You Can Publish a Book in 2025: Here’s How (+Workbook)
You can publish a book in 2025. Can you believe it? I can! It might seem like a daunting task, but if you’ve got a manuscript completed (or even a well-structured idea for a book), it’s entirely possible to edit, design, market, and of course PUBLISH your book by the end of this year.
But you’re going to need a little help, and that’s why we created the Foglio 4-Stage Path to Publishing Success, an interactive PDF document that will guide you through every stage of the publishing process and help you prepare for expert support throughout your journey.
I’m Michael Pietrobon, founder of Foglio Custom Book Specialists. With over a decade of experience in academic, editorial, and self-publishing roles—and having launched Foglio in early 2024—I’ve guided authors through every step of editing, design, distribution, and marketing. My goal is to equip with all the resources, industry knowledge, and tools required to publish your book with confidence and compete with any titles put out by traditional publishers. In this guide, I share the exact process I use daily to turn manuscripts into beautiful finished books, so you can self-publish confidently in 2025.
Why 2025 Is the Perfect Moment to Self-Publish
Independent publishing reached a milestone in 2023 when Bowker reported more than 2.6 million new self-published ISBN registrations—a 7.2 % increase over the prior year. Platforms like Amazon KDP and IngramSpark deliver print-on-demand quality rivalling the more traditional offset or digital printing methods, while eBook retailers pay authors up to 80% royalties on digital sales. Traditional publishers still bear upfront costs and carry a certain amount of prestige, but authors wait 2–4 years for release and earn just 8–15 % of net sales. Self-publishing flips that: you invest up front (typically $5,000–$12,000 CAD) and keep the majority of each sale, often recouping your costs within months. If you’re planning on completing some or all aspects of the publishing process yourself, you’ll save some money—but be warned, there are professional editors, designers, and book marketers for a reason, and unless you’re a super-influencer with a legion of loyal fans, it’s unlikely your book will succeed without professional design and editing.
Foglio’s 4-Stage Path to Publishing Success
Download Foglio’s 4-Stage Path to Publishing Success
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After working with authors for over a decade, I’ve learned that there are 4 major stages that every book goes through. Of course, every book is unique, but the Foglio 4-Stage Path to Publishing Success is meant to outline those particular milestones shared by each and every book, no matter if it’s a romantasy trilogy, a self-help book for dog-owners, or a children’s pop-up book. The 4 stages are:
Preliminary Steps & Planning
Manuscript Editing & Revisions
Cover Design, Typesetting & eBook Creation
Marketing & Distribution
This framework ensures nothing is overlooked and your book meets professional publishing standards. Each stage builds deliberately on the one before it: strong planning leads to a smoother editing process, careful editing makes professional design easier, and polished design sets the foundation for effective marketing and distribution. By following this path step-by-step, you avoid the common pitfalls that plague many first-time self-publishers—rushed edits, amateur layouts, inconsistent branding, and missed marketing opportunities. Instead, you create a book that not only meets industry expectations, but stands proudly alongside traditionally-published titles in quality, presentation, and reader trust.
Stage 1: Preliminary Steps & Planning
Begin Stage 1 by clearly defining who your ideal reader is. Think beyond basic demographics: consider their age, lifestyle, reading habits, values, and what draws them to books like yours. Are they looking for a heartwarming memoir, a fast-paced thriller, a how-to guide? Knowing your audience informs every decision that follows—from editing tone to cover design to pricing.
Next, research five to ten top-selling titles in your genre on Amazon and at your local libraries. Study their covers carefully: What colours, fonts, and imagery are most common? Read the blurbs and pay attention to tone and structure. Look at page counts and pricing—both are strong indicators of reader expectations. Take notes on what resonates with you and what strategies you might want to avoid.
Reading the Amazon listings of books in your genre will give you invaluable information as you plan your book. Which keywords and categories are they using? What’s the tone of the blurb? What do reviewers have to say? Consider all of this as you begin planning your book.
From there, move to practical planning. Use the budgeting template in our Self-Publishing Workbook to allocate funds across editing, design, marketing, and distribution. Set milestone dates for each major stage—for example, developmental edits completed by August 1st, cover design finalized by September 15th. Building in realistic timelines now avoids costly rush fees later.
You’ll also decide which publishing formats best suit your goals: paperback, hardcover, eBook, or even audiobook. If you’re planning wide distribution, you may choose to publish through both Amazon KDP (for direct access to Amazon shoppers) and IngramSpark (for expanded distribution to bookstores, libraries, and global retailers).
