Guides & resources

LiberScript vs Affinity Publisher and Adobe InDesign for Book Interiors

Affinity Publisher and Adobe InDesign offer professional, general-purpose page layout control. Here's how they compare to LiberScript's guided, book-specific design mode.

LiberScript vs Atticus: Which Book Formatting Software Is Right for You?

A side-by-side comparison of LiberScript and Atticus for self-published authors: pricing models, formatting features, editing and critique tools, export formats, and which one fits your workflow.

LiberScript vs Kindle Create: Which Tool Gets Your Book to KDP Faster?

Kindle Create is Amazon's free KDP-only formatting tool. LiberScript formats for KDP and every other platform. Here's how they compare for indie authors.

LiberScript vs Reedsy Book Editor: Features, Pricing, and Workflow Compared

How LiberScript compares to the free Reedsy Book Editor for formatting, critique, design, and export, and which is the better fit for your self-publishing workflow.

LiberScript vs Scrivener: Writing, Formatting, and Export Compared

Scrivener is a long-form writing and organization tool. LiberScript focuses on critique, design, and export. Here's how they compare and how authors use both together.

LiberScript vs the Draft2Digital Formatting Tool: A Full Comparison

Draft2Digital bundles free ebook formatting with wide distribution and a sales commission. LiberScript focuses on critique, design, and export for a fixed-price pass. Here's how they compare.

LiberScript vs Vellum: A Side-by-Side Comparison for Indie Authors

How LiberScript compares to Vellum for ebook and print formatting: platform support, pricing model, design features, and which is the better fit for your workflow.

The Best Book Formatting Software in 2026: A Complete Comparison Guide

A side-by-side look at the most popular book formatting tools for self-published authors in 2026: pricing, platform support, design control, and what each tool does best.

Common KDP Rejection Reasons and How to Avoid Them

A complete guide to the most common Amazon KDP rejection reasons for interior files, cover files, and content policy, with specific fixes for each issue before you resubmit.

How to Choose KDP Categories and Keywords That Actually Sell Books

A practical guide to selecting Amazon KDP categories and keywords that improve your book's discoverability and sales rank, including how to research, request extras, and avoid common mistakes.

How to Format Front Matter and Back Matter for KDP Books

A complete guide to front matter and back matter for KDP ebooks and print books: what to include, what's required, how to structure each element, and how to use back matter strategically.

How to Price Your Book on Amazon KDP for Maximum Royalties and Sales

A practical guide to KDP book pricing strategy: the 70% royalty sweet spot, genre norms, launch pricing, Countdown Deals, print pricing, and how to test what works.

How to Self-Publish a Book on Amazon KDP: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide

A complete walkthrough of publishing your book on Amazon KDP, from setting up an account to uploading files, setting prices, and reaching Kindle and paperback readers.

How to Set Up a Series on Amazon KDP for Better Discoverability

A complete guide to setting up a book series on Amazon KDP: Series Manager, naming conventions, book order, series page metadata, and category and keyword strategies for series discoverability.

KDP Cover Specifications: Print and Ebook Cover Sizing Guide

The complete Amazon KDP cover specifications for ebook and print covers, including dimensions, file formats, resolution, spine width calculation, bleed requirements, and color mode.

KDP Formatting Requirements: A Complete Checklist for Print and Ebook

The complete technical requirements for formatting a book for Amazon KDP, covering ebook file specs, print trim sizes, margins, bleeds, cover dimensions, and common rejection reasons.

KDP Print vs Ebook: Formatting Differences Every Author Should Know

How print and ebook formatting differ for Amazon KDP: file types, layout, typography, images, tables, table of contents, and how to handle both from one manuscript.

KDP Royalties Explained: How Amazon Pays Authors and How to Maximize Yours

A complete breakdown of Amazon KDP's royalty structure for ebooks and print, including the 35% vs 70% plans, delivery costs, Kindle Unlimited page reads, international markets, and payment schedules.

Building an Author Platform Before You Publish Your First Book

A practical guide for indie authors on building an author platform before and during publication: email lists, social media strategy, author websites, and how to start building an audience from zero.

Copyright Basics for Self-Published Authors

What self-published authors need to know about copyright: how it works, what you own, when you need permission, how to register, what's in the public domain, and how to protect your work.

Do You Need an ISBN to Self-Publish? A Complete Guide

Everything self-published authors need to know about ISBNs: when you need one, when you don't, how to get one, what free ISBNs from distributors actually mean, and how many you need per book.

Front Matter and Back Matter: What Every Book Needs (and What It Doesn't)

A complete guide to front matter and back matter for self-published books: which elements are required, which are optional, how they differ for ebooks vs print, and genre-specific conventions for fiction and nonfiction.

How Long Should Your Book Be? Word Count Guidelines by Genre

Expected word counts for fiction and nonfiction by genre: what agents, publishers, and readers expect, why these ranges exist, and what to do if your manuscript is significantly shorter or longer.

How to Hire (or Skip) an Editor as an Indie Author

A practical guide for indie authors on the different types of editing, when each is worth the investment, how to find and evaluate editors, what to expect from the process, and when self-editing is sufficient.

How to Plan a Book Launch as an Indie Author

A step-by-step book launch plan for indie authors: pre-launch timeline, ARC distribution, launch week tactics, pricing strategy, first-week goals, and what to do after launch to sustain momentum.

Indie Publishing 101: A Beginner's Roadmap from Manuscript to Published Book

A complete beginner's guide to self-publishing your book independently: the stages of the process, the platforms involved, key decisions, what to expect, and how to get started.

