How to self publish a book in india

Authoring a book was a distant dream for many owing to editors and agents a person had to go through in addition to slow waiting times. Now, with digitalisation, the print on demand system, self publishing in India, has become simple and effective for writers of many genres. This guide will help everyone from novelists, poets, entrepreneurs to even academics understand the self publishing process in India in simple, effective, and efficient steps.

1. Why Self-Publishing in India?

Let us understand the factors contributing to self publishing in India in the following pointers:

• Complete authority over content, design, and publishing window.
• An increase in profits from the traditional form of publishing capping off from 70% and above.
• Books can be published and reached to the masses in a matter of weeks.
• Now, writers can reach a global audience with the help of Amazon KDP and Notion Press.
• No need to impress a publisher for sending a book to print ensures a rejection rate of zero.

Whether self publishing is your first experience with a book or your resorting to self publishing after waiting for years, this allows the writers to be in full control as a writer, editor, and publisher.

2. Step by Step Instructions: Self-Publishing a Book in India 

Step 1: The Book Manuscript 

Your journey begins with a book manuscript. Don’t worry. First drafts can be rough. Focus on crafting a complete story or message. Focus on crafting a complete story or message.

• Google Docs, Scrivener, or MS Word are great options.
• Set a schedule for writing to maintain progress and be consistent.
• For fiction, polish the plot, character arcs, and structure.
• For fiction, polish the plot, character arcs, and structure.

Step 2: Edit Boldly 

Effective editing is the foundation of great writing. No matter how enticing the story is, without proper editing the reader won’t enjoy the book. 

Edit types: 

• Self-editing: Use of AI tools like Grammarly or ProWritingAid.
• Beta readers: Feedback from a small and trusted group of readers.
• Professional editing: Hiring a freelancer or self-publishing companies that offer in-house editing.

Costs for editing from 3,000 to 30,000 rupees varies with book length and editor experience. 

Step 3: Design a Book Cover 

“Don’t judge a book by its cover” is not true in publishing. Readers will always look for a judge quality, professional cover design and invest.

You can: 

• DIY using Canva, Adobe Express, or BookBrush.
• Get freelance graphic designers from Fiverr, Upwork and Indian sites.
• Request your self-publishing company to design it.

Make sure your design resonates with your genre. A romance novel cover is not the same as a business guide. 

Step 4: Format the Interior 

Interior formatting is the font, margins, line spacing, and layout settings of your manuscript to make it ready for print or eBook. 

• For print, trim sizes 5″ x 8″ and 6″ x 9″ work best.
• For eBooks, EPUB or MOBI formats work best.
• Reedsy Book Editor, Vellum (Mac only), Calibre are good options.
• Or use a hired formatter for ₹2,000 to ₹10,000.

Step 5: Get an ISBN 

Book ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is optional for eBooks but in India it is mandatory for print books if you wish to list in bookstores and libraries. 

How to Get an ISBN in India: 

• Apply for free ISBN from Raja Rammohun Roy National Agency for ISBN, Ministry of Education.
• https://isbn.gov.in/

Receiving time is 1 to 2 weeks.

Step 6: Choose a Self-Publishing Platform

This is a crucial decision. Your platform determines your book’s reach, royalty, and cost structure.

Popular Self-Publishing Platforms in India:

Platform	Format	Royalty	Cost
Amazon KDP	eBook + Print	35%-70%	Free
Notion Press	Print + eBook	50%-70%	Free & Paid Plans
BlueRose	Print + eBook	Varies	Starts from ₹10,000
Partridge India	Print + eBook	35%-50%	Premium (₹20,000+)
Pothi.com	Print-on-demand	50%	Free to list

If you’re just starting, Amazon KDP and Notion Press are recommended.

Step 7: Launch, Market and Sell Your Book

Publishing the book marks the first 50%. The remaining work is marketing as the book will not reach the intended readers without proper marketing.