By the end of Stage 1, you’ll have a complete one-page project brief, a detailed working budget, and a clear schedule that guides the rest of your publishing journey. Following this methodical foundation, drawn directly from the Foglio Self-Publishing Checklist, ensures that your publishing process stays organised, on budget, and positioned for success.
Stage 2: Manuscript Editing & Revisions
A polished manuscript isn’t optional—it’s the foundation of a successful book. Readers can forgive a modest budget for marketing or a simple cover design, but they won’t stick around for typos, confusing structure, or clunky sentences. Editing ensures your book is readable, professional, and genuinely engaging from the first page to the last.
At Foglio, we guide you through the key types of editing—each with a distinct purpose and place in the process:
Editing is absolutely essential for your book’s success and reader satisfaction. Don’t skip it, no matter how good a writer you might be!
Manuscript Evaluation: This is your diagnostic check. An experienced editor reads your full draft and offers high-level feedback on what’s working, what needs improvement, and where the manuscript would benefit from further development before diving into detailed edits.
Developmental Editing: This is big-picture storytelling work. Your editor helps address plot holes, pacing issues, character inconsistencies, or unclear structure—ensuring your narrative is compelling, cohesive, and emotionally effective.
Structural Editing: While developmental editing focuses on what is being told, structural editing focuses on how it’s being told. It looks at the organization of content—rearranging chapters, restructuring sections, and refining the flow so your book reads naturally from start to finish.
Copyediting: Once the structure is in place, this stage focuses on clarity and correctness. Your editor works line by line to fix grammar, punctuation, word choice, and consistency issues—tightening your writing without altering your voice.
Proofreading: The final pass before publication. This step catches lingering typos, formatting errors, repeated words, and visual glitches that could undermine the reading experience.
At Foglio, you’re matched with an editor who understands your genre, audience, and goals. You’ll receive annotated drafts with clear, actionable suggestions and typically go through two structured rounds of revision. Based on industry data and our own results, books that go through professional editing often see a 20–30 % increase in positive reviews, higher reader retention, and more word-of-mouth referrals.
➡️ Learn more about our editing services
Beta readers: an author’s secret weapon
One of the best-kept secrets in publishing? Beta readers. A beta reader is someone who reads your manuscript before it’s published and offers honest feedback. But why is this so important? Because once you’re deeply immersed in your book, it’s incredibly hard to see it the way a first-time reader would. Beta readers point out confusing sections, missing information, pacing issues, or places where the emotional impact isn’t quite landing. Anyone can be a beta reader — friends, family members, even members of online writing communities. Ideally, though, you’ll want a few beta readers who represent your target audience. At Foglio, we often encourage authors to gather early beta feedback, and we even provide beta reader questionnaires when requested, helping you ask the right questions to get the most useful responses. Remember: the earlier you catch potential issues, the smoother the professional editing process will be.
Stage 3: Cover Design, Typesetting & eBook Creation
Cover Design: Your “Design Leader”
At Foglio, we always start with your cover—and for good reason. Your cover is your design leader, setting the tone for every creative decision that follows. Before a potential reader even reads a blurb or a single line of your book, the cover communicates genre, mood, professionalism, and quality. It’s the first handshake between your story and the world.
Think about how you browse books online or in a bookstore. You instinctively judge genre and quality in seconds based solely on the cover. That’s why at Foglio, we begin every project by carefully analysing successful covers within your genre, understanding the visual cues readers expect, and then designing an original, professional cover that stands out—while immediately signalling to your ideal reader, “This is the kind of story you’re looking for.”
But cover design isn’t just about the cover itself. It becomes the creative and strategic foundation for your entire publishing project: your interior layout, your eBook presentation, and even your promotional materials. A cohesive look across all elements makes your book feel intentional and credible—building an author brand that readers recognize and trust. When done right, a great cover doesn’t just represent your book—it sells it.
Typesetting and Interior Layout: Loving Your Reader Through Design
Once your cover is established, we carry its visual spirit into your book’s interior through thoughtful typesetting and formatting. Good typesetting isn’t flashy—in fact, when it’s done well, readers barely notice it. It simply makes the experience effortless and immersive.
At Foglio, we base every interior layout on both genre expectations and the cover design that leads the project. We select fonts that match the mood set by the cover—whether classic and elegant for a memoir, bold and contemporary for a business guide, or whimsical for a children’s story. Margins, line spacing, chapter headers, and even subtle decorative elements all align to create a seamless, polished reading experience.
