There’s no shortage of self-publishing courses out there.
Jump into any author group and you’ll see one person recommending a $27 video bundle, someone else swearing by a $600 business-building program, and another proudly announcing they paid over $7,000 for coaching and would do it again in a heartbeat.
So which ones are actually worth it?
Well, here’s the truth most ads and sales pages won’t say out loud:
There’s no such thing as the perfect course… but there is such a thing as the right course for the right person.
Some authors want coaching and accountability. Others just want a clear checklist so they can get their book finished and published without getting stuck in research mode.
Some want marketing only. Others want the full process from idea to launch.
Some care about price, first and foremost. To others, price is no object.
That’s why we created this guide.
As the team behind Kindlepreneur, Publisher Rocket, and Atticus, we’ve seen just about every publishing course model out there, from one-time video libraries to cohort programs with live calls and limited seats. Each one has its place, depending on how you like to learn and how much support you actually want.
To help you sort through the noise, we pulled together a list of today’s most recommended self-publishing courses and broke them down based on:
- Price
- Access model (instant vs. cohort-only)
- Scope (publishing only, marketing only, or full process)
- Who it’s best for
Below, you’ll find an honest overview of each course, plus links if you want to explore any of them further and see which one fits the way you want to publish.
Best Self-Publishing Courses: Comparison Table
| Course Name | Creator | Genre / Focus | Best For | Price / Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Authorpreneur Academy | Kindlepreneur | Fiction + Nonfiction | Authors who want a complete roadmap without upsells or enrollment windows | $179 (learn more) |
| Self Publishing Launchpad | Learn Self Publishing | Fiction + Nonfiction | Authors who like structured pacing with defined start dates | ~$497–$597 (learn more) |
| Self Publishing Made Simple | April Cox | Children’s Picture Books | Authors writing children’s books who want live guidance and structure | $1,999 (learn more) |
| How to Write & Self-Publish Your Book | Rebecca Hamilton | Nonfiction (memoir, self-help, message-driven books) | First-time nonfiction authors who want an encouraging step-by-step path | CA$197 (learn more) |
| The Complete Kindle Publishing Course | TCK Publishing | Amazon Kindle (general audience) | Authors who want direct instruction on Kindle publishing without coaching | $297 (learn more) |
| Publish & Thrive | Sarra Cannon | Fiction + Nonfiction | Authors who want community energy and guided pacing | ~$399–$499 (learn more) |
| Authority Pub Academy Pro | Live Bold Guides | Nonfiction + Business-minded authors | Authors who want to build a repeatable publishing business model | $797 (learn more) |
| Ads for Authors | Learn Self Publishing | Advertising (paid ads focus) | Authors ready to invest in mastering paid advertising | ~$849 or 12×$75 (learn more) |
| Fundamentals of Fiction | Self-Publishing School | Fiction | Authors who want one-on-one guidance and are comfortable investing at a premium level | $6,997–$10,000+ (learn more) |
#1. Authorpreneur Academy
by Kindlepreneur

Created by yours truly, this course was built to give fiction and nonfiction authors a complete A-to-Z publishing roadmap without requiring a high-ticket coaching program or waiting for enrollment windows.
Instead of jumping between scattered tutorials, everything is laid out in a clear sequence… from validating your book idea to formatting, uploading, launching, and promoting your book long term.
The lessons are fully self-paced with downloadable checklists, so you can work through the process in order or revisit sections anytime you publish a new book.
If you need live coaching calls, cohorts, or community support, it's not the course for you.
But if you're a fiction or nonfiction writer who wants to learn a proven process for crafting, publishing, and marketing a book (at a price less than dinner for two at a moderately-nice restaurant), it's a great option.
Quick Overview:
- Price: $179
- Access Model: Instant, self-paced, lifetime access
- Scope: Full process — idea → research → building → publishing → launch → long-term marketing
- Who’s Behind It: Created by the team behind Kindlepreneur, Publisher Rocket, and Atticus
- Format: 10+ hours of professional video training with organized modules and downloadable resources
- Best For: Fiction and nonfiction authors who want a full publishing roadmap in one place without cohort schedules, coaching calls, or upsell tiers
#2. Self Publishing Launchpad (formerly Self Publishing 101)
by Learn Self Publishing
Self Publishing Launchpad (previously known as Self Publishing 101 from Mark Dawson) is now led by James Blatch under the Learn Self Publishing brand.