Some Ideas for Book Marketing

• Start by making an author profile on major social media platform: Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
• Book Launch: Both virtual and physical launch options work great.
• Promote on Amazon or use Meta to launch an ad.
• Book influencers and book bloggers are a great option to work with.
• Make a giveaway or offer free sample chapter.
• Website or blog to build the author brand.

Additional: Indian Marketplaces For Selling Your Book 

Don’t forget to check out these stores alongside Amazon and Flipkart: 

• Pothi Store
• Shopify for direct sales
• Google Play Books for Android
• Apple Books for iOS

You can sell an eBook and a paperback or a hardcover version of the book. 

Cost of Self-Publishing a Book in India

Here’s a rough breakdown:

Task	Estimated Cost (INR)
Editing	₹3,000 – ₹30,000
Cover Design	₹1,000 – ₹10,000
Formatting	₹2,000 – ₹10,000
ISBN (optional)	Free
Publishing (Free Plan)	₹0
Publishing (Paid Plans)	₹10,000 – ₹50,000
Marketing	₹5,000 – ₹50,000+

You can self-publish for as low as ₹0 (Amazon KDP) or go premium with full-service packages.

Recommended Self-Publishing Tips in India 

1. Create a reader following before you publish.
2. Leverage marketing for the book.
3. Spend money on the editing and cover—get a professional.
4. Obtain real reader feedback for an honest review.
5. You can sell these for years, and so continuous marketing is the way to go.

Top Self-Publishing Services in India (2025)

Here are some companies offering reliable self-publishing services:

1. STR Books  – Free & premium packages
2. Pothi.com – Great for print-on-demand
3. BlueRose Publishers – Marketing + publishing
4. Zorba Books – Author support focused
5. White Falcon Publishing – Transparent royalty model

Compare packages, read reviews, and check what’s included before choosing one.

Success Stories of Indian Self-Published Authors

• Ravinder Singh started self-publishing and became a bestseller.
• Preeti Shenoy used blogs and later self-published before getting traditional deals.
• Durjoy Datta built an audience on social media before going mainstream.

This proves: If your content resonates, success will follow.

Last Words: Weighing the Pros and Cons of Self-Publishing 

Self-publishing has the added advantage of giving you the opportunity to write the story you have in mind. Forget the age-old practice of waiting for someone to approve of your work. Focus on taking charge and crafting your very own journey. 

In India, self-publishing can be your jumpstart, be it to inspire your readers, share your expertise as an author, or achieve national recognition.

Looking To Publish Your Book?

Contact us if you need help with editing, cover design, or professionally launching your self-published book in India! We offer comprehensive publishing services tailored to Indian and international markets. 

How STR Books Can Assist You to Self-Publish Your Book in India 

If you have a manuscript that you want to publish as a book, STR Books will guide you self-publishing book in India through your self-publishing journey step by step. Whether you are an academic, a fiction writer, or a professional, STR Books offers comprehensive self-publishing services for authors based in India. 

STR Books offers assistance in: 

Complete Publishing Services: 

• Complete Evaluation and Feedback on Manuscripts
• Editing and Proofreading Services
• Stylish Cover and Interior Format Design
• Assign ISBN and provide copyright assistance
• Distribute Globally: Amazon, Flipkart, Kindle, and others
• Order Prints: On demand and in bulk
• Publish eBook and Paperback

Author Branding and Marketing: 

• Custom Author Profiles on STR Books
• Social media advertisements and promotional materials, online book trailers, promotional videos, book trailers, and ad campaigns
• Assist in launching the book, conducting giveaways, and engaging with readers

Affordable Self Publishing: 

As a new or experienced author, our self-publishing packages are customizable based on your requirements. 

Do you want to publish your book with us? 

Reach out via the site link to book consultations with leading self publishers in India, or send us a message via email to start the process! 

email us at admin@str-book.com  to get started today!

STR Books believes that every story must be published, contact us to publish yours.