Typesetting is about respecting your readers: providing a layout that invites them into your story and keeps them engaged without distraction. It’s the design equivalent of good manners—thoughtful, invisible, but profoundly important.
Explore how we approach Formatting and Typesetting.
eBook Design and Validation: Carrying Your Brand Across Every Device
After your print files are perfected, we adapt your book into a professional-grade eBook that stays true to the design tone set by your cover and interior layout. Contrary to popular belief, an eBook isn’t just a simple digital copy of the print version—it requires separate formatting to ensure clean, functional reading across different devices like Kindle, Kobo, and Apple Books.
At Foglio, we format your eBook carefully, validating it to meet industry standards and testing across real devices. We ensure images display properly, headings and links work seamlessly, and text reflows correctly whether your reader is on a phone, tablet, or e-reader.
If you want to go further, we also offer enhanced eBook features—like pop-up footnotes, embedded audio clips, or video demonstrations—that can add a whole new dimension to the reader experience. For memoirists, this might mean integrating an author’s voice recordings; for educators, short video lessons.
Because we start every project with a strong, unified design system led by your cover, your eBook carries the same visual authority and credibility as your printed version—building a consistent, trustworthy brand presence in both print and digital markets.
Discover more about our eBook Design and Validation services.
Promotional Materials: Extending Your Author Brand into the World
Once your book is complete, it’s time to build excitement—and that starts with your promotional materials. At Foglio, we design everything—bookmarks, posters, banners, postcards, even merchandise—using your cover as the visual anchor.
By carrying your cover’s colours, fonts, and visual style consistently across all marketing assets, you create a professional, recognizable author brand that builds trust and strengthens reader loyalty. Consistency is not just for big publishing houses; it’s for any serious author who wants to be taken seriously in today’s market.
One small, thoughtful promotional piece can make a huge impact. Let’s look at a real-world example:
Case Study: Strategic Bookmarks
When Alan Bryce published Here Comes the Sun with Foglio, we knew immediately that his bold, emotive cover could do more than just sell his book—it could serve as the backbone of his entire marketing strategy.
We created beautifully designed bookmarks that exactly matched the cover’s colours, typography, and feeling. Every time someone picked up a bookmark, it reinforced the book’s identity, making it instantly recognizable and emotionally resonant.
But we didn’t stop at design. We added a QR code on the bookmark linking directly to Alan’s Amazon review page. Readers didn’t have to search for the book online. They could simply scan, tap, and leave a review within seconds—eliminating friction and dramatically increasing the likelihood of action.
By turning his cover into a bookmark and linking it directly to Amazon reviews, Alan transformed a simple giveaway into a powerful, brand-aligned tool for visibility and reader engagement.
The result? Alan received more verified Amazon reviews in his first 30 days post-launch than most self-published authors gather in six months. Reviews are critical: according to Kindlepreneur, once a book surpasses 50 reviews, it’s significantly more likely to appear in Amazon recommendations and search results.
By making it effortless for readers to leave feedback—and tying all promotional efforts back to the original cover design—Alan not only built credibility quickly but also accelerated his book’s discoverability and sales.
In summary: Your cover design isn’t just the first creative step—it’s your “design leader”. It informs everything: how your readers perceive your book, how they experience your story, and how they remember and recommend your work long after they turn the final page.
When cover design leads the way—and when every visual element echoes that leadership—you don’t just publish a book. You create a brand.
Stage 4: Marketing & Distribution
Strategic Marketing & Distribution: Launching Your Book with Purpose
Publishing your book isn’t the finish line—it’s the starting point. Stage 4 is where all the hard work of planning, editing, and design pays off, as you bring your book to readers. But successful publication isn’t just about uploading files to Amazon and waiting. It takes a thoughtful, targeted strategy to build momentum and ensure your book reaches the right people, in the right places, at the right time.
Self-publishing experts at Foglio can guide you through every step of your marketing and distribution journey—from choosing where and how to sell your book, to developing promotional strategies that actually generate results.
Print-on-Demand Setup: Distribute with Confidence
One of the first decisions you’ll make is how to make your book available. For most authors, Print-on-Demand (POD) is the smartest place to start. Services like Amazon KDP and IngramSpark allow you to print books only when a customer orders, avoiding the need for costly bulk inventory.
Amazon KDP gives you instant access to the world’s largest online bookstore. It’s fast, accessible, and ideal for launching both paperback and eBook formats.
