How to Self-Publish an original poem Book Free Publishing Tips 2023 -

Jun 9, 2023

 Last updated: 16 May 2023

Self-publishing has become an increasingly popular option for indie authors who want to bypass traditional publishing avenues and have greater control over their work. If you're a poet, or poetry author looking to self-publish your writing, then you're in the right place!

In this blogpost we'll look at the various options for self-publishing your book of poetry. In addition, we will provide the steps on how you can self publish your own poetry book with little to no budget. Let's get started!

Where can you publish and Sell Your Poetry Collection Online?

These are the most effective platforms to publish and selling poetry online.

 Sell your poetry book through Amazon Kindle Direct publishing

sell ebooks on amazon

 Pros

  • Wide audience Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) is a popular platform to self-publish eBooks and paperbacks, and it has a massive client base thanks to Amazon's vast reach as the largest online retailer.
  • Sell eBooks and paperback ebooks: Amazon KDP makes it simple to offer books, eBooks, and other papersback books. Amazon will print the book, and then ship it to your client for you.

 Cons

  • The royalty rates are: While KDP offers a royalty rate of up to 70% but this rate can be reduced through printing expenses, which could reduce your profit margin. There is also a complicated number of criteria that must be met to get the rate of 70. Take a look at Amazon's Royalty Calculator to learn more.
  • Contest: With millions of ebooks to choose from on Amazon, standing out from the crowd can be a challenge, especially for writers who might not be able to achieve the same amount of visibility as established authors.
  • Problems with formatting: KDP has strict formatting requirements for eBooks and paperbacks. In the event that your work doesn't conform to the guidelines above, it might not be accepted for publication.
  • Controls are limited: If you are selling your book via KDP You must abide with Amazon's terms and conditions and conditions, which may restrict the control you have over pricing, marketing, as well as distribution. It is also possible to fall victim to untrue 1-star reviews cannot be controlled by you.

 Offer your poetry as eBooks on your personal website

There are now free website builder platforms that allow users to build stunning and professional websites that includes eCommerce functionality at no cost (you heard that right)! We'll talk more about that in the second part of this piece.

 Pros

  • Profit margins that are higher The ability to sell your poetry directly to customers via your site is likely to yield a greater profit in comparison to selling on an online marketplace, such as Amazon. Platforms like Amazon let you sell ebooks directly on your website for a small 5% fee per transaction, compared to Amazon that charges a 30-35% royalty fee per sale.
  • Passive income: When you've completed the creation of your eBook and put up your website, it can generate passive income for years to be. In contrast to traditional publishing, where a publication is available only for a limited time, an eBook can be offered for sale on a continuous basis.
  • Branding your work: When you offer your eBook on your website you can create a brand about your work that can help to build your credibility as a writer and gain an avid following.
  • Flexibility in creativity: Self-publishing your poems as an eBook gives you complete creative liberty over the content layout, formatting, and style of your work. You are able to play around with different designs and styles, and make changes or updates as you see fit. You could even revise your book of poetry completely in case you need to edit your book in the future.
  • Interaction with the reader selling your poetry on your site lets you interact directly with readers, receive feedback, and create a community of your work. It also allows you to track your customers' statistics and other data that will help you understand your target audience and modify your marketing strategies to meet their needs.
  • Flexibility It is possible to refresh your site with fresh poems or collections as often as you like, allowing your website to evolve to new patterns and trends. You can experiment with different pricing strategies, and then adjust the prices as needed. Additionally, you can offer offers and discounts in order to draw many more customers.

 Cons

  • Marketing and Promotion: You will need be in charge of all marketing and promotion of your book of poetry, which requires time and energy on your part
  • Customer support: You will need take care of customer questions and complaints as you are solely responsible to sell your poetry books.

 Sell your poems as a paperback book through your own site (print on demand)

Selling your poems as a paperback book through your own website has almost the same advantages and disadvantages like selling ebooks, with the exception that you'll have to purchase the print-on-demand service to print and deliver the book of poetry to your customers when an order is made.

Look for book print-on-demand services which print and distribute your poetry books to many nations around the globe. You'll be able offer printed copies of your poetry book without incurring large shipping charges or stock yourselves.

How do you self-publish a Poetry Book to be Free

In this section, we will focus on ways to sell your poems through your own website as it has the lowest entry barrier and is achievable on a budget of just $0.

