Self-Publishing: From Manuscript to Book

Course Syllabus

Course Description

This final course of the certificate walks you from a finished manuscript to a real book. You will compare traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing paths and learn to spot vanity-press red flags. You will learn the parts of a book, write a title, book description, and author bio with honesty and discretion, and practice interior formatting and cover design principles. You will learn the basics of ISBNs, the copyright page, permissions for Scripture and quotations, print-on-demand and ebooks, pricing in general terms, and budgeting without falling for scams. You will plan a simple, safe launch and consider how your book can serve as ministry. You will finish with a Book Proposal & Publishing Plan. Every activity has a paper alternative, and no device is required.

Faith Integration

Habakkuk 2:2–3 tells us to write the vision plainly and to wait for its appointed time. Publishing is an act of stewardship: taking what God has done in your life and placing it carefully in the hands of readers. In this course we move with wisdom and patience, not hurry or pressure. We count the cost (Luke 14:28), seek counsel (Proverbs 15:22), give credit where it is due (Romans 13:7), and remember that the purpose of the book is to let our light shine so others glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

1. Explain publishing as stewardship and calling, using Habakkuk 2:2–3.
2. Compare traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing paths and identify vanity-press red flags.
3. Name and arrange the parts of a book: front matter, body, and back matter.
4. Write a clear title and subtitle, a book description, and an honest author bio that uses discretion about the past.
5. Apply interior formatting basics (trim size, margins, fonts, headers, page numbers) on a device or in a paper mock-up.
6. Describe cover design principles, image licensing, ISBNs, copyright basics, and permissions for Scripture and quotations.
7. Explain print-on-demand and ebook basics, pricing considerations, and how to budget and avoid publishing scams.
8. Create a safe, realistic launch and ministry plan that respects any conditions of release.

Course Materials

• This student workbook
• A Bible (King James Version)
• Your manuscript or memoir piece from CWP 221–223 (or a devotional collection from CWP 222)
• Plain and lined paper, a ruler, pencil, and colored pencils for mock-ups and cover sketches
• Word or Google Docs on a device when available (optional; every activity has a paper alternative)

Weekly Schedule

How You Will Be Graded

To pass this course: earn 70% or higher overall and attend at least 80% of sessions.

Classroom Covenant

• We begin and end each session in prayer. Participation in prayer is always welcome, never required.
• What is shared in class stays in class. We protect one another's stories.
• We speak with respect, listen without interrupting, and disagree with grace.
• We come prepared, do our own work, and ask for help when we need it.
• We follow all facility rules. Safety and security come first.
• We believe the best about one another and about what God can do.

Support & Accommodations

If reading, writing, vision, hearing, or any other need makes a part of this course harder, tell your instructor privately. Materials can be read aloud, enlarged, or completed orally. Missed sessions can be made up using the module pages. If you are transferred or released, your completed work stays on record and you can finish online.

Welcome

Welcome to the final course of the Christian Writing & Publishing Certificate. You have written your testimony, practiced devotional writing, and revised with care. Now you will learn how a manuscript becomes a book. This companion walks beside you with a weekly reading, five devotions for the days between sessions, and a Quick Guide to keep with your manuscript after release.

How to Use This Companion

• Read the weekly reading after each class session. It takes about 10 minutes.
• Reflect on the questions. These are for you; you do not have to turn them in.
• Meet with God through the five daily devotions between sessions.
• Keep the Quick Guide at the end to carry home after release.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.— Psalm 119:105 (KJV)