My name is Graham Smith. I have worked in the publishing world since 2012. In this time I have sold 900,000 (and rising) books, managed various licensing deals, built several businesses, and eventually sold three of them. And one failed miserably.

Every week, I get emails asking about self-publishing and whether there’s a course I can recommend. Honestly? I haven’t found one worth your time. Most are bloated fluff designed to empty your wallet. Self-publishing isn’t complicated—if you know the right steps.

This is not a course. I am writing this, off the top of my head, from an Airbnb on a vineyard in New Zealand. It's a tough life...

I do not have the patience or skills required to create a course. I considered employing someone to do this for me until I realized... I don't really want to. There are enough self-publishing courses out there. They are mostly terrible from what I have seen. In the various industries I have been involved with, I have learned that if I do not love something, I do a very bad job at it. For the most part, I don't love courses. I’m happy to let someone else chase the financial rewards of course selling.

Here’s the truth: self-publishing doesn’t have to be complicated, and it certainly doesn’t need a four-figure price tag for a course.

This is a blunt, quick, very basic, and no-fluff guide to taking your ideas and turning them into something people actually want to buy. This isn’t about daydreams and patting yourself on the back for ‘just starting.’ It’s about doing the real work to create, release, and sell a book that doesn’t suck. If you’re expecting hand-holding or clichés, you’re in the wrong place. I promise this won’t hurt... unless you try to skip some vital steps. Then I can guarantee you will feel the pain down the road.

OUTLINE

  • Outlining your book is the process of planning its structure before you start writing. It’s about breaking down your ideas into clear sections and creating a roadmap that guides the content from start to finish. An outline is not just helpful—it’s essential.

    Why is outlining so important? Whether you’re writing the book yourself or hiring someone to do it, a solid outline ensures you don’t waste time or lose focus. It keeps the process on track, helps avoid writer’s block, and ensures the finished product delivers a cohesive, engaging experience for readers. Skipping this step is like building a house without a blueprint—you might get somewhere, but it probably won’t look great or stand the test of time.

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  • Don’t do this.
    Despite what you have been told, the technology is not there….yet.

RELEASE

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EDIT & FORMAT

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AUDIOBOOK

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ARTWORK

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MARKETTING & SALES

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