Commercial photographer and cookbook author Helena Murphy shares her experiences in the world of self-publishing, demystifying the process, from first idea to finished book.

Whether it’s food, interiors, gardens, craft, or creativity, publishing your own lifestyle book is not only joyful and fun, but can lend you greater authority in your industry. It’s excellent marketing and can open all sorts of doors for your business and career, from speaking on podcasts to being invited to talk at events.

At the outset, it can seem like an overwhelming task when you’re swimming with ideas and have no clear path to get to the other side. You’re thinking about the title, topic, content, design, photography, editing, timelines, and juggling it all with your day-to-day. In this workshop, I’ll break down the advantages of self-publishing over traditional publishing, how to actually go about it (it’s simpler than you think!) and what to do once you’ve got your book in your hands.

Helena was the co-founder of vegan sustainability magazine, Omnom, which was stocked at booksellers internationally, including Selfridges, Foyles, and The Tate Modern. Her latest venture into self-publishing is her upcoming cookbook, The Plant-Based Crohn’s and Colitis Cookbook.

● Getting Started - the advantages of self-publishing v traditional publishing, an overview of volume printing vs print-on-demand, getting organised with a project management system

● Branding - The importance of branding and cover design and how to weave this into your workflow to connect with your ideal customer

● The Details - How to upload your manuscript if using an on demand platform, buying barcodes, creating a style guide, working to a small budget - all the little details you don’t think about when starting out

● Marketing and PR - writing a press release, pitching to press, collaborating with influencers and getting your book into the hands of your ideal customers

● Included: Free project template from getting started to hitting upload, with access to recommended resources, designers, press experts and more.

HOW TO SELF-PUBLISH YOUR OWN LIFESTYLE BOOK with Helena Murphy