How to Publish a Book in Canada: A Simple Guide to Self-Publishing
Publishing a book in Canada is easier than ever, thanks to self-publishing.
With self-publishing, you control every aspect of your book, from editing to marketing. This detailed guide will walk you through how to publish a book in Canada, focusing on the benefits of self-publishing over traditional routes.
Step 1: Writing Your Manuscript
The first step is to finish writing your manuscript. This is the foundation of your book, and it’s important to take your time to get it right. Make sure your manuscript is polished and complete before moving forward. Writing is often a multi-stage process, including outlining, drafting, and revising. Fiction writers should pay special attention to character development, plot structure, and pacing. Nonfiction authors, on the other hand, need to focus on clarity, factual accuracy, and providing valuable insights.
Once you have a complete manuscript, it’s time to move on to the next step: publishing. And that’s where self-publishing becomes a powerful option.
Step 2: Why Choose Self-Publishing Over Traditional Publishing?
One of the biggest decisions you’ll face when publishing your book is choosing between self-publishing and traditional publishing. While traditional publishing has its advantages, such as industry connections and distribution networks, it also comes with significant downsides. Traditional publishers may want to change your story to make it more marketable, which can alter your creative vision. Plus, the process of getting an agent and landing a deal with a publisher can take years, with no guarantee of success.
With self-publishing, the power is in your hands:
Creative Control: Self-publishing allows you to make every decision about your book. You control the content, cover design, formatting, and overall presentation of your work. You won’t have to make changes to fit someone else’s vision.
Ownership of Rights: When you traditionally publish, you often give up rights to your book. In contrast, self-publishing means you retain all rights to your work, allowing you to sell it in any format and on any platform.
Higher Royalties: In traditional publishing, royalties are typically low, sometimes as little as 10% of book sales. Self-published authors, however, can earn up to 70% royalties, depending on the platform used.
Faster Process: Traditional publishing can take years from start to finish, but with self-publishing, your book can be available in as little as a few weeks after final edits and formatting.
The number of self-published books has grown by 264% over the past five years, reflecting the rapid expansion of the self-publishing market.
Step 3: The Importance of Professional Editing
One of the biggest mistakes self-published authors make is skipping the editing process. Even if you’re a strong writer, having a professional editor review your manuscript is essential. Good editing ensures that your book is clear, consistent, and free of errors, all of which affect how readers perceive your work.
There are several types of editing, each addressing different aspects of your manuscript:
Developmental Editing: This looks at the big picture—story structure, pacing, character development, and overall flow. If your manuscript feels uneven or unclear, developmental editing can help reshape it into a stronger book.
Line Editing: This focuses on the language itself—sentence structure, word choice, and clarity. Line editors refine the prose without changing the content.
Proofreading: This is the final step before publishing, focusing on catching any last typos, grammatical errors, or formatting issues.
Hiring a professional editor with a proven track record is crucial. At Foglio Custom Book Specialists, we offer expert editing services to polish your manuscript to the highest standard. We understand the nuances of different genres and provide feedback that will make your book shine.
Step 4: Professional Design for Your Book Cover and Interior Formatting
Your book cover is the first thing readers will notice, and the design can make or break their interest. A professional cover design that reflects your book’s genre and appeals to your target audience is crucial for success. While it might be tempting to design your cover yourself, this is an area where investing in a professional will pay off.
Interior formatting is just as important. A well-formatted book improves the reading experience and gives your book a professional finish. Whether you’re publishing a print book or an ebook, the interior layout should be clean, consistent, and easy to read.
At Foglio Custom Book Specialists, we offer custom cover design and interior formatting services to ensure your book looks as good as it reads. Our designers are skilled in both print and ebook formats, so your book will be ready for any platform.
Step 5: Printing and Distribution for Your Self-Published Book
Once your book is edited and designed, it’s time to publish and distribute it. One of the best things about self-publishing is the flexibility you have when it comes to printing and distribution.
Print-on-Demand (POD): With POD, you can print copies of your book only as they’re ordered. This means you don’t have to spend money on large print runs or deal with unsold inventory. Platforms like Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and IngramSpark make it easy for self-published authors to use POD services.
Ebook Distribution: Ebooks are another great way to reach a wide audience, especially with the rise of digital reading. Ebook distribution platforms, such as Amazon, Kobo, and Apple Books, allow your book to be available to readers around the world in minutes.
At Foglio, we handle the setup for print-on-demand and ebook distribution, ensuring your book is available on the major platforms with professional formatting and validation.
Step 6: Marketing Your Self-Published Book
Marketing is essential if you want to sell your book. As a self-published author, you’ll need to take an active role in promoting your work. The good news is that you have full control over your marketing strategy and can connect directly with readers.
Some key strategies for marketing include:
Social Media: Platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook are great for promoting your book. Share updates, teasers, and behind-the-scenes content to engage your audience.
Email Marketing: Build an email list of interested readers and send them updates on your book launch, sales, and promotions.
Book Reviews: Reach out to book bloggers and reviewers for honest feedback and exposure.
Author Events: Whether virtual or in-person, hosting a book launch or signing event can generate buzz and drive sales.
We can help create a custom marketing plan and design promotional materials like social media posts, business cards, and bookmarks to support your book’s success.
Ready to Publish Your Book in Canada? Let’s Talk!
Self-publishing offers you the freedom to retain full creative control, earn higher royalties, and get your book to market faster. If you’re ready to publish a book in Canada, we’re here to help every step of the way.
Schedule a free consultation with Foglio Custom Book Specialists to discuss your self-publishing project. We’ll guide you through the entire process, from editing and design to printing and marketing, ensuring your book is a success.
