01
What this means
Self-publishing (author-publisher) has an overall upfront author-cost profile of ~$0 to $8,000+ (you pay). Current planning figures: Format: DIY: Free (Kindle Create, Reedsy Studio); tool-assisted: $147 Atticus; $199.99–$249.99 Vellum; professional: A few hundred.[11][15][22][39][47][48]
- Format: DIY: Free (Kindle Create, Reedsy Studio); tool-assisted: $147 Atticus; $199.99–$249.99 Vellum; professional: A few hundred
02
The route changes the handoff
Overall production is run by you. At the formatting stage, you remain responsible for doing the work or hiring it out. Rights and economics for this route: you keep all rights.[11][22]
- Choose formats and set a budget before buying individual services.
- Get structured critique, then plan developmental, line, and proof passes in order.
- Book cover and formatting work early enough to protect the launch date.
03
Sources behind this answer
Publishing Map uses the same canonical data and numbered sources for this answer and the full reference.[11][15][22][39][47][48]
- Reedsy: How Long Does It Take to Publish a Book?
- Atticus: Official pricing and features
- Amazon KDP: eBook Royalty options (35% and 70%)
- Reedsy: How Much Does It Cost to Self-Publish a Book?
- Vellum: Official pricing
- Amazon: Kindle Create
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