given the Manderley treatment.

Each cover artist and introduction writer has their own connection to the location featured in the book. Waterford-born novelist Megan Nolan introduced The Fly on the Wheel by Katherine Cecil Thurston, a book set in the Irish seaport. The New Yorker cartoonist Bruce Eric Kaplan sketched the black-and-white cover for Letter from New York , a collection written in the 1980s by Helene Hanff, the author of 84, Charing Cross Road . “He doesn’t work electronically. He did this little sketch on a piece of paper and sent it over,” Russell says of their collaboration. “His drawing arrived with a bit of cornflake stuck to it, which we took off for the scan.” Another Hanff book in the works will please Manderley’s North American customer base, who account for a third of its readership. Manderley also has an Etsy shop to handle European purchases.

Next year there will be six more new-old titles, including Manderley’s first translated book. “I’ve done diaries, novels… some Irish, some English. I’d love to do something on cookery or gardening,” Russell says. “I’m not really constrained by anything – other than the books have to have a link to a place.” The world, then, is Manderley’s oyster. 

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International Edition

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Abundant Ever After

Tools for creating a life of prosperity and ease.

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Table of Contents

About the book, about the author.

Cathy Heller is a business coach, mom, podcaster, and songwriter who specializes in helping women create wealth and next level happiness. She is the host of the  Don’t Keep Your Day Job  podcast and author of  Don’t Keep Your Day Job: The Book.  Throughout the show, she has interviewed creative entrepreneurs like actress Jenna Fischer, popular blogger Seth Godin, designer Jonathan Adler, make-up artist Bobbi Brown, former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, fashionista Tamara Mellon, novelist Emily Giffin, and Gretchen Rubin to name a few. Cathy is also a mom to three little girls, a passionate writer, and sought-after songwriter for TV shows and commercials.

Product Details

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio (December 3, 2024)
• Runtime: 9 hours
• ISBN13: 9781668125113

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How to Enable Kindle X-Ray: An Author’s Guide

POSTED ON May 13, 2024

Written by Shannon Clark

What is Kindle X-Ray? Finding ways to engage readers is an ongoing search for many authors. When you understand that connected readers don't just read books but also share them and buy more, finding tools to make this easier is critical to any book marketing strategy. This is especially true for self-published authors who often have to make decisions about the book design process.

One book feature that you don’t hear many talking about (yet) is Kindle X-Ray. Below we'll take a closer look at the Kindle X-ray feature to uncover what it is and how you can set it up on your Kindle book to offer readers an enhanced reading experience. 

Table of Contents: How to Enable Kindle X-Ray

What is the kindle x-ray feature.

KDP Definition: X-Ray is a unique Kindle eBook feature that allows readers to learn more about a character, topic, event, place, or any other term, simply by pressing and holding on the word or phrase that interests them. Even a few descriptive words can make a big difference to the reader as they try and situate characters or learn more about events or other terms.

If you’ve ever read a nonfiction book and flipped to the back for a glossary or the definition on your computer; or, if you’ve found yourself deep into an epic fantasy novel and run across an obviously made-up word and thought “Wait, what?”, then Kindle X-Ray might be your new best friend. 

The beautiful thing about Kindle X-ray is that it keeps readers on the page, reducing the time spent looking up definitions on other pages or locations. Leaving a page can dampen a reader's experience and can also distract a reader enough to stop reading altogether. 

Who should use the Kindle X-Ray feature? 

One of the great benefits of this Kindle feature is that any author can use it. It is free to use and genre-independent. Here are some use-case examples:

• An epic, multi-generational novel could use the Kindle X-Ray feature to help readers keep up with a long list of characters and where each one belongs.
• A beginner's book on investing could provide definitions of investment terms along with author commentary with examples.
• A grammar textbook with definitions and author comments that provide exceptions to the rules.
• A fantasy novel with a constructed language could use the Kindle X-Ray as a translation feature.

This accessible feature can be used in any way that you think a reader might benefit from additional information .

How can you enable Kindle X-Ray?

Once your book is published on Amazon, you can enable the X-Ray feature and add content.

• Go to kdp.amazon.com
• Find the ebook you want to activate X-Ray on and click the ellipses (…) for the drop-down menu
• Select “Add X-Ray.” If your book already has X-Ray installed, you can click on “Launch X-Ray” and be taken directly to the author tool.  If it has not been added, yet, Amazon will turn it on and auto-fill suggestions to get you started. Amazon sends a confirmation email once the setup is complete (may take up to 4 hours to process).
• Once you receive approval, you can begin adding content. Amazon will use “publicly available sources, machine learning, and excerpts from your book” to suggest content, but you have the option to accept or reject their suggestions as well as add your preferred content. Entries can be up to 1,200 characters long.
• This is not an all-or-none feature. You can add your content in one sitting or a little bit at a time. When you’re ready to approve what's been added, click the “Review and Publish X-Ray” button. 

Additional tips for using Kindle X-Ray

• Kindle X-Ray accepts custom definitions, Wikipedia information, and text-based content for links.
• You can hide terms but Amazon only recommends this if the information is a spoiler.
• Once you add the X-Ray feature to your book, it cannot be removed. The content can be changed, but the feature will always remain.
• If duplicate content occurs, update with new content or “combine terms as aliases.”
• When Kindle X-Ray is enabled on your book it will show up in the Product Details section

• You can add characters and terms. This allows you to link different versions of a character’s name to one definition. For example, let’s say I have a supporting character in my thriller novel whose name is Adrian Drake but he also has the nickname Dice. I can connect the different versions of his name so whether a reader highlights, Adrian, Adrian Drak, Drake, or Dice, they will all lead to the same character’s description.
• You can also add author commentary, which could offer the reader insight from the author’s perspective.
• Updates to your manuscript on the KDP platform can delete X-Ray content, so keep a backup of your definitions and custom content handy.
• Kindle X-Ray does not work with Kindle for Web but can be accessed on the following devices:

As a self-published author, whenever you can set your book apart by offering your reader something unexpected, do it! Anything that enhances a reader's experience is always a good thing. Readers remember the little things, and not having to put in extra work to get through a book is something that anyone can appreciate.

Amazon's Kindle X-Ray and other free tools can give authors an advantage but only when they take the time to learn how to use the tools. Offering readers extra content (e.g. definitions, author commentary, etc.) helps to draw them further into your story whether fiction or nonfiction by adding layers to their reading experience.

One of the reader benefits of X-Ray is that once you turn it on, it's always in the background whether the reader chooses to use it or not. So, why not give them a little bit extra, just because? They'll remember it, and what they can't get from others, they'll come back to you for the experience time and time again.

Want to learn more?

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