Bachelor project
Visual Communication
Academy of the Arts, Bern, CH
Mentoring by
Dr. Alexandra Schüssler
Roby Redgrave
→ Self-publishing is fun!
How to publish a book when you have no idea How to publish a book?
A reckless, uncomplete guide based on my experience.
This guide was drafted rather rashly and from my perspective as a white, non-binary, central European person.
I had the extreme privilege of being able to spend several months of my life on this project during the final phase of my Bachelor's study.
I have no affiliation with any of the sources mentioned.
↳ Find a theme
Certainly the most important part of the whole process.
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
What keeps you from sleeping at night?
Write about whatever makes you feel something, whether it is anger, astonishment, happiness or simply curiosity.
You don't have to be an expert in anything, every thought is valid and deserves to be shared.
(Read well: if you decide to use this awesome opportunity to produce a book that is harmful to others, please re-evaluate your priorities and touch some grass).
[Archives/Open-access libraries/…: Wikimedia, Internet Archive, Queer Archive Work, Cyberfeminism Index, EC Library]
↳ Read → Write → Read
You have now found a theme that moves you enough to have decided to write about it: great!
In what direction do you decide to take it?
Are there other people (past or present) who have done something similar?
Go to the library, dig on the internet, talk to friends and family: what you need now is to gather as many sources of inspiration as possible.
Be a sponge (literally), don't be scared off by books that are too big or names that are too (or too little) important, the gift of the web gives us millions of texts, papers and books (even for free); why not take advantage?
Another fundamental aspect: take note of your thoughts. No matter how messy, discordant or poorly formulated they may be, the important thing is that they are reported. You will have plenty of time later to return to them and make sense of them.
[Libraries/Resources: Swiss Library Service Platform, Open Library, ETH Library, Digital Public Library of America, UNESCO Digital Library, Central and Eastern Europe Online Library, Libby]
↳ Write → Read → Write
You've now started to collect what's buzzing around in your head, you're piling up pages upon pages of chaotic notes on your smartphone and whatever piece of paper is in front of you: what next? One word: structure.
A good thing for me was to have some sort of skeleton in mind for the publication I wanted to make: some vague chapters, a running order, whatever might work out best for you and your work. Every time I got lost on my way, I would return to my frame and regain confidence in the process, I would remember the order of things and return to my path.
You can always go back to the various chapters and replenish the parts, nobody judges you.
Another good thing would be to go back to your resources and to just keep on digging even deeper. In my experience, I was able to reconsider and reformulate different thoughts and sentences in a more comprehensible manner just by reading something from someone else or even re-reading what I just wrote.
[Writing tools: Grammarly, WordReference, Reverso Context]
↳ Gather; Assemble; Enjoy.
You went from a bunch of discordant texts to a series of small chapters with any kind of continuity.
Congratulations! There is very little left.
Do you feel that there are sufficient connections between one chapter and the next?
Do you think a couple of pictures/drawings/schemes might help?
Do you perceive a warm, fuzzy feeling in your guts?
Do you really think it is necessary to have four sub-chapters concerning the fall of Coachella or could you condense something?
This step is vital to the final outcome since it literally shapes and dictates the rhythm and flow of your text and how it will be read by others. It can be helpful to shuffle things around, print every part out and just read it through until you think you’ve got something.
[Open-source image libraries/…: Wikimedia Commons, Internet Archive, EC Library]
↳ Nobody’s perfect
You now have a complete text in your hands, all your references placed and cited, your images collected and everything seems to be ready.
Are you quite sure?
Please find an external person (the more the merrier) who can proofread your text for errors, smears and imperfections.
After all this time spent with your eyes glued to your work, you can be sure that some detail may have escaped you.
Make use of your friends! Make new ones!
I, myself, wish I could have spent more time on verifying every last detail but in the end, what’s printed is printed.
There are infinite constraints and limitations which we encounter in our earthly existence. Just keep your head up: there’s plenty more books to be written.
↳ Layout? Layout!
Your text is now clean, inspected and pampered. You now need to find it a form, a home, a sense.