Here's how to self-publish a poetry book for free:

  1.   Shortlist or curate your poems, and organize the poems into a cohesive set
  2.   Edit and proofread
  3.   Format your poems and turn your poems into a digital book
  4.   Make a cover to the poetry collection you have written
  5.   Create a website with eCommerce capabilities (for absolutely free)
  6.   Then, upload your poem to a listing on your product and then set it up to be sold!
  7.   Promote your poetry
How to Self Publish a Poetry Book

 1. Make a list of your poems, and then arrange the poems to form a coherent collection

When you've got a collection of poems that you've written and are organizing them in a way that tells a story or thematic. Think about how each poem connects to the other and how they can be laid out to make a cohesive collection. Take note of the rhythms in the poems and the emotions they evoke.

It may be helpful to sketch out an outline or a table of contents for your book on poetry to ensure that the arrangement of poems works. As an example, you can start with an opening poem to set the mood for the collection, followed by a series of poems that expand upon a concept or theme before completing with the final poem which provides closure, or leaves the reader with a sense of contemplation.

Remember that the arrangement of your poems will greatly influence how people view your work. Be patient and experiment with different arrangements until you can find the one that is most suitable for the collection you have.

 2. Edit and proofread

Here are some suggestions on your can edit and proofread your book of poetry to make it ready for sale:

  • Read aloud: Reading the poems aloud is a great way to catch mistakes and enhance the flow of your poems. This will also help you identify awkward phrasing and improve the rhythm of your poems.
  • Be aware of punctuation and grammar. Punctuation as well as grammar are crucial in poetry. Therefore, it is crucial to be attentive during the editing process. Check for commas that aren't in the right place or inconsistent capitalization and any spelling or grammatical errors. It's best to have someone else proofread it as well, as they may catch mistakes that you didn't notice.
  • Concentrate on the structure. Make sure the structure of the poems is consistent throughout the collection. Find patterns in line length as well as stanza length and rhyme schemes.
  • Get feedback: It's always helpful to hear feedback from people who have read your book. Have someone else read through your poem and offer their opinion. This will help you determine points that require improvement, and give you ideas for ways to improve your poetry even better.
  • Think about the subject matter The theme of your book includes a subject or story, be sure that the poems reflect the subject. Eliminate any poems that do not make sense, or alter the poems to make them more in line in the overall style in the publication.
  • Take a break: After you've written your poetry book, take a break from the book for a couple of days or even days or even. This allows you to come back to the book with fresh eyes and a different viewpoint. Furthermore, a large number of lovers enjoy the powerful emotional responses that poetry can trigger along with the creativeness and imagination it may spark to "transport" you to another time or place. Taking a break to write your poetry can allow you to come back to the poems with fresh eyes and feelings and see your writing from the point of view as a reader.

 3. Turn your poetry into a format and transform them into a digital poetry book

How to Self Publish a Poetry Book online

Poetry is an art form that unleashes your visual creativity If you're trying to give a little individuality to your writing, it's worth considering a professional document formatter who is able to handle any formatting issues that might arise. You may also want to include illustrations in your poetry collection and include the illustrations next to certain poems to amplify your readers the experience of they read your poetry.

You can use Canva's free online graphic design tool to design your book of poetry, or if you're more sophisticated then you may also make use of Adobe InDesign to create professional book design layouts.

Once you're done, turn your poetry book into a digital file. The most straightforward eBook format to create is a PDF, but you may also want to think about creating an EPUB format so that your readers can enjoy your poetry on popular reading devices such as Kindle.

 4. Make a cover that will showcase your poem

A striking and professional book cover is key to attracting people to read. If your poetry book is not designed well, the cover can undermine the effort you've spent on writing the eBook.

If you're looking to something unique and top-quality, think about using a specialist in eBook Cover design. It is possible to find some freelance ebook cover designers on platforms like Upwork as well as Fiverr. Request samples from prospective designers to ensure your getting the design you're looking for before signing.

If you're trying to save money and you want to save some money, create an eBook cover with a no-cost graphic design tools like Canva.

 5. Design a site with eCommerce features (for no cost)

Platforms like are completely cost-free and allow you to easily create websites without code knowledge.

This is an eCommerce platform that sells digital goods. You can sell any digital item, such as printed poetry ebooks, print-friendly books as well as other. It is possible to create an online class that is engaging or start a membership for the poetry you write.

