In this blog post, I’m going to share a list of the most valuable resources I have come across in my publishing journey. I’m dividing this list into 3 sections: Writing and Illustration, Publishing, and Marketing and Promotion to make it easy for you to find the information you need.
Writing and Illustration Resources
- Gale Courses are free if you have a Toronto Public Library card. All of their courses are 6 weeks long and offered online. These are the ones I took and found really helpful as a starting point:
- Writing for Children
- Getting Published
- Publish and Sell Your E-Books
- Society of Visual Storytelling is a low-cost platform in which you pay a monthly fee to take as many pre-recorded courses as you want. These are all offered by established illustrators and are way better than most university courses.
- The Illustration Department is another educational platform through which you can hire illustrators for one on one mentorships. I highly recommend doing at least one session with them if this is your first time publishing.
Publishing
- Library and Archives Canada gives you ISBNs for your books for free! You need these regardless of how you choose to publish so make sure it’s on your book’s copyright page before you upload it anywhere.
- KDP Jumpstart is where you want to start off if you are interested in publishing your book on Amazon. It’s a free resource that breaks down the process into easy-to-follow steps.
Marketing and Promotion
- How to Self-Publish a Children’s Book by Eevi Jones will answer SO many of your questions about self-publishing. Also consider reading Eevi’s blog posts, watching her youtube videos, and signing up for her newsletters, all of which you can access through her website.
- Publisher Rocket is an amazing tool that will help you figure out which categories and keywords to use to get your book on bestseller lists. My book, How to Show Love is often a bestseller in its enrolled categories and I have this tool to thank for it.
- Kindlepreneur is the founder of Publisher Rocket. His blog posts, youtube videos, and newsletters are all fantastic resources that offer valuable information on how to publish a successful book.
- Author Ad School will not only provide you with courses on Amazon Advertising, but they will also provide you with feedback on your book description, book cover, and any other book-related inquiries you have. A one-time fee guarantees lifetime access to their courses and mentorship. I had no idea about how to navigate Amazon advertising until I joined their group.
With these resources, you have everything you need to get started on your publishing journey. So go ahead and take the first step! Let me know how it goes in the comments below, and if you found this post helpful, please share it with others! As my daughter would say, “sharing is caring”!
Keep in touch with me through my newsletter and check out my book here!
Tasneem Dairywala 