Since my whole existence gravitates towards graphic design, it was given that I would take care of this part, although, to be honest, I would have loved to have an external, paid professional to take care of it.
Not everything always works out the way you want it to.
Word is your friend; Pages is your friend. As long as you can organise, edit and format text you are good to go.
There are several online possibilities to retrieve sample layouts and bases to work on, free and otherwise.
Please keep in mind to whom this publication is addressed, readability and the way you wish to publish it (or not at all!).
[Open-source Layout softwares: Scribus, LibreOffice Draw]
[General graphic design open-source softwares: GIMP, Inkscape]
[Fonts: Libre Fonts by Womxn, dafont, Google Fonts, fr33fontzzz4u
Pro-tip: most designers are happy to see their creations in use, especially for good and charitable causes. Write an email and ask.]
↳ How and where to print it
In my case, I had initially considered a type of printing called offset, normally used for high print runs, with a relatively low unit cost but, indeed, high print runs (300+ ex.). Given the financial constraints (Fr. 500 for the whole project), I resorted to traditional and more affordable digital printing, which allowed me to produce 100 books for the modest sum of about Fr. 350, B&W print on recycled scrap paper .
The possibilities are endless: black and white, spot colours, special finishes, freaky paper, metal stitching, leather covers.
If your budget allows it and the nature of the publication as well, I recommend that you get in touch with a print shop near you, even if only for a consultation. There are plenty of alternatives to be considered, depending on your needs and wishes and availability, and a pro will always know best.
Since I am in Switzerland and we are fortunate to be surrounded by wonderful enterprises in the printing industry, I was lucky enough to be able to rely on a local print shop. Support your neighbourhood and local businesses.
At worst, the internet saves the day once again: various online printing services are offered, usually with limitations on size, number of pages, colours and copies. Compromises have to be made.
[EU-based print services: Onlineprinters, WirMachenDruck, BoD, 24bookPrint, Esser, Kopa, Ridder Print, Book Printer EU, Estella Print, PNB Print]
[CH-based local print services: Cric Print, Complice Press, Rond Bleu, Kulturbüro, others]
↳ Sponsorship and patronage
Are you writing for a specific cause?
Do you think it might arouse interest in other people?
Perhaps an older patron could spare you some change?
Prepare a small information sheet where you try to sell your idea as best you can, collect as many email addresses of associations, foundations, individuals, write to your village/town/city and ask for financial support.
There is no shame in asking for money.
This process should normally be started almost before writing, but since there is very little that is normal here, bear with me.
[CH-based: ProHelvetia, Migros-Kulturprozent, Swiss Confederation, StiftungSchweiz]
↳ To advertise or not to advertise?
Consider going public on different social media platforms, such as TikTok, Reddit or Instagram —which is the devil, but remains the most financially attractive (free) solution where to advertise your book.
But if, like me, you have no more space to add more accounts or time to waste, the internet is your friend again: take a couple of nice pictures of your product, if you can, even some scans, prepare some extracts and throw yourself on the www.
Send emails, set up a small free website (not like this one...), bother as many people as possible.
And if in the flurry of emails you happen to include some bookshop, publisher or important person, all the better!
It would be a good idea to consider this step in the budgeting so not to have to resort to last minute w3schools tutorials and countless headaches just to obtain a free website. Your time is precious and your mental health also. Also consider that with a website comes a domain and other expenses.
Or even: fill a tote bag with books and show up in person, organise a launch event and gather your tribe, be vocal and be proud. There is nothing better than meeting friendly faces, maybe even listen to some music, and to create a special occasion where to promote your book.
[Free website provider (coding skills needed): GitHub Pages]
[Paid website providers: Cargo, ReadyMag, Wix, Squarespace]
[Alternative social media platforms: SpaceHey, MySpace, Tumblr]
↳ Support is nice. Support is needed.
I know very well the feeling of doing everything on your own, not asking for help from anything or anyone and simply going your own way hoping for the best.
Please be less arrogant and stubborn than I am and find people who can follow you through every step of the process: someone to discuss thematic and stylistic choices with, a friend who can give you feedback, a stranger to roast you about your layout.
The beauty of this adventure is not where you end up, but the friends you make in the process.