Print-on-Demand Explained: How It Works and What It Costs

A complete guide to print-on-demand (POD) for indie authors: how it works, the major providers (KDP Print, IngramSpark, Lulu, Draft2Digital), what it costs, royalty calculations, and how to use it for bookstore distribution.

Self-Editing Your Manuscript: A Practical Checklist Before You Publish

A structured self-editing checklist for indie authors covering big-picture structure, scene-level pacing, prose style, consistency, and common errors to catch before sending to an editor or publishing.

Apple Books for Authors: Publishing and Formatting Guide

How indie authors can publish on Apple Books through Apple Books for Authors or Draft2Digital: account requirements, formatting tips, royalties, promotional tools, and how Apple Books fits into a wide distribution strategy.

Audiobooks for Indie Authors: ACX, Findaway Voices, and Getting Started

How indie authors produce and distribute audiobooks through ACX and Findaway Voices, including royalty structures, narrator hiring, production costs, AI narration options, and how audiobooks fit into a wide publishing strategy.

Barnes & Noble Press: How to Publish Print and Ebooks on B&N

A complete guide to Barnes & Noble Press for indie authors: how to publish ebooks and print books on B&N, royalty rates, Nook features, differences from Amazon KDP, and how B&N fits into a wide distribution strategy.

Going Wide vs KDP Select: Which Publishing Strategy Earns More?

A data-informed comparison of KDP Select exclusivity vs wide distribution for indie authors: what each strategy offers, who benefits from each, and how to decide which is right for your books.

How Much Do Self-Published Authors Really Make? A Realistic Breakdown

A grounded look at self-published author income: what the data shows about typical earnings, what separates hobbyist income from full-time income, and the factors that matter most to your own numbers.

How to Publish and Make Money on Draft2Digital: A Complete Guide

Everything indie authors need to know about Draft2Digital: how it works, how to upload and distribute, royalty rates on each platform, D2D's free ISBN and formatting tools, and how to maximize earnings going wide.

How to Set Up Library Distribution for Your Self-Published Book

A complete guide to library ebook and print distribution for self-published authors: OverDrive, Bibliotheca, Hoopla, IngramSpark library access, how libraries acquire indie books, and what to realistically expect.

IngramSpark for Indie Authors: Print Distribution and Pricing Explained

A complete guide to IngramSpark for self-published authors: how it works, setup costs, pricing and discount settings, bookstore distribution, library access, how it compares to KDP Print, and when to use both.

Kobo Writing Life: How to Publish on Kobo and Reach International Readers

A complete guide to Kobo Writing Life for indie authors: how to set up your account, upload ebooks, pricing strategy, promotional tools, and how Kobo differs from Amazon in key international markets.

Multi-Platform Publishing: Formatting Once for KDP, D2D, IngramSpark, and Kobo

How to format your manuscript once and produce print and ebook files that work cleanly across Amazon KDP, Draft2Digital, IngramSpark, and Kobo Writing Life, without maintaining separate versions for each platform.

Book Interior Design 101: Typography, Margins, and Trim Sizes Explained

A practical guide to print book interior design for self-published authors: choosing a trim size, setting margins and gutters, picking typography, and the small details that separate professional-looking books from amateur ones.

Chapter Headings and Section Breaks: Design Tips That Make Books Feel Professional

How to design chapter headings, part dividers, and scene breaks that read as professionally produced: numbering conventions, placement, white space, and consistency across print and ebook.

Choosing Fonts for Your Book: A Guide for Self-Published Authors

How to choose fonts for your book's interior, cover, and ebook: serif vs sans-serif body text, font pairing, licensing for embedding, and how font choices signal genre and quality to readers.

EPUB Formatting Best Practices for Fiction and Nonfiction

A practical guide to building well-structured EPUB files for self-published books: semantic markup, CSS and font embedding, images, accessibility, and how fiction and nonfiction EPUBs differ.

Formatting Dialogue, Scene Breaks, and Special Text Correctly

A practical guide to formatting dialogue, internal thoughts, letters and texts within a story, foreign words, and special characters in your manuscript, with conventions that read as professionally typeset in print and ebook.

How to Create a Table of Contents That Works in Print and Ebook

How to build a table of contents for self-published books that functions correctly in both print and ebook editions, including what to include, how ebook navigation works, and common mistakes to avoid.

How to Design a Print-Ready Book Cover: Specs, Tools, and Tips

A complete guide to designing a print-ready book cover for self-published authors: cover anatomy, trim size and spine calculations, file specifications, design principles, and tools for DIY or hired cover design.

Print Proofing Checklist: How to Catch Formatting Errors Before You Order Copies

A complete checklist for proofing your print book before publishing: what to check in your cover, interior, and front/back matter, how to order and review a physical proof, and what to do if you find an issue.

Book Marketing for Introverts: Low-Stress Strategies That Work

Practical, sustainable book marketing strategies for introverted authors who don't want to livestream, network constantly, or perform online: what to focus on instead and why it works.

How to Build an Email List as a New Author

A practical guide for new authors to building an email list from zero: choosing a service, what to offer subscribers, what to send, and how a list supports every future book launch.

How to Use AI Tools Responsibly in Your Writing and Publishing Process

A practical guide for indie authors on using AI tools responsibly: where AI can help in writing and publishing, disclosure expectations on major platforms, copyright considerations, and where human judgment matters most.

Pricing Strategy for Indie Authors: Free, Permafree, and Promotional Pricing

How indie authors use free, permafree, and promotional pricing strategically: when discounting helps, how it affects royalties and series sales, and how to run a price promotion effectively.