The course follows a structured, start-to-finish format similar to what you’d expect from a full “publishing blueprint” style program. Enrollment opens and closes in cohorts, so you can’t join anytime (you have to wait for the next window).
While the original version was tied closely to Mark Dawson, the current program still carries a similar structured teaching style, just with a new instructor and updated content.
Quick Overview:
- Price: Historically around $497–$597 (price not shown while enrollment is closed)
- Access Model: Cohort-based; enrollment opens during limited launch windows
- Scope: Full publishing process with structured modules released in a guided sequence
- Who’s Behind It: Led by James Blatch via the Learn Self Publishing platform (original course created by Mark Dawson)
- Format: Eight modules estimated at around 20+ hours of learning (based on past reviews and course breakdowns)
- Best For: Authors who like working through a structured curriculum with group pacing
#3. Self Publishing Made Simple
by April Cox
Self Publishing Made Simple’s current flagship program (“Author Accelerator”) is a 90-day guided publishing experience designed specifically for children’s picture book authors.
Unlike a traditional video-only course, it pairs structured training modules with live group coaching twice per week, plus extended support for six months after enrollment.
Students work through the curriculum while also getting access to vetted service provider recommendations, feedback opportunities, and a private community, making this one of the more interactive and higher-investment programs on the list.
Quick Overview:
- Price: $1,999
- Access Model: Enroll-now format with a 90-day structured curriculum + twice-weekly live group coaching and six months of support
- Scope: End-to-end publishing guidance specifically for children’s picture books, including vendor networks and production support
- Who’s Behind It: Created by April Cox under the Self Publishing Made Simple brand
- Format: Includes 12 on-demand modules, plus live coaching sessions
- Best For: Authors who are focused on children’s picture books and want structured coaching and community support rather than a self-paced course
#4. How to Write & Self-Publish Your Book
by Rebecca Hamilton

Rebecca's course is aimed primarily at nonfiction authors who have a story, message, or experience they want to turn into a book.
It walks through the writing and self-publishing process in a linear, beginner-friendly way, from finding your topic and overcoming internal blocks to formatting your manuscript and uploading it to Amazon.
The lessons are designed to feel approachable and motivational, with a focus on getting new authors past hesitation so they can make real progress.
The program is self-paced and includes templates and simple checklists, making it easy to follow even if you're starting from scratch. And it comes in at a nice price too.
Quick Overview:
- Price: CA$197 ($145 USD)
- Access Model: Self-paced with lifetime access
- Scope: Focused on nonfiction; covers writing mindset, outlining, formatting, and publishing to Amazon
- Who’s Behind It: Created by Rebecca Hamilton, author of The Million Dollar Bakery and Wake Up & Smell the Coffee
- Format: 12 modules and more than 50+ videos that walk you through Rebecca's process, step by step
- Best For: First-time nonfiction authors who want a step-by-step walkthrough with encouragement and gentle guidance rather than a fast-paced technical training approach
#5. The Complete Kindle Publishing Course
by TCK Publishing
The Complete Kindle Publishing Course from TCK Publishing is a self-paced program focused specifically on Amazon Kindle publishing.
It's designed for both fiction and nonfiction authors who want a straightforward walkthrough of setting up their Kindle book the right way, without the coaching or cohort model that some higher-priced courses use. Everything is laid out in clear lesson blocks you can work through on your own schedule.
Compared to the more expensive enrollment-based programs, this course is a good mid-priced option for authors who want guidance without a large coaching investment.
Quick Overview:
- Price: $297
- Access Model: Evergreen (enroll anytime with immediate access)
- Scope: Focused on publishing specifically to Kindle, with step-by-step platform training
- Who’s Behind It: Created by Tom Corson-Knowles and the TCK Publishing team
- Format: Nine sections, 48 lessons, plus expert interviews
- Best For: Fiction and nonfiction authors who mainly want Kindle-specific publishing guidance without paying for coaching or full business-building extras
#6. Publish & Thrive
by Sarra Cannon
Publish & Thrive is a cohort-based course run a few times per year, focused on helping authors not only publish their books, but also develop a sustainable mindset and workflow around indie publishing.
