The Self-Publish Your Book Course
One-to-one tutor feedback to get you from
manuscript to professionally published book
6 Months
Beginner–Advanced
10
- Risk-Free for 30 days
- Rated 5/5 on Google Reviews
The Self-Publish Your Book Course
Online training with one-to-one tutor feedback
6 Months
Beginner–Advanced
10
- Risk-Free for 30 days
- Rated 5/5 on Google Reviews
Turn Your Manuscript into
a Published Book
A practical, step-by-step course that takes you from finished draft to published author, without needing a traditional publishing deal
You have written the book. Now what? Self-publishing puts every decision and each royalty in your hands, but only if you know what you are doing. Get the formatting, cover or metadata wrong and even a brilliant manuscript can sink without a trace.
For the duration of this course, you will work one-to-one with your tutor who will guide you through every stage of bringing your book to market: editing for publication*, formatting for print and ebook*, cover design*, choosing the right platforms, pricing, and building the early buzz that gets your book noticed.
Instead of guessing your way through blogs and forums, you will have an experienced author checking your work at every step, so that when your book goes live, it looks and reads like it came from a traditional publishing house.
*Please note that we advise students to hire specialist professionals to do these tasks. Editing and cover design will incur fees in addition to the course fee, and will need to be negotiated with each person the student hires.
What You’ll Master on the Self-Publish Your Book Course
- Understand the self-publishing landscape and map out a realistic path to publication for your book
- Edit your manuscript to a professional, publication-ready standard
- Design or commission a cover that stops readers mid-scroll
- Choose the right categories and keywords so readers can actually find your book on Amazon
- Build your author platform, vital for success: website, newsletter, social media page and lead magnet
- Set up and confidently navigate your own Amazon KDP account
- Publish your book on Amazon step by step, without second-guessing a single setting
- Market and manage your book after launch to keep sales and reviews coming in
- Expand your book beyond the ebook, into print, audiobook and other platforms
What You’ll Master on the Self-Publish Your Book Course
- Understand the self-publishing landscape and map out a realistic path to publication for your book
- Edit your manuscript to a professional, publication-ready standard
- Design or commission a cover that stops readers mid-scroll
- Choose the right categories and keywords so readers can actually find your book on Amazon
- Build your author platform, vital for success: website, newsletter, social media page and lead magnet
- Set up and confidently navigate your own Amazon KDP account
- Publish your book on Amazon step by step, without having to second-guess a single setting
- Market and manage your book after launch to keep sales and reviews coming in
- Expand your book beyond the ebook, into print, audiobook and other platforms
What makes studying with us different?
No Generic Group Feedback
We use traditional methods of assessing work with a real writer assessing your words. No generic feedback!
A Flexible Schedule
Work wherever and whenever you want. You can easily fit our courses around work and other commitments.
Relevant, Usable Content
Easy-to-digest course notes that capture a lifetime of publishing experience, ready for you to apply to your own book.
Expert, Individual Feedback
Every assignment is read and assessed by a published, self-publishing author who knows what actually sells books, not just what looks nice.
Ongoing Assessment
Your work is assessed continuously, so your tutor can track your progress and flag problems before they cost you sales.
No Peer Reviews!
You will only be assessed by your tutor, a leader in their field. No guesswork, just clear, expert guidance from start to finish.
This course is for you if:
- You have a finished, or nearly finished, manuscript and no idea what to do with it next
- You have tried traditional publishing but it leads to dead ends. You now want a faster route to market
- You want your book to look and read as professionally as anything on a bookshop shelf
- You want honest, expert feedback, not AI-generated or peer responses
- You need a flexible, self-paced structure
- You want to keep the rights, the royalties and the decisions that come with your book
Course Curriculum
Module 1: Welcome to Self-Publishing
- Establishing your path to self-publishing
- Why use the Amazon platform
- Tasks: Establish your publishing goals, assess what still needs to be done on your manuscript, identify your target audience
Module 2: Editing Your Manuscript
- Why editing matters, the stages of manuscript review, finding and briefing an editor, hiring an editor in the age of AI
- Tasks: Prepare your manuscript (printed read-through and beta reader), send it to your editor or proofreader, answer the assessment questions and submit your first three chapters
Module 3: Categories and Keywords
- How Amazon categories and keywords work, and how to research comps
- Tasks: Shortlist and choose three categories, research and draft a list of keyword phrases, choose your seven keywords
Module 4: Writing Your Product Description
- Formulas for fiction and nonfiction descriptions, KDP guidelines, why to write it yourself rather than use AI
- Tasks: Draft a description of roughly 100 to 250 words using the fiction or nonfiction formula, test it on at least one other reader
Module 5: Designing Your Book Cover
- Why covers matter, analysing cover comps, writing a design brief, hiring a designer, technical specifications
- Tasks: Analyse four or five cover comps, write a design brief, then commission a designer or design the cover yourself once your tutor has given feedback on the brief
Module 6: Building Your Author Platform
- Pen names, author bio and photo, Amazon Author Central, Goodreads, author website
- Tasks: Write an author bio (including any pen name), arrange a professional author photo, set up your Amazon KDP account
Module 7: Preparing Your eBook for Formatting
- Front and back matter, ebook formats, preparing the Word file, finding a formatter or software
- Tasks: Add the front and back matter, prepare the Word file for formatting, tell your tutor how you plan to get the book formatted
Module 8: Preparing Your Book Launch
- Algorithms and ranking, book reviews and ARC teams, reader magnets and mailing lists, social media
- Tasks: Draw up a launch plan, create and format a reader magnet, sign up for a mailing service and BookFunnel, write the sign-up offer and welcome email
Module 9: Publishing Your Book on Amazon KDP
- Going wide or exclusive, KDP Select, DRM, ISBN and ASIN, pricing and royalties, preorders, AI disclosure, the upload process
- Tasks: Decide on going wide, KDP Select, Kindle+, DRM and price, then upload the book to KDP and publish it if you’re ready
Module 10: Beyond the eBook
- Print on demand, audiobooks, growing your author career, avoiding scams
- Tasks: Consider your plans for a print edition, an audiobook and what you will write next
16 self-published novels | shortlisted for 2 awards
I write fantasy and science fiction set in an alternate world South Africa, and I have been publishing my own books since 2011. Two of them have been shortlisted for the Nommo Awards, which celebrate the best speculative fiction by African writers. As a writer, the magic I love comes from many places: the worlds of Hayao Miyazaki, Ursula Le Guin and CJ Cherryh, and the warmth and natural wonder of James Herriot and Gerald Durrell.
