The digital publishing revolution has dramatically transformed the way authors can reach their audiences. Gone are the days when aspiring writers had to rely solely on traditional publishing houses to distribute their work. With platforms like Smashwords, self-publishing is now easier than ever, offering a pathway for authors to retain creative control, earn higher royalties, and directly connect with readers worldwide.


Smashwords, a pioneer in eBook self-publishing, has helped thousands of independent authors publish and distribute their work since its founding in 2008. With an easy-to-use platform and vast distribution network, Smashwords allows writers to reach readers across the globe. In this guide, we'll walk through the steps to publish your book on Smashwords, explore the platform's benefits, and provide tips to optimize your book for maximum success.


What is Smashwords?

Smashwords is an eBook publishing and distribution platform that provides authors, independent publishers, and literary agents a straightforward way to publish and distribute their eBooks. Unlike Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Smashwords offers a much broader distribution network, allowing authors to reach multiple retailers and libraries, including Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Scribd, and more.

One of the unique aspects of Smashwords is its "Meatgrinder" conversion system, which automatically converts your manuscript into multiple eBook formats (such as EPUB, MOBI, PDF, and others), ensuring compatibility with a wide range of eReading devices.


Why Choose Smashwords?

Smashwords offers several compelling advantages for self-published authors:

  • Wide Distribution Network: Smashwords distributes to major eBook retailers and library platforms, expanding the reach of your book.
  • Free to Publish: There are no upfront fees to publish your eBook on Smashwords. They operate on a revenue-sharing model, where you keep 60-80% of your book's sale price.
  • Multiple eBook Formats: Smashwords' system converts your manuscript into multiple formats, allowing readers to access it on various devices.
  • Control Over Pricing: Authors have full control over the pricing of their eBooks, including the option to offer free books or set up preorders.
  • Higher Royalties: Smashwords pays competitive royalties, often higher than those offered by other self-publishing platforms.
  • Marketing and Distribution Tools: Smashwords offers various marketing tools such as coupons, author interviews, and profile pages to help you promote your book.

Now that you have a general understanding of Smashwords, let’s dive into the step-by-step process of publishing a book on the platform.


Step-by-Step Guide to Publishing on Smashwords


1. Create a Smashwords Account

Before you can start publishing, you'll need to create an account on the Smashwords website. Visit www.smashwords.com and click on the "Join" button in the upper-right corner of the screen. Fill in your name, email address, and a secure password, then agree to the terms of service.

Once your account is created, take a few moments to customize your profile. Upload an author photo, write a bio, and link to your personal website or social media profiles. Your profile is the first impression readers will get of you, so make sure it's polished and professional.

2. Format Your Manuscript for Smashwords

One of the most critical aspects of self-publishing is ensuring that your manuscript is formatted correctly. Smashwords uses a conversion engine called the "Meatgrinder" to convert your manuscript into multiple eBook formats. If your manuscript is not formatted according to their guidelines, it may fail conversion or appear messy to readers.

Smashwords Style Guide

Smashwords offers a free style guide that explains how to format your manuscript for their platform. The guide is essential reading for new authors and can be downloaded from the Smashwords website. Below are some of the key formatting guidelines:

  • Document Format: Upload your manuscript as a Microsoft Word .doc file (not .docx).
  • Font and Style: Use simple fonts like Times New Roman or Arial, and avoid any fancy formatting. Stick to standard text styling like bold, italic, and underline.
  • Paragraphs and Spacing: Smashwords recommends using single spacing and inserting paragraph breaks using the "Enter" key. Avoid using tabs for paragraph indentations, and instead, set up paragraph formatting in Word to automatically indent the first line.
  • Headings and Chapters: Use Word’s "Heading" styles to create chapter titles. This ensures that Smashwords can detect and link chapters properly in your book's table of contents.
  • Images and Links: If your book contains images, make sure they are embedded in the manuscript and are in a supported format such as .jpg or .png. Also, check that all hyperlinks work correctly.

After you've formatted your manuscript, it's a good idea to proofread it thoroughly or hire a professional editor to ensure the content is polished and error-free.

3. Design a Professional Cover

A compelling cover design is crucial to your book’s success. Even though the old saying goes, "Don’t judge a book by its cover," readers inevitably do. A professionally designed cover will increase your book’s visibility and attractiveness in the crowded eBook market.

You can hire a graphic designer or use an online tool like Canva or Book Cover Pro to create a high-quality cover. Smashwords has specific guidelines for cover images:

  • Dimensions: The cover must be a .jpeg file with a minimum width of 1,400 pixels.
  • Aspect Ratio: Smashwords recommends a 1.5:1 aspect ratio (meaning the height is 1.5 times the width).
  • High Resolution: Your cover image should be high-resolution (300 DPI) for optimal quality across devices.

4. Upload Your Manuscript and Cover

Once your manuscript is properly formatted and your cover design is ready, it’s time to upload your book to Smashwords.