Instead of being a static video course, it runs live for six weeks with a guided release schedule and community interaction as you move through the modules.
(It's also suited for authors of all genres, not just fiction.)
Because enrollment only opens during specific launch windows, you can’t join anytime. However, many authors appreciate the group energy and pacing that comes with a live-run program.
Quick Overview:
- Price: Historically around $399–$499 (price not visible while enrollment is closed)
- Access Model: Limited-time cohort (runs in 6-week live sessions, typically twice per year)
- Scope: Full publishing and mindset framework with community support and guided pacing
- Who’s Behind It: Created and taught by Sarra Cannon, indie author and founder of Heart Breathings
- Format: 30+ hours of lessons plus bonus Q&A session replays
- Best For: Authors of all genres who like live cohort energy, community involvement, and a more guided pace rather than pure self-paced learning
#7. Authority Pub Academy Pro
by Live Bold Guides
Authority Pub Academy is built around the idea of treating your author career like a long-term publishing business (rather than a one-off book project).
The course leans into systems, platforms, and building a repeatable process so each new book becomes easier to release and promote. Unlike cohort programs, you can join anytime and work through the material at your own pace.
Steve Scott and Barrie Davenport are both prolific indie authors, and their teaching style reflects that (practical, checklist-driven, and based on their own publishing workflows).
Quick Overview:
- Price: $797
- Access Model: Evergreen (enroll anytime and start immediately)
- Scope: Publishing and business-building framework focused on long-term author platform development
- Who’s Behind It: Created by Steve Scott and Barrie Davenport
- Format: Six modules, 50+ lessons, bonuses, and expert interviews (including one with yours truly)
- Best For: Authors who want to build a long-term publishing system
#8. Ads for Authors
by Learn Self Publishing
The Ads for Authors course is designed specifically for writers who want to master paid advertising for their books.
Rather than covering the full publishing process, it zeroes in on running ads, analyzing campaign data, and scaling book sales on platforms like Amazon, Facebook, and BookBub.
Enrollment opens only during launch periods, and pricing isn’t visible until the cart is open. Historically, the course has been positioned as a premium training option for authors ready to invest in advertising as a serious marketing channel.
In short, if you're serious about marking your book with paid ads, it's a course you should consider.
Quick Overview:
- Price: Historically $849 or 12 monthly payments of $75
- Access Model: Launch-based (usually opened twice a year)
- Scope: Advanced advertising strategies focusing on paid traffic and sales optimization
- Who’s Behind It: Created by the Learn Self Publishing team
- Format: Training includes video walkthroughs, campaign breakdowns, and platform-specific tutorials
- Best For: Authors who want a dedicated advertising system and are ready to invest in paid ads beyond organic marketing
#9. Fundamentals of Fiction
by Self-Publishing School
Self-Publishing School has some of the most hands-on options out there.
Instead of just handing you video lessons and sending you on your way, their model revolves around live coaching calls, accountability check-ins, and direct guidance from their team. To join, you have to book a consultation call first (pricing isn’t shown publicly).
This setup works well for authors who know they want more than just a course and like the idea of having someone keep them on track as they move through the process.
Quick Overview:
- Price: Typically $6,997–$10,000+ (revealed after consultation call)
- Access Model: Rolling enrollment via coaching intake; access opens after a call with their team
- Scope: Full publishing and marketing system with added coaching, check-ins, and community support
- Who’s Behind It: Established by Chandler Bolt and now run by the Self-Publishing School coaching team
- Format: Lessons paired with coaching calls
- Best For: Fiction authors who want structured accountability and coaching support and are comfortable investing at a premium level
How to Choose the Right Course for Your Publishing Style
Not every author learns the same way, and that’s a big part of why these courses are structured so differently.