I also work with clients on ebook formatting and print layout, so I know the practical side of bringing a book into the world as well as the creative side.
Alongside my writing, I have spent more than twenty years teaching the creative use of digital technology to adult students at the University of Cape Town, the Vega School of Brand Leadership and the Durban Institute of Technology among others. My own training is varied: a BA in Fine Art, a higher diploma in bronze casting and a Masters in Information Technology.
I don’t see myself as a lecturer handing down knowledge from above. I love learning new skills, and I’m driven to share the resources and techniques I’ve discovered so that others can enjoy the same satisfaction.
Our Graduate Students' Successes
When Lesley Sefton first picked up her pen to write, she was trying to make sense of her daughter’s gruelling battle with drug and alcohol addiction.
Lesley first began by blogging, but as her blog and community of readers grew, she realised her family’s private struggle was a story shared by thousands of parents suffering in silence.
To turn her raw blog posts into a cohesive, publishable manuscript, Lesley enrolled in the Write a Non-Fiction Book Course and after that, our Self-Publish Your Book Course.
Working one-on-one with her tutor, she received line-by-line editorial feedback, constructive encouragement and the structural tools needed to complete her story.
The result? Lesley published her moving debut memoir, Addict Child: A Mother’s Journey, offering comfort and community to families navigating addiction around the world.
The book has gone on to connect with readers well beyond Lesley’s own circle, currently holding a 4.5-star average from 315 Amazon reviews. Readers describe it as searingly honest and impossible to put down, with several saying it changed how they understood addiction within their own families.
Lesley’s journey proves that no matter where your story begins, whether in personal experience, professional knowledge or creative passion, with the right mentorship, you can turn your words into a published book.
More Student Successes
We are proud of our graduates who have self-published their books, showing you what is possible.
COURSE FEE
$1,495.00
Price includes GST
NUMBER OF ASSIGNMENTS
10
The assignments vary in length.
NUMBER OF MODULES
10
These modules include around 200 pages of course notes.
COURSE DURATION
6
Work at your own pace – up to a maximum of 6 months. We add an additional month if a course runs over the Christmas break.
START DATE: ANYTIME
Working with an individual tutor means you can start the course at any time.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- Must have a completed manuscript or one that is near completion.
- Computer skills, e-mail and Internet access required.
- No previous tertiary qualification required.
Get These Additional Benefits
Lifetime Course Access
Benefit from free lifetime access to future course updates and access to our writing resources.
Work at Your Own Pace
Our courses work around you. You can pace your course around your busy life.
Work Opportunities
Top students are invited to join our writers and editors for hire service.
500+ Bonus Articles on Our Blog
A superb, constantly updated resource with articles on writing and interviews with writers.
You will receive an approval email and invoice within one working day.
Should your form not submit, please let admin know at admin@nzwriterscollege.co.nz
If you’re not 100% satisfied with the quality of our training, simply ask for a refund, minus expenses, within 30 days.
How does the course work?
The course consists of 10 modules. Detailed course notes covering the content of each module are emailed to you. At the end of each module, you will be required to complete a practical assignment covering the real steps of self-publishing your book. Once your assignment has been submitted, your tutor will send you an assessment and feedback, and you will then move on to the next module.
Is there a payment plan?
Yes. We offer an interest-free payment plan for this course. You pay a 50% deposit to secure your place and get started straight away, then the remaining balance is due at the end of the following month. Just mention the instalment option in your application, and we will invoice you accordingly.
Is it interactive? Can I ask my tutor questions?
Absolutely. You have direct communication with your tutor for the duration of the course. The more questions you ask, the more you will get out of it.
Do I need to have finished my manuscript before starting?
Yes. This course focuses on what happens after the writing, so a completed or near-complete draft will let you get the most out of every module.
Will anyone else see my work?
No. Your manuscript and publishing plan remain completely private between you and your tutor, unless and until you choose to publish.
Why would I pay for this when I can just watch free videos online?
Free guides can tell you the theory. What they cannot do is look at your specific manuscript, your genre and your goals, and tell you exactly what to fix before you hit publish. A rushed or poorly formatted self-published book is far harder to recover from than one that launches well the first time. Your tutor has actually been through the process, made the mistakes, and knows precisely where independent authors lose readers, sales and reviews. That is the difference between a generic checklist and a launch plan built around your book.
What are the conditions of certification?
Students will receive a Writers’ College Certificate upon successful completion of the course, provided they meet the following conditions:
- Students must complete all assignments across every module
- The course must be completed within 6 months of registration
- Students are expected to attain a minimum average of 50% for the course
Who owns the rights to the book I publish?
You do, entirely. We will never make a claim to anything you produce. Copyright and all publishing decisions remain with you, the creator.
When can I start the course?
Because you work with an individual tutor, you can start as soon as your application is approved, usually within one working day. There are no fixed start dates.