  • Manuscript Upload: Go to your Smashwords dashboard, click on "Publish" in the menu, and follow the instructions to upload your .doc file. Smashwords will then convert your manuscript into multiple eBook formats.

  • Cover Upload: You’ll also be prompted to upload your cover image during this step. Make sure the cover file complies with Smashwords’ specifications.

  • Book Details: Provide details such as the title, description, categories, and tags for your book. The description you write will be one of the most important factors in selling your book, so make sure it's engaging and informative.

    • Title: Ensure your title is clear and relevant to your content.
    • Short Description: Provide a brief, compelling summary of your book (under 400 characters).
    • Long Description: Offer a more detailed description (under 4,000 characters), touching on the story or subject matter, its unique features, and why readers will love it.

5. Set Your Pricing

You have complete control over your book’s pricing on Smashwords. You can set the price at any level you feel appropriate or even offer it for free.

  • Pricing Strategies: When setting your price, consider factors like the length of your book, your target audience, and the prices of similar books in your genre.
  • Free Books: Offering a book for free can be an excellent strategy to build an audience or entice readers to purchase other books in your catalog.
  • Preorders: Smashwords allows you to set up preorders for your book. This feature can help build anticipation and generate buzz before your official release.

6. Review and Publish

Once you've uploaded your manuscript, cover, and set your pricing, it's time to review everything carefully. Double-check your book’s details, the formatting of your manuscript, and the quality of your cover image.

When you’re ready, click "Publish." Smashwords will immediately begin converting your manuscript into different eBook formats, which can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours depending on the length of your manuscript.

7. Distribute Your Book

Smashwords automatically distributes your book to its vast network of retailers and libraries. However, if you'd like to opt out of certain channels (for example, if you're also publishing your book on Amazon and prefer not to distribute it through Smashwords' Amazon partners), you can do so by adjusting your distribution preferences in your dashboard.

Smashwords’ retail distribution partners include:

  • Apple Books
  • Barnes & Noble
  • Kobo
  • Scribd
  • Tolino
  • And many more...

Additionally, Smashwords distributes to library services such as OverDrive and Bibliotheca, allowing your book to reach readers through public and academic libraries worldwide.


Tips to Maximize Your Success on Smashwords


Publishing a book on Smashwords is a straightforward process, but if you want your book to stand out, you'll need to go beyond the basics. Here are some tips to help you maximize your book's success on the platform:

1. Optimize Your Metadata

Metadata refers to the information associated with your book, such as its title, description, categories, and keywords. Optimizing your metadata helps improve your book’s discoverability in searches and on retailer sites.

  • Categories: Choose the most accurate and relevant categories for your book. Smashwords allows you to select two primary categories.
  • Keywords: Use relevant keywords that readers might type into search engines. Think about terms that describe the themes, characters, or setting of your book.
  • Tags: Tags further enhance your book’s visibility. Select tags that accurately reflect the content and tone of your book.

2. Use the Smashwords Coupon Feature

Smashwords offers a coupon generator that allows you to create promotional discount codes for your books. This feature can be used in various ways, including:

  • Offering limited-time discounts to generate buzz.
  • Giving away free or discounted copies to book reviewers and influencers.
  • Running sales during holidays or special occasions.

Promoting your coupons via social media, newsletters, and blogs can help attract new readers and increase sales.

3. Set Up Preorders

Setting up a preorder campaign allows you to build anticipation for your book before its official release. Preorders can help drive early sales and improve your book’s ranking on retailer websites.

Smashwords distributes preorders to most of its major retailers, so take advantage of this feature to create excitement around your book launch.

4. Engage with Readers

Building a readership is essential for long-term success as an author. Here are a few ways you can engage with your readers on Smashwords:

  • Author Interviews: Smashwords has an Author Interview feature that allows you to create a Q&A-style interview that is featured on your author profile. Use this opportunity to share insights about your writing process, your book’s inspiration, and your future projects.
  • Reader Reviews: Encourage readers to leave reviews for your book. Positive reviews can help increase your book’s credibility and attract more buyers.
  • Social Media: Promote your Smashwords book links across your social media channels. Engaging with readers and fans can lead to greater visibility and sales.

5. Regularly Update Your Profile and Books

Make sure your author profile is always up to date. You should also review your book’s metadata, pricing, and distribution channels periodically. For example, you might want to update your book description or adjust the pricing to reflect market trends.

If you publish multiple books, consider bundling them together in a discounted package, or offering exclusive content to readers who purchase directly from Smashwords.


Conclusion


Smashwords is an excellent platform for independent authors looking to publish and distribute their eBooks to a global audience. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can publish a professional-quality eBook and take advantage of the platform’s extensive distribution network.

The key to success on Smashwords lies in creating high-quality content, optimizing your book's metadata, and engaging with your readers. Whether you’re a seasoned author or just starting out, Smashwords provides the tools you need to bring your literary creations to the world.

By putting in the effort to format your manuscript correctly, design an eye-catching cover, and actively promote your book, you'll be well on your way to building a successful self-publishing career.