Self-publishing can be a daunting task, especially when you’re trying to figure out the costs of the process. But fear not – author Jenna Moreci is here to break down the expenses that come with publishing a book. In her latest blog post, Moreci shares her personal experience and offers insight into the costs of self-publishing.
Before diving into the expenses, Moreci shares exciting news about her new class on Skillshare, “How to Self-Publish Your Book from Start to Finish.” The class breaks down the self-publishing process step by step, from professional editing to publication. Moreci even includes an assignment that allows students to create their own cover art concept. The best part? The class is free with a Skillshare trial.
Moving on to the expenses, Moreci emphasizes that the breakdown is specific to self-publishing, not traditional publishing. If you’re publishing through a traditional publishing house, they should be covering all expenses. Moreci focuses solely on publishing expenses, not marketing expenses. While her platform is large, and thus receives more free marketing, Moreci notes that analyzing her marketing expenses would create a false impression.
Now, onto the breakdown of expenses. Moreci offers a look into the costs of publishing her most recent novel, “The Savior’s Sister.” The first expense is the developmental and line editor, which cost $1,707. This type of editing tackles major structural issues, plot lines, and character arcs. Developmental edits tend to be the most expensive, with rates ranging from half a cent to three cents per word. Line edits, which analyze writing on a sentence and paragraph level, tend to be cheaper at half a cent to two cents per word.
The second expense is the copy editor, which cost $762. This type of editing covers grammar, syntax, and punctuation on a word-by-word basis. Moreci notes that this is an edit that writers should not skip, as bad grammar and punctuation can ruin the reading experience. Copy editing tends to be less expensive than developmental editing, with rates ranging from less than a cent to about a cent per word.
While these expenses may seem steep, Moreci emphasizes that the cost depends on the length of the book. “The Savior’s Sister” has approximately 160,000 words, which contributed to the higher cost of editing. Moreci got a package deal for both developmental and line editing, which made the expense seem higher than it actually was.
Self-publishing can be a costly process, but knowing what to expect can help you plan and budget accordingly. With Moreci’s breakdown of expenses, you can better understand what goes into the self-publishing process and prepare yourself for success.