Self-Publish A Christian Book: Proven Tips To Be Successful

If you want to self-publish a Christian book, chances are you have an important story you want to share. There are countless bestselling Christian books in a plethora of genres, and yours could be the next one to make an impact. 

But in order to self-publish your book and reach the audience you dream of impacting, it’s crucial to understand two specific factors: what exactly self-publishing entails and how to know if you should self-publish.

Self-publish a Christian book: what you need to know

• How do I know if I should self-publish a Christian book?
• How much does it cost to self-publish a Christian book?
• How do I publish my Christian book?
• What is the best Christian publishing company?

How do I know if I should self-publish a Christian book?

If you repeatedly feel the need to share your story or a specific lesson or theme, and you want this story/lesson/theme accessible to as many people as possible, you should definitely consider self-publishing. Why? You likely have a book in you!

How to write a book about your faith, whether fiction or nonfiction, starts with identifying if you truly have a book inside you. One of the best ways to decide if you should write and self-publish a book is to ask yourself a series of questions.

These specific questions aim to target your core reason for writing. Feel free to grab a sheet of paper and make use of the notes app on your phone as you process these questions! 

1. You can’t stop thinking about it 

One of the ways I know I have a new book to write is when I can’t get the topic off my mind. When I decided to write my second novel, it was only after sitting on the idea for months. No matter how hard I tried, the premise continually came to mind.

If you find yourself daydreaming about a story idea on your daily commute, taking down notes in line at the café, and sharing your idea with anyone who will listen, it may be time to start writing. 

Expanding on your initial story idea will help reveal if you should write a full-length manuscript. Take, for example, the new film, A Quiet Place: Day One. 

Let’s imagine the screenwriters brainstormed much like you may brainstorm for a new book. Start with a question, and move out from there.

The original question can be simple: what if New York City couldn’t have sound? I won’t share spoilers, but it seemed like the screenwriters extrapolated on this question until they filled over an hour and a half of edge-of-your-seat run time.  

This is a great example of starting with a simple question and building out an entire story from there. For nonfiction, consider a question such as, what if I didn’t have any fear? How would I live? One Christian author wrote an entire book on this question.

If you can’t stop adding to your story idea, it’s time to get writing!

2. You feel the need to share your story 

This second question is one of the most important ones you can ask yourself. There are many reasons why you may feel compelled to share your story.

You may want to self-publish a Christian book that’s nonfiction because:

• Writing helps you process your feelings 
• You want a compact way to share with your close friends and family 
• You believe your story will empower others 

You may want to self-publish a Christian book that’s fiction because you feel that: 

• You have a character in your head and can’t wait to write about
• You have live-experience to draw from, and want to use it to inspire your fiction 
• You enjoy entertaining readers and are in love with the writing craft 

Book coaches often challenge new writers to consider the reader above all else. If you want to write as a way to process, deciding to self-publish a Christian book may not be your best choice right now. Instead, consider journaling or starting a blog. 

However, if you know your characters will impact others or you want to pass down your life story to your family, publishing a book could be the perfect option. No matter your decision, just remember to put the needs of your readers first.

3. Your idea is too lengthy for a blog post 

Should you self-publish a Christian book? It depends on the complexity of your idea. Some ideas are short-form, meaning they work best as a short story, blog, or series of blog posts.

However, your idea may be large enough to fill an entire book. If this is the case, you may want to consider creating a writer’s website for yourself. Why?

A great way to test your story idea, whether that of your own life or a fictional character, is via blog posts. Andy Weir, author of The Martian, shared his book in serialized form on his writer’s website. It gained so much traction that it is now the household book, and movie, we reference today. 

Regardless of the final length of your manuscript, testing your idea can provide invaluable insights. Plus, if your book is just too lengthy for a blog post, it’s time to write your manuscript.

4. You know readers will benefit from your book 

Readers benefit from a diverse array of titles. If you know an audience that will benefit from what you have to say in long-form style, you may want to self-publish a Christian book.

While many public individuals write and publish books for the nonfiction market, you don’t need to be a well-known speaker or pastor to self-publish a Christian book.    

Nonfiction sales often rely on the author’s platform—one reason why public personalities often publish nonfiction. However, fiction relies more on the quality of the storytelling. 

Have you ever wondered, what is biblical fiction? Francine Rivers’ novel, Redeeming Love, is a standout example of how to use Bible stories as inspiration for historical fiction. When this romance novelist shifted into biblical fiction, she opened a new type of storytelling for Christian fiction books and authors. 

Of course, if you want to self-publish a Christian book, you can do so in either genre. Make sure you share your best work and create a standout marketing plan, and you’re good to go!

