Different platforms for self-publishing have been popping out. These self-publishing platforms help writers in selling their works without having to go through the long process of traditional publishing. One of these platforms is Smashwords. Smashwords along with the other platforms make it easy for writers to create their own books without the aid of any middleman. Using Smashwords will allow writers to create eBooks for Kindle, iPad, Sony reader, Nook and other eBook reader device.

To start using Smashwords, you have to register first. This is free. You will receive a confirmation e-mail afterwards which will help you through the rest of the process. After registering, you can now start using Smashwords.

Before you upload your work in Smashwords, make sure that you have written completely your book. Make sure that every part of your book is already done to avoid going back to it again. Also see to it that you have proofread your work and edited it well. After having all the parts ready, you can now format the contents and the cover of your book. If you are having a hard time with formatting, you can read the Smashwords Style Guide. This will help you in formatting your manuscript into an eBook style. Ensure that the words can be read easily. Make the spaces and indentations consistent throughout your content. You can use MS Word for your files since this can be uploaded to Smashwords. This makes Smashwords even more user-friendly.

After checking everything, you can now upload your files to Smashwords. When uploading, you have to include the book title, short and long descriptions of your book, tags, genre and samples. The sample will allow possible readers to take a sneak peak of your work. It advisable to make about 20% of your work available so readers can have a good grasp of the story, and decide whether to purchase or not.

When you’re already sure that you’re happy with your work, you can now submit it to Smashwords for conversion. After completing the process, you can now purchase an ISBN through Smashwords. There are some vendors who don’t sell copies of books that don’t have ISBN. So it’s best to be safe.

These are the steps through which you can publish your work through Smashwords. Know the advantages and disadvantages of using Smashwords before you settle with it. Different writers prefer different platforms. So read the feedbacks and reviews first. Nevertheless, there’s really no harm in trying.

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