The Self-Publishing Starter Pack: What I Wish I Knew Before Publishing My First Book

✨ When I first started dreaming of Hello Petal, the idea of self-publishing felt like standing at the bottom of a mountain with no map. There were ISBNs and barcodes, printing specs, marketing materials, distribution options… and no one telling me where to begin.

What I wanted most back then was a gentle roadmap. Something that could break the process into steps without overwhelming me. Something honest and practical — but also encouraging.

This is that roadmap. Not a strict “rule book,” but a starter pack: part guide, part lived experience. It’s what I wish someone had handed me when I began.

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🌸 Step 1: Laying the Foundations

Before you think about paper quality or colour palettes, you need to set the stage for your project. Every book begins with intention, and self-publishing is no different. This first step is about building the groundwork that will support every decision to come — from the practical to the personal. Self-publishing isn’t just about printing a book — it’s about building the vision for it. Before you open a design program or upload a file, pause here:

Checklist:

• Clarify your why → Why this book, why now?
• Choose your format → Picture book, novel, digital, or hybrid?
• Budget realistically → Printing, ISBNs, shipping, marketing, editing, design.
• Decide your sales channels early → Direct (Etsy, website), wholesale, distribution.

Pro Tip: Write your “why” on a sticky note and keep it visible. On the tough days, it will remind you why you started.

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📖 Step 2: Preparing Your Manuscript & Illustrations

Once your vision is clear, it’s time to bring the content of your book to life. This is the stage where words and images take shape. It is where ideas become tangible: manuscripts are polished, illustrations are created or commissioned, and design decisions start to take shape. It’s exciting — but also a little technical. And because of that, it’s also one of the easiest places to get lost in the details.

Checklist:

• Edit, then edit again. Use a professional editor if you can.
• Format your manuscript according to printer/distributor specs. There are a tonne of free resources out to educate yourself with, and often you can find one that is specific to your self-publishing platform if you are using a Print-On-Demand (POD) company (like I did with IngramSpark!)
• For illustrations: if you require an illustrator, set your budget early but be prepared to leave a little wriggle room. There are many different price points to consider when commissioning an illustrator, and the price can vary significantly depending on where you look and what you ask for.
• If you go down the self-illustrating route, be sure to check size, bleed, trim lines, and colour profile (CMYK vs RGB). Again, there are loads of online resources to help guide you through this process.
• Collect feedback from trusted readers and honest friends before moving forward.

Pro Tip: Print out a few rough spreads at home — seeing them physically on paper will reveal mistakes you’d miss on-screen.

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🖋 Step 3: ISBNs, Barcodes & Copyright

With your manuscript and illustrations underway, it’s time to give your book its “identity.” ISBNs and barcodes are what make your book trackable in the publishing world, while a copyright page ensures your creative work is protected. This section can feel technical, but it’s one of the simplest ways to give your book legitimacy. This is where your book becomes official. In Australia, ISBNs are purchased from Thorpe-Bowker.

Checklist:

• Buy an ISBN for each format (hardcover, paperback, ebook).
• Generate a barcode for each ISBN (a requirement if you plan to sell via retail distribution channels)
• Add a copyright page → include rights statement, publisher name, ISBN, and disclaimers if needed.

Pro Tip: Buy ISBNs in a block (10 or 100) — it’s cheaper long-term, and you’ll likely need more than one if you plan future projects.

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📦 Step 4: Printing & Distribution

Now comes the step that makes your book real. This part can feel like the biggest hurdle — like choosing how and where it will be printed, and how it will reach readers. This is often where self-publishers feel overwhelmed, but breaking it down into manageable decisions makes it far less daunting. Whether you go with Print on Demand, short-run printing, or a hybrid approach, this stage turns your book into a physical product.

Checklist:

• Decide between Print on Demand (IngramSpark, KDP) or a short-run/local printer.
• Order a physical proof before committing to bulk orders.
• Weigh up distribution options → direct sales (Etsy, Shopify, website), Ingram distribution, or consignment/wholesale to retailers.
• Factor in packaging and shipping costs early.

Pro Tip: Don’t skip the proof copy. Typos, colour shifts, and layout issues are easier to catch in print than on-screen.

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💌 Step 5: Marketing & Launch

Once your book is tangible, the next step is making sure it finds its way into the hands of readers. Marketing isn’t about being pushy — it’s about sharing the story behind your story. It’s about letting people into your process so they feel connected to the book before it even launches. This stage is as much about building community as it is about sales. Marketing may feel intimidating, but a book without readers is just paper.

Checklist:

• Build an email list early.
• Create preorder buzz with behind-the-scenes peeks.
• Prepare launch assets: flyers, press kits, preorder graphics, pitch emails.
• Think local → libraries, schools, indie bookshops love to support community authors.
• Think digital → Instagram, Pinterest, blogs, podcasts.

Pro Tip: Don’t wait until your book is finished to start sharing. Invite people into your journey — it builds trust and anticipation.

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🗂️ Step 6: Legal Deposit

One of the most overlooked parts of self-publishing in Australia is the legal deposit requirement. By law, every book published in Australia must be deposited with the National Library of Australia and your relevant state library. This ensures your work becomes part of the nation’s cultural record and can be accessed by future readers, researchers, and historians.

When I first learned about legal deposit, it felt intimidating — like one more piece of red tape. But it’s actually a simple process, and an important one. It’s also a beautiful milestone: the moment your book officially becomes part of Australia’s publishing history.

Checklist:

• Send a copy of your book to the National Library of Australia (via the Legal Deposit portal or by post).
• Send a copy to your State Library — for South Australia, that’s the State Library of South Australia.
• Keep a record of your submission (email confirmation, postal receipt).
• If publishing digitally, submit a copy of your eBook/PDF as well.

Pro Tip: Think of legal deposit as archiving your legacy. This isn’t just paperwork — it’s your book’s entry into history. Future readers may stumble across your work in a library long after launch day.

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🌼 Why I Created Hello Petal

Hello Petal wasn’t created in perfect conditions — it was pieced together in the middle of messy, interrupted moments. The guide above is the kind of resource I longed for when I first began. Back then, I spent countless late nights scrolling through forums, blogs, and publishing websites, teaching myself each step of the process while trading sleep for scraps of knowledge.

In between the research came the reality: sketches at the kitchen table, edits crammed into nap times, and proof copies arriving on my doorstep while I juggled snacks on the floor.

Every stage of this starter pack is one I learned the hard way, often through trial and error. That’s why I share it now — not as an expert with all the answers, but as a late bloomer and a mum still figuring out how to balance motherhood, work, and creative life, one imperfect step at a time.

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✨ Final Thoughts

Self-publishing is equal parts practical and emotional. It’s budgets, research, ISBNs, and marketing spreadsheets — but it’s also trial and error, resilience, patience, and belief.

You don’t need a big team or perfect conditions. You just need to take it one step at a time.

I’d love to hear from you. 🌼 Whether you’re just beginning to explore self-publishing, deep in the trenches of ISBNs and print proofs, or celebrating your first launch, know you’re not alone in the journey. If you have questions, need advice, or simply want to share the things you wish you’d known before starting, feel free to leave a comment below or reach out to me directly via email: hello@alfierhodesstudio.com. Connecting with fellow indies and creatives is one of the best parts of this path — we learn so much from each other. 💌

🌸 Want to see these steps in action? My debut picture book, Hello Petal, is available now — visit my Etsy store to explore it and some of my other digital art!

💌 Come join me on IG: @alfierhodesstudio to follow along on my indie publishing and small business creative journey!