Self-publishing SmashWords Books: Non-Amazon Self-publishing

Name: Self-publishing SmashWords Books: Non-Amazon Self-publishing
Rating: 4.6 (20 reviews)

SmashWords: Non-Amazon self-publishing. Self-publishing eBooks on Apple, B&N, Kobo and Scribd: Beginner Self-publishing

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Created byBrian Jackson

Last updated 1/2022

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

Understand what Smashwords is and how it works
Determine whether Smashwords publishing is for you
Learn to format your manuscript for Smashwords publication
Learn to upload your manuscript for Smashwords publication

Course content

6 sections • 26 lectures • 1h 57m total length

Course Overview2:32
Explore Smashwords self-publishing by outlining the course layout, prerequisites, and steps from formatting manuscripts in Word 2013 on Windows 8.1 to uploading, monitoring sales, and choosing when Smashwords fits.
How Smashwords Works5:29
Smashwords vs Kindle Select and Direct Publishing5:11
Signing Up for a Smashwords Author Account2:58
Learn to sign up for a free Smashwords author account, sign in, explore the dashboard, and prepare to publish, monitor sales, and manage coupons.

Download the Smashwords Style Guide0:16
The best source of information for publishing on Smashwords is the "Smashwords Style Guide" written and collected by none other than the founder of Smashwords, Mark Coker. Download and read this book. It is available on both Smashwords in a multitude of formats and it's even available on Amazon for Kindle download. Best of all, it's free!
Configuring Your Word Environment3:20
Displaying Formatting Characters2:59
Format your manuscript for Smashwords using Microsoft Word 2013 by displaying formatting characters and ensuring two blank lines after each chapter for HTML output.
Replacing Problematic Characters4:40
Replace problematic characters in your manuscript to ensure Smashwords compatibility. Learn to remove tab characters, convert dash sequences to em dashes, and standardize period spacing using Word's replace feature.
Modifying the Normal and Header Styles8:49
Configure normal and heading styles in Word: set normal to Times New Roman 12 with a first-line indent, and Heading 1 to 14 bold with a page break before.
Clearing All Previous Style Formatting (Optional)2:44
Applying the Header Styles4:32
Formatting Separators3:22
Center the asterisks as separators using advanced find, then insert two blank lines after the first chapter for HTML separators and save a hyphenated Smashwords version to preserve the original.
Configuring the Page Layout2:36
Configure the page layout by setting portrait orientation, letter size 8.5 by 11, a single column, and one-inch margins, then remove headers and footers and save for cross-device readability.
Adding a Smashwords Standard Title Page3:41
Smashwords Standard Title Page0:05
Adding a Table of Contents7:10
Reviewing and Saving Your Work1:29
Review every page to verify the table of contents, headers, separators, and links, then save your Smashwords manuscript for publication as you prepare for the upcoming book covers section.

Requirements

Microsoft Word 2013 to format you manuscript
Web browser to upload your manuscript for publication
Microsoft PowerPoint 2013 to create a book cover (optional)
Free GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) to create a book cover (optional)

Description

Note: Smashwords has been replaced by Draft2Digital. This course is retained for historical completeness.

Smashwords is the fast way of publishing everywhere that is not Amazon. But it's not for everyone.

Allow me to explain...

First, you should publish in Amazon Kindle format via KDP. Kindle eBooks are where you'll find most of your readership and therefore generate the most revenue. If you haven't already published via KDP, stop reading now and check out my course entitled "Publishing on Kindle: Self-publishing eBooks on Amazon KDP".

Second, you should publish in Print on Demand (POD) paperback format via CreateSpace. If you haven't already done so, stop reading now and check out my course titled "Publishing on CreateSpace: Self-publishing Books on Amazon".

Third, I recommend that you enroll in the KDP Select program to generate more revenue on Amazon Kindle eBooks through the KU and KOLL lending programs and to take advantage of promotional opportunities only made available to members of this program. Entering the KDP Select program requires that you publish your eBooks exclusively with Amazon and therefore do not publish on Smashwords.

If you have already 1) Published via KDP, 2) Published via CreateSpace and 3) chosen not to enter the KDP Select program, this course is for you.

This is the final step. Now that you've published on Amazon, use Smashwords to publish everywhere else. Smashwords will transform your Microsoft Word formatted document to the appropriate formats required by several eBook readers (e.g. ePub, MOBI, PDF ...) and then distribute your book for sale at all the non-Amazon eBook distributors (e.g. Apple iBook store, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Scribd ...).

In this course you'll learn everything you need to publish via Smashwords. You'll learn:

What Smashwords is an how it works.
How to format your manuscript for publication via Smashwords.
How to upload your manuscript for publication via Smashwords.
How to monitor sales and modify your book.

So, if you're ready to publish everywhere that is not Amazon, I'm ready to show you how.

---Brian

Who this course is for:

Any self-published author who has 1) published via KDP, 2) published via CreateSpace and 3) chosen not to enter the KDP Select program

Self-publishing SmashWords Books: Non-Amazon Self-publishing

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction4 lectures • 16min

Formatting Your Manuscript for Publication using Microsoft Word 201313 lectures • 46min

Creating a Book Cover2 lectures • 14min

Publishing Your Book4 lectures • 28min

Monitoring and Modifying Your Book2 lectures • 9min

Conclusion1 lecture • 5min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: