Publishing a book is now within every author’s reach. Today’s “print on demand” allows authors to publish their books and make them available to the public at no cost. This is a fantastic opportunity for authors to share their work with the world. It’s also an opportunity to embarrass yourself by putting something out there that’s less than professional. This class will give you the information and tools you need to take advantage of the good while avoiding the bad.

Classes will involve lecture, demonstration, and class discussion.

Unit 1: We will discuss the history of publishing, the elements and language of publishing, and how this history affects publishing on demand. 
Unit 2: Manuscript preparation. While each part of the publishing process is important, manuscript preparation is critical. We will look at manuscript examples and discuss the various stages of editing, what makes a good editor, and how to find good editors.
Unit 3: Formatting your manuscript. We will discuss the rules and tools for making a manuscript look good for e-book and paperback. This used to be the realm of professional typesetters. It’s now in the reach of authors if they take care.
Unit 4: The Cover. Unfortunately a book is judged by its cover. In this unit we will explore what makes an effective cover. We will look at available tools to make a cover. We will discuss how to find professionals to help.
Unit 5: Publication and Marketing. Books don’t sell themselves. In this unit we will talk about bringing your book to the market, as well as marketing opportunities.