How much does it cost to self-publish a Christian book?

The average cost to self-publish a Christian book fluctuates depending on which publisher you use, your marketing investment, the editors you work with, and more. 

Some say it costs between $2,000 to $4,000 to publish. Various indie authors learn how to upload their book to Amazon KDP for free and choosing to invest in their marketing plans more than the production process.

Costs vary from author to author as well. For example, if you write fantastic books, you likely won’t need to invest as much in an editor: hire a professional editor for a copy edit or a final proofread, but bypass a developmental edit. 

On the other hand, when you choose to self-publish a Christian book, you may choose to invest in:

• Targeted ads
• Your book cover design 
• Help with your marketing plan

The benefits of investing in your marketing, and coaching along the way, is that you provide opportunity for word-of-mouth marketing to take shape. Word-of-mouth marketing is the best form of marketing—it’s free!  

It’s also important to remember that choosing to invest in the right team to help your book achieve success can set the trajectory for your future publishing goals. 

Pro tip: Word counts vary book to book. For example, if you write Christian historical fiction or Christian fiction for women, your word count will be higher than if you write nonfiction inspirational or self-help.

How do I publish my Christian book?

There are countless resources for writers who want to self-publish a Christian book. What are the specific steps you can take to do so? Here is a list of action steps to lead you to your author dreams. 

Determine your next-step

Where are you in your publishing process? Your next step will look different if you’ve already drafted your manuscript than if you need help developing your story idea.

To self-publish your Christian book, honestly consider where you are, where you want to be, and what needs to happen to reach your goal. 

If you are early in the writing process, working with a book coach could greatly benefit you. If you’re ready and eager to put your manuscript out into the world, it’s time to look for the right publishing company. 

Decide what type of help you need

There are a number of aspects necessary to successfully self-publish a Christian book, but which ones do you need help with? 

Consider the following list: 

• Drafting your book
• Editing your book
• Designing your book’s interior/exterior 
• Proper book distribution 
• Successful marketing 
• Keeping morale high

If you could benefit from help with the above, consider an all-inclusive program such as Author Accelerator Elite. If you need help with just one or two of the above points, you may want to work with a book coach.

Devote yourself to the process 

You could be the next author to successfully self-publish a Christian book, but you must commit to the process! Once you decide it’s time to make your author dream a reality, devote yourself to your endeavor, settle on a publisher, and start the process to self-publish your Christian book. 

What is the best Christian publishing company?

There are many great publishers who publish Christian fiction and nonfiction, including Morgan James Publishing, WestBow Press, and of course, yours truly.

Looking for done-for-you editing and marketing services? Eager to find an accelerator program geared toward walking you through the process?

We offer:

• One-on-one coaching
• Aid for your book’s production 
• Publishing help (such as your ISBN and book’s distribution)
• Marketing tactics 

Out of the many publishers to choose from, more than 7000 students chose to work with us. We’d love to meet you and help you self-publish a Christian book!

For more information on 40+ publishers for your faith-based book, view this in-depth guide to Christian publishers.

Christian book self-publishing FAQs

Below are five answers to questions you may find yourself asking as you set out on your self-publishing journey.

How much does it cost to publish a Christian book?

The cost can vary widely, but as mentioned above, it typically ranges from $2,000 to $4,000. This includes expenses for editing, cover design, and marketing. However, some authors reduce costs by doing tasks themselves or using budget-friendly options such as Amazon KDP.

How do I get my Christian book published?

To self-publish your Christian book, platforms like Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, and others are great options.

If you’re considering traditional publishing, researching and submitting to Christian publishers, like Morgan James or WestBow, Press can be a good start.

Is it better to self-publish or get a publisher?

The choice depends on your goals and resources. Self-publishing offers more control and higher royalties but requires you to handle all aspects of publishing. Traditional publishing can provide more support and credibility but may involve longer wait times and lower royalties.

Do Christian authors make money?

Christian books can sell well, especially if they meet a specific need or tell a compelling story. Of course, the more books you sell, the more money you make.

Additionally, the market for Christian fiction and nonfiction is robust, with dedicated readers. While there is a large market for Christian authors, success often depends on effective marketing and finding the right target audience.

How do you get paid if you self-publish a book?

As a self-published author, you earn royalties from sales. The percentage depends on the platform and pricing model. For instance, Amazon offers up to 70% royalties for books priced between $2.99 and $9.99. Payments are usually made monthly, directly to your bank account.

Self-publish a Christian book: take action today

Ready to self-publish a Christian book? Use our free Book Outline Generator to springboard you into writing your book and start your self-publishing journey today!