There are a few things you should be looking forward to when you use :

  • A generous free plan that lets you have unlimited access to the entire platform's features for free! There's a 5% fee per order (up up to $99 per month)
  • Easy-to-use website builder and free websites themes
  • Fully hosted and free website/storefront
  • Automatic delivery of your digital products to your customers
  • Payouts instantaneous and safe through Paypal and Stripe
  • Tools for marketing, such as discount code affiliate marketing, referral system, cross-sell, upsell, and much more.

Start on the homepage and register for a no-cost account to test the platform for yourself. You won't be asked to enter any information regarding your payment therefore you are free to take your time to decide whether it's the right platform for you.

 6. Create your poetry book an online product and put up your book for sale!

When you've set up an account  the site, you'll be able to upload your poetry eBook as a product list.
You'll also need to set the cost of your book of poetry. If you're using  Amazon, you'll have the option of setting the price to $0 for your book to be free for all, or you can also set the price to the payment-on-demand pricing (you can choose any minimal price) so your buyers can offer to pay for any amount they wish to pay.

 7. Make sure you promote your poetry book

self publishing poetry book

Promotion of your poetry book may be difficult for new poets, but there are several ways to market your book of poetry with a small budget.

  • Make a website or blog. The creation of a blog, website or site that is dedicated to your poems can make it easier to establish a presence online and give readers a place to find out more about you and the work you do. You can share your poems, provide background information on the writing process and even promote events coming up.
  • Make use of social media Social media websites including Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, are great ways to promote your book of poetry. Share excerpts from the book, behind-the-scenes peeks into the process of writing as well as information on upcoming readings, events, and other activities.
  • Marketing via email: Collect email addresses from your fans, readers or anyone who shows interest in your work. This can be done through your website, social media and even events. Utilize email marketing to provide exclusive content to your email readers, including previews of your upcoming books or poems, behind the scenes insights into your writing process, or exclusive promotions and giveaways. You may also want to look into the use of marketing automation for some regular activities, such as drip campaigns for marketing.
  • Connect with poetry communities: Meet other poets and communities of poetry by attending poetry gatherings and joining writing groups and sending your work in to literary journals. These can assist you in networking with writers from other communities and help you put your work in front of a wider audience.
  • Host readings, events and other readings: Hosting readings and occasions can be an excellent opportunity to market your work and engage to readers. Think about hosting a book launch to promote your novel in conjunction with cafes and bookstores in your area to hold a reading or book-signing.
  • Offer giveaways and promotions: Offering giveaways and promotions, like the opportunity to receive a signed copy of your book, could help draw attention to your book and inspire readers to purchase your work.
  • Use book review sites: Submit your book to book review sites, such as Goodreads or Amazon for a chance to have your book's name in the eyes of more readers and gain more visibility.

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FAQ

Traditional publisher or self published poetry book: which one is the better choice?

Traditional publishing offers greater spread, more exposure as well as the assistance of a seasoned team composed of editors, designers and marketing. In addition, having a conventional publishing house can boost the credibility of your work and give you more chances to participate in events like book tours, readings as well as other events for promotion. One disadvantage of using an established publisher could be the fact that editors aren't always discerning and could refuse your manuscript or book, and the process can take a long time. Additionally, you may be less in control of the final product, which includes cover design, formatting, and pricing. Also, the royalties can be higher than self-publishing.

Self-publishing allows you to have more control over the finished publication, such as cover design, formatting, and pricing. In addition, you are able to publish your book faster and retain more the royalties that traditional publishing. Self-publishing could be an excellent option for niche poetry which may not appeal to a wide audience. Self-publishing is more complicated in terms of distribution and marketing. Furthermore there is a chance that the finished product could be less than if you do not have expertise in layout, design, and editing. Self-publishing might not have the prestige and credibility of traditional publishing. There is also the possibility of drawing out a process diagram to determine if traditional publishing or self published method is more suitable for your needs.

Can I make use of an author's pen name?

The use of a pen name sometimes referred to as a pseudonym, when publishing a book is a choice made by you depending on your own personal situations and choices. A pen name can help you establish a distinct brand identity and create an unforgettable persona that is in line with your poetry. However it is possible to use your actual name will add a feeling of authenticity and transparency to your writing, and can help you build a personal connection with the people who read your work.

Final thoughts

Self-publishing a poetry book can be an enjoyable and enjoyable experience for those who are looking for greater control, flexibility, and creativity in their publishing journey. If you decide to self-publish using online platforms and hire editors and formatting, or market your book through social media and book events The key to success is to remain committed to the vision you have set and be open to developing and learning throughout the process.

Once you're prepared to present your poetry book for the world to read, sign up for your free account for your dream author website in under 5 minutes.