IngramSpark provides broader distribution to bookstores, libraries, and independent retailers, making it a strong companion to Amazon for authors who want to reach beyond just online platforms.
For authors attending events or selling directly, we can also support short-run offset printing at competitive rates.
Foglio ensures your book files are prepared to the exact specifications these platforms require, so you can upload with confidence and avoid production delays.
ARC Campaigns: Build Buzz Before You Launch
Advance Review Copies (ARCs) are one of the most powerful tools at your disposal. These early copies—sent out before your official release—allow reviewers, bloggers, and influencers to read and post reviews that boost your book’s visibility on platforms like Amazon and Goodreads right from day one.
At Foglio, we help you:
Build a curated ARC reader list in advance of launch
Create beautifully designed digital or printed ARCs
Use review platforms like CanReads to reach Canadian readers
Include direct links or QR codes to review pages to make it effortless for readers to leave feedback
Having even 15–20 reviews at launch can dramatically improve your book’s credibility and sales trajectory. It’s one of the easiest ways to stand out—especially as a new author.
Launch Promotions: Tailored Outreach for Your Book
There’s no one-size-fits-all launch strategy. Foglio works with you to tailor a marketing plan based on your book’s genre, tone, and audience. This may include:
Virtual Book Tours or guest blog appearances for nonfiction and memoir authors
Speaking engagements, podcast interviews, and local TV or radio if your story ties into current topics or expertise
Library readings, indie bookstore signings, or participation in literary festivals
Email newsletters and online reader communities to build buzz and gather support
We also help refine your book blurb—the short description that shows up on Amazon—to ensure it’s engaging, genre-appropriate, and positioned to convert browsers into buyers. We often refer authors to Publishers Marketplace as a tool for studying effective book descriptions in your category.
Paid Advertising: Promote Smart, Not Broad
You don’t need a massive ad budget to sell books. You just need a smart strategy. Foglio helps you choose which platforms will best reach your audience, including:
BookBub Featured Deals (great for series launches and list building)
Amazon Ads and Facebook/Instagram Ads with targeted demographics
Google Ads for niche topics or local author events
For authors with a series, discounting the first book and promoting it via BookBub can be especially effective for generating long-term sales across multiple titles. And for all authors, having a strong visual brand—carried from your cover into your ad graphics—makes a lasting impression.
Author Platform Building: Grow Your Readership Over Time
Beyond launch week, it’s essential to keep momentum going. Foglio supports your long-term author platform by helping you:
Set up or optimise your author website
Create lead magnets (like a free chapter or companion resource) to build an email list
Design social graphics that match your cover and promote consistency
Use tools like Publisher Rocket to find high-traffic Amazon keywords and competitive categories
We also offer a full Marketing Kit, including:
Templates for outreach to media, trade reviewers, and event venues
Sample press releases and pitch letters
Promotional copy for postcards, bookmarks, and social media
Print-ready materials like banners, displays, and takeaways for launch events
Every author’s goals are different—and so is every marketing plan. Whether you’re aiming for a small family release or wide commercial distribution, Foglio helps you create a roadmap that fits your timeline, budget, and ambitions.
The most successful authors aren’t necessarily the ones with the biggest marketing spend—they’re the ones with a clear plan, a consistent brand, and a strategy they stick with.
And the best part? When you’ve done the groundwork in Stages 1 through 3—planning, editing, and design—you already have everything you need to market with confidence.
Ready to Publish Your Book in 2025?
You’ve now seen the full roadmap—from early planning and editing, to design, ebook formatting, marketing, and beyond. The truth is, publishing a book in 2025 is absolutely within reach—and you don’t have to do it alone.
Whether you’re writing a memoir for your family or launching a nonfiction book into the world, Foglio’s 4-Stage Path to Publishing Success is designed to guide you through every decision with clarity and confidence.
👉 Download your free guide and workbook here:
The Foglio 4-Stage Path to Publishing Success
It includes detailed checklists, budgeting templates, and planning prompts to help you start strong and stay organized.
When you’re ready to take the next step, I’d love to hear about your project.
Book your free consultation to talk through your goals, your manuscript, and how Foglio can help.
You can also explore our Publishing Packages, which offer flexible, transparent pricing for every stage of the journey. Prefer to build your own path? A la carte services are available too—so you only pay for what you need.
Your book deserves to be something you’re proud of.
Let’s bring it to life—beautifully, professionally, and 100% on your terms.
