Self-Publishing Primer and Consultation Package
Personalized education and guidance on publishing your own book
Overview
Overview
TED’s self-publishing primer and consultation package equips authors with the latest and most useful information on self-publishing (also called “indie publishing”) options. Our expert guidance takes the anxiety out of planning and publishing and helps you get your book out quickly, easily, and economically—without compromising quality. We’ll also steer you to the best tools and resources to support you on your publishing journey.
The process starts with a one-on-one consultation with our lead indie publishing consultant John Marlow, to familiarize you with the process and help you prepare for publication.
John is a traditionally published book author (fiction and nonfiction) who went indie after several years of intensive research. He has multiple indie books (fiction and nonfiction) coming out in 2025, and has already helped shepherd others through the process, from initial editing through indie publication and online advertising. As an experienced editor himself, John can read your manuscript and advise on readiness for publication. As an Academy-honored screenwriter, he can also advise on (or perform) adaptations for the screen.
Once your initial self-publishing consultation is complete and a plan is in place, John is available as needed to provide:
- Personalized education on formatting, book covers, publishing, mailing lists, reviews, advertising, etc.
- Customized checklists and support to help you budget, plan, and manage your book’s publication and promotion
- Recommendations for the best and most useful resources (tools, groups, services and more) to help you get things up and running
- Personalized guidance on decisions and options you’ll need to consider along the way, including:
- format: ebooks and print
- audiobooks and foreign translations
- Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited program (where your books are free, but you get paid when people read them)
- advertising
- ARC readers
- influencers
- book pricing and release schedules
- Answers to questions you may have about publishing along the way
- Professionally-authored promotional copy to describe your book, attract readers, and drive sales
Pricing: $75 per hour with package rates available on request
Getting Started: Call us at (520) 546-9992, email us at admin@editorialdepartment.com, or visit our Self-Publishing Support Questionnaire to tell us a little about your project, request whatever information you need, or set up an appointment.
Recommended Reading
PATHS TO PUBLISHING: A Decision Guide on Traditional and Independent Publishing Options for 2025
[by Ross Browne and John Robert Marlow] Publishing has changed a lot in the 45 years since The Editorial Department opened its doors—and not necessarily for the better, in the eyes of many. But it’s [...]
A Writer’s Guide to Finding the Perfect Voice Actor for Your Audiobook Guest post by Stewart Storrar of voquent.com
Every author should consider turning their book into an audiobook. Why? The audiobook market is growing fast, with many book lovers discovering that audiobooks are an easier way to read while on the move or performing [...]
Spotlight on Sentence-Level Editing Demystifying the differences between line editing, copy editing, and proofreading
In an earlier blog post we talked about the importance of developmental editing and why the focus on big-picture stuff – structure, book-spanning issues like plot or organization, character development, dialogue, and that sort of [...]
Mainstream Publishers and the Acquisition of Successful Self-Published Titles Literary agent Adriann Ranta Zurhellen weighs in on a burning question among self-published authors looking to go traditional
Q. How interested are mainstream publishers in buying successful self-published books? I don't mean hugely successful titles (Hugh Howey’s stuff, say), but books that have racked up impressive sales. And how many sales does it [...]
Which Publishing Path is Better for Debut Authors? Adriann Ranta Zurhellen shares a literary agent's viewpoint on a weighty question for new writers
Q. These days, it seems harder and harder to land an agent and a traditional publisher, while on the other hand, many of the growing number of self-published books on sites like Amazon have difficulty [...]
Bad Book Covers Considered What self-publishing authors can learn from a taste of tasteless covers
There are countless cliches that speak to the idea that beauty is found within, and that the value of what is on the surface is, well, superficial. A facade. “Beauty is only skin deep.” Another [...]
“Any discipline or indulgence that actually helps nudge you into a position facing the page is acceptable.” Janet Burroway