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Many thousands of authors self-publish every year, often with the help of a publishing service. These services can cost thousands of dollars (even $100k!), but it’s rare that authors earn enough money through book sales to cover their upfront costs.

Self-publishing doesn’t have to be expensive to be high quality. It’s now possible for any author, at low- or no-cost, to publish and distribute their work—to every important online retailer and library—at the click of a button. But you have to know how to sift through the increasing number of services and distributors (and hybrid options) and identify which ones are essential for your project.

In this 90-minute class, publishing expert Jane Friedman covers everything you need to know about the self-publishing landscape, in plain English. You’ll come away with a clear picture of how the major retailers, distributors and service companies work, and learn the best practices of professional, self-publishing authors.

This class will teach you:

• The key distributors and platforms for self-publishing authors, including what the professional indie authors use
• The economics of using services such as Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, and others
• How much money you can expect to spend to produce a good-quality book (print or digital)
• Cost-effective tools for creating your own print book and ebook files
• How to hire professional freelance help that won’t break the bank
• The basics of creating and distributing audiobooks
• The most common marketing and promotion strategies used by self-publishing authors
• The critical sales and marketing differences between self-published books and traditionally published books—and how this affects your entire marketing strategy

You’ll not only get answers to these questions, but also an unbiased look at the self-publishing scene, including when you should do it, and—if you do—how to be effective in your efforts, without damaging your credibility or investing more money than you should.

While self-publishing doesn’t equal instant success, you’ll learn the principles behind the successful creation and distribution of an ebook or print edition.

Who should take this class:

• Anyone who is considering self-publishing for the first time (in print or ebook form)
• Traditionally published authors who haven’t yet self-published but are considering it
• Authors who have used paid publishing services in the past but want to try a more DIY route

Who should not take this class:

• People who already use and have accounts at Amazon KDP and IngramSpark. My assumption is that if you’ve already self-published, this class has less to offer you. However, if you self-published without understanding much of what you were doing or why, this class can help. Or, if it’s been a very long time since you ever touched your accounts, this class is a good refresher and update on the landscape.
• People who want to learn about hybrid publishing (this will be touched on, but that’s not the focus)
• People who seek information on offset printers, print runs, warehousing, and so on—which tend to be cost-prohibitive for most authors and are appropriate only in a limited number of cases

How do I attend the live class?

This class uses Zoom webinar technology. You will join through your Internet-connected computer or mobile device. When you register, you will receive information via email on how to join the class. If you don’t receive it within 1 hour of registering, please contact us.

• When: Wednesday, August 13, 2025
• Time: 1:00–2:30 p.m. Eastern Time / 10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Pacific Time
• Fee: $25

The webinar is broadcasted via the internet with live audio delivered through your computer or mobile device speakers. The visual presentation is displayed directly from the presenter’s computer to your computer screen. The Q&A is managed through a chat-style submission system with questions read and answered by the presenter for the entire class to hear.

Closed captions are provided during the live class. We use Zoom’s automated closed caption service, which is about 80%+ accurate.

All students receive the following

• Access to the live class (90 minutes). The instructor will take questions during class using in-class chat/text. The class will end after roughly 90 minutes.
• A recording of the class—audio and video. This is especially helpful if you have a conflict with the class time or something comes up and you can’t make the session. Each registration comes with access to the archived version of the program and the materials for 30 days. You do not have to attend the live event to access the recordings.
• Presentation slides. All participants receive a copy of the slide presentations in PDF form.
• Rough transcript. We offer a lightly edited transcript of each webinar, which we’ll share with you in addition to the audio and video recording.

Event Attendance & Anti-Harassment Policy

We strive to provide an environment where all present—whether attendee or presenter—can feel supported. In order to ensure a welcoming event, here is what we expect from all who participate.

• That the presenter and the presenter’s work be treated with respect by attendees and that all attendees treat each other with respect and a generosity of spirit.
• That attendees will refrain from harassment of any sort including (but not limited to) comments or questions of a racist, homophobic, sexist/sexual, or threatening nature. This includes actions that disrupt or interfere with anyone’s ability to participate. Offenders will be asked to leave the live event and will not be refunded.