Chapter IIIPublishing

Self-Publishing Services

Everything a self-published book needs to look and read like it came from a publishing house: editing, cover design, formatting, ISBN registration, and distribution, without giving up any control.

Self-Publishing Services

What This Service Covers

Self-publishing puts every decision in your hands, but that only works well when the pieces behind the book are handled properly. We take on the editing, design, and technical formatting work so the finished book meets the same standard as a traditionally published title, while you stay in control of pricing, timeline, and rights.

You can bring in as much or as little support as your project needs — a single service like cover design or formatting, or the full path from manuscript to a book live on every major retailer.

An author holding her newly published book
Plate Self-Publishing Services
  1. i.

    À La Carte or Full Path

    Use one service on its own or combine editing, design, formatting, and distribution into a full project.

  2. ii.

    Professional Cover Design

    Genre-appropriate cover design built to compete on a retail thumbnail, not just look good full-size.

  3. iii.

    Print and eBook Formatting

    Clean interior formatting for both print and digital editions from a single manuscript file.

  4. iv.

    Multi-Retailer Distribution

    Distribution setup across Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, and more.

Our Process

Where Self-Publishing sits in the six chapters

  1. 01DiscoverWe learn your goals, your voice and what the book needs to do for you.
  2. 02RefineManuscript development — structure, editing and ghostwriting where needed.
  3. 03DesignCover, interior and the visual identity your book deserves.
  4. 04PublishFormatting, ISBNs and a proper release across every major platform.
  5. 05LaunchCampaign, press and promotion timed around release day.
  6. 06GrowOngoing marketing, audience-building and what comes next.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about self-publishing services.

Yes. Cover design, formatting, ISBN registration, and distribution setup are each available on their own, so you can bring in exactly the support your project is missing.

Distribution can cover Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, and other major retail and library platforms, depending on which distribution service fits your project.

Yes. Self-publishing means you retain full rights to your book and set your own pricing and timeline — we handle the editorial, design, and technical work behind it.

Related Reading · From the Pen & Laurel blog

How Much Does It Cost to Publish a Book? A Breakdown by Path

Publishing & Distribution

Ready to Start With Self-Publishing Services?

Tell us which parts of self-publishing you need help with and we'll put together a scope that fits your book.

An author showing the pages of her book