The Technical Side of Publishing: Essential Behind-the-Scenes Elements

We’ve polished your manuscript and created beautiful visual elements. Now it’s time to tackle the technical side of publishing — those behind-the-scenes details that transform your creation into an official, available book.

Many new authors find these logistics intimidating, but don’t worry. I’ll guide you through each step, from assigning unique identifiers to choosing distribution channels. While these elements might seem dry compared to the creative aspects we’ve covered, they’re essential building blocks of your publishing foundation.

Let’s demystify these technical details and get your book ready for the world!

ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number — a unique identifier that distinguishes your book in the global marketplace. Think of it as your book’s social security number or passport.

Each ISBN is a 13-digit number (they were 10 digits before 2007) that identifies:

Here’s something crucial that many new authors miss: You need a separate ISBN for each format of your book.

Your eBook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook each require their own ISBN.

You have several options:

My advice? If you’re serious about building your publishing business, invest in your own ISBNs.

While platforms like Amazon offer free options, these list the platform as the publisher, not you.

The ISBNs of both my first book through Dorrance* and my latest book through Aila Designs were obtained by each publishing company. Because I intend to stay with Aila through the last four books of my Swallowtail Four series, I’ll continue to have her obtain the ISBNs for me.

However, I intend to buy the bulk option through Bowker when publishing my romances. Doing so gives me greater control, a higher degree of professionalism, and establishes me as not only the author but publisher of my own books, which is perfect for when I start selling my novels through my Books by Alicia website.

Now that your book has its identity through an ISBN, it needs a way for retailers to easily access that information. That’s where barcodes come in — those familiar black-and-white patterns that allow your book to be scanned and sold in physical stores.

Barcodes translate your ISBN into a machine-readable format. They’re essential if you plan to sell your book in:

Barcodes contain:

You can:

Remember: Barcodes are only needed for physical books, not eBooks.

Here’s good news: Your work is automatically copyrighted the moment you create it. However, registering your copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office provides additional legal protections.

Registration gives you:

The process is straightforward:

If your pocketbook is stretched right now, don’t fret. This is not something you have to do to be published. Go ahead and publish. When you’ve replenished your bank account a little, you can submit your manuscript.

With your book’s identifiers and legal protections in place, it’s time to consider how readers will experience your work. Today’s publishing landscape offers more format options than ever before, and each comes with its own advantages and technical considerations.

The formats you choose can significantly impact your book’s reach, reader experience, and revenue potential. Let’s explore the possibilities:

E-Books:

Print:

Audiobooks:

Each format has its own audience and production requirements. I started with eBook and paperback for my romance novel but added hardcover for my children’s book since many parents, schools, and libraries prefer their durability.

Different formats have different technical requirements:

I have a passion for acting and have been told by countless people that I have a great voice and read very well. So I’ve decided to read my own novels.

I purchased professional recording equipment, but I was referred to a wonderful recording company that’s free to use. It’s called Audacity,* and it’s been very simple to use (even for someone who’s not tech-savvy!).

So if you have a good voice and some acting ability, maybe recording your own audiobooks will be a nice fit for you, too. (Not to mention your pocketbook!)

Now that you’ve decided on your book’s formats, the next big question is: How will readers find and purchase it?

Distribution channels are the pathways that connect your book to your audience, and choosing the right ones can make a significant difference in your book’s success.

Today’s indie authors have more distribution options than ever before. Let’s explore the key players:

Your main options include:

One of your biggest decisions will be whether to go exclusively with Amazon (through KDP Select) or distribute widely.

KDP Select benefits:

Going wide benefits:

I’ve never done an exclusive listing through Amazon. I’ve heard too many authors speak against it. Mainly because you’re restricted from putting your book on any other platform for a number of months.

Do your own research. I don’t know which you’ll decide, but I prefer going wide to reach more readers.

Don’t overlook selling directly from your website:

Why is this such a worthy option? Well, let’s face it: Distributors take a large cut out of each book you sell!

This is something I’ve always wanted to do, but I thought I’d have to wait a while before trying it out. As I’ve stated, I’m not tech-savvy, so I wasn’t sure how to do it. But I’ve learned a lot about e-commerce and how to set things up on my website. So, soon, I hope to cut out the middleman and sell directly to you and my readers!

With all these options and considerations, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But remember, thousands of indie authors navigate these waters successfully every day.

The good news is you don’t have to make every decision at once, and there’s no single “right” approach that works for every author.

The technical side of publishing might not be as creatively satisfying as writing or designing your book, but these decisions form the foundation of your publishing business. Take your time, research thoroughly, and choose the options that align with your specific goals and resources.

Next week, we’ll explore these publishing platforms in greater detail, examining the specific requirements, advantages, and potential challenges of each major option — helping you make informed choices about where and how to distribute your work.

Which technical aspect of publishing do you find most confusing? Are you planning to use free ISBNs or purchase your own? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

* NOTE: I mentioned my newest series, Swallowtail Four, which contains book 1, The Adventure in the Magical World. If you’d like to get your copy, click here.

Also, I’m not compensated for any of the companies or software mentioned. But if you’d like to visit any of their sites, here are those links: