When you delve into the world of publishing, traditional or self, it’s a good idea to keep a folder full of information so you can refer back to it at any stage.

This is what I’ve done since the beginning of my self publishing journey.

Right from 2011 when I first published two of my novels, I have printed out and kept paperwork on how to use Smashwords, followed by CreateSpace and then Kindle.

Since then others have emerged and so a few months back when I started overhauling all of my business folders ( blog posts here – Jewel Divas Collection Folder, Jewel Divas Business Folder, How I made Tabbed Inserts for my Folder) I decided to update and add to my self publishing folders as well.

First off I overhauled the cover image, using the cover from my non fiction book to self publishing that I write under one of my pen names. I copied it for the inside cover as well, and that is for the first section which is for the PRINT section. Print is for CreateSpace, which I currently use, and can add to if I use another company for paperback or hard covers in the future.

Next comes the ELECTRONIC section, with a picture I pulled off the internet. As this folder is for me specifically hopefully there is no issue with using the picture. Under ELECTRONIC comes Kindle, iBooks, Kobo, Scribd and Smashwords. Smashwords is a distributor and distributes to iBooks, Kobo and Scribd, however you can also upload to Kobo yourself and iBooks but only if you have a Mac. Smashwords distributes to many other places but at this time as an Australian, we cannot upload to them, so a distributor is needed.

Next comes AUDIO. Under audio is Amazon’s Audible, where you can buy audio books from, and ACX, which is where you upload your audio books for sale. At this time Aussies cannot do this unless it’s under special circumstances, or you are traditionally published.

Podio Books also comes under AUDIO and this is a company I first learned about in 2011. Since Amazon has opened ACX since then, I will not be needing to use Podio but will keep the info anyway.

Then comes OTHER PLACES. This is where info on any other places where I can sell, that arise, will go.

As usual, like my other folders, I bought the J Burrows turquoise insert 3D ring folder from Officeworks for $5.99 and added three packs of Kmart’s plastic insert pages for $12

I used my normal Big W Ditto brand or Kmart brand paper for printing, and made my tabbed inserts from Officeworks manilla folders. How I did that is in this blog post. I also used vanilla manilla folders I had left lying around.

When self publishing it takes a lot of reading and a lot of doing. You really do need to print out every guide and piece of info these websites have and keep them handy in a folder for every time you upload a book.