To help narrow your options, here’s a simple way to match a course to your working style:
| If you… | Then look at… |
|---|---|
| Are on a budget or want the best bang for your buck | Authorpreneur Academy |
| Prefer to jump in immediately and work at your own pace | Authorpreneur Academy, Rebecca Hamilton’s course, The Complete Kindle Publishing Course |
| Want live interaction, accountability, or a group start date | Publish & Thrive, Self Publishing Launchpad, or Self Publishing Made Simple |
| Are writing a children’s book specifically | Self Publishing Made Simple |
| Already know how to publish and want to grow readers or sales | Ads for Authors |
| Want coaching and don’t mind a premium price for hands-on support | Fundamentals of Fiction, Self Publishing Made Simple |
| Are building a long-term author platform or business model | Authority Pub Academy Pro |
Final Word on Self-Publishing Courses
Each of these courses can be the “right” choice depending on what you want from the publishing experience, whether that’s coaching, community, specialty training, or a long-term business-building approach.
But if you read through this list and found yourself thinking…
“I just want a clear roadmap I can start right now, without paying thousands or waiting for the next enrollment window”
…then you should know my Authorpreneur Academy was built for exactly that kind of author.
It gives you the full publishing process, in order, with everything in one place (so you’re not left piecing things together from multiple programs or trying to catch up with a live schedule). You get lifetime access, you can move at your own pace, and you don’t have to budget for coaching tiers or add-ons later.
So, check it out, if you're interested.
Otherwise, your next step is simple:
Choose the course that matches your style, your timeline, and the way you want to publish.
Cheers!


Wording Well offers a much cheaper solution to those who want to become authors.
See https://wordingwell.com/ser…Wording Well also offers editing services!The steps to becoming an author are outlined at https://wordingwell.com/how… and include
– video
– infographic
– textBecoming an author is easy, nowadays, thanks to the technology available!
ok..so..has ANYONE tried Kindle CASH flow? you can watch a video and get the basic idea…It is very expensive however, at $697…but some places will give$300 off…?
what do you think of Kindle CAsh flow by Ty Cohen.it is also being touted by Robert Kyosaki, Anik Singal and Fred Lam…your thoughts appreciated..
I have not tried it, so I cannot say…nor am I familiar with him.
Sooo, I’m confused. Kindlepreneur is an e-book marketing course promoting other e-book marketing courses?? I just did this search “difference between kindlepreneur and first 10,000 readers” and what came up was this article, which only confused me further, ha ha.
No, Kindlepreneur is not an ebook marketing course. Kindlepreneur is a free online website. I do not have any paid courses. I have a free course on Amazon Ads at AMSCourse.com. But no course on self publishing. Maybe you have me confused with someone else?
I’d love to see some mention about which is best for fiction vs non-fiction. I know There is a lot of overlap but it feels like Dawson is mostly focused on fiction authors. Is that true?
WARNING about Self Publishing School purchase at your own risk. I requested to cancel within 7 days of signing up their 30 day money back guarantee didn ‘t happen. Then demanded to cancel after I was contacted by another student saying my personal phone number was used to contact him. Didn ‘t happen and little to no support. Now 3 months later I ‘m being treated as I ‘m a bad person and have been charged a total of $3,600. Oh and I can ‘t even get into the program because they updated and the login is different.
Thanks, that helps. Just came out of seminar for Self Publishing.
Okay, Here is the thing. Self-published authors have only one challenge, once the POD company has all your files. Who the hell bought your book? Amazon sure won’t tell you. The POD printer won’t tell you. There is no tracking pixel to find out. So, how do I do it? I’ll tell you for free. Record your book, chapter by chapter. Save it somewhere that people can download it. Then, put a special email address inside the book cover where readers can write you to get the audio version for free. Boom. You have their email address and name, and now you can tell them when your next book comes out. About 5% of readers will request the audio version. Believe me, It is better than nothing,which is exactly what you get by paying someone for their secrets. Oh, and you can sell the audiobook for 100% profit. Now, go and do.
I have written 10 books with 7 Amazon best-sellers. Of course, being host of one of the most popular Sunday night talk radio programs and being featured in more than 1,000 YouTube videos and radio interviews doesn’t hurt. I will say that there are three things every self-published author most have before you do your first radio interview.1. You must have a landing page that includes a way to collect the name and email of your fans. You will be doing monthly newsletters or specials for your “warm market.”
2. You must have INSIDE your book an email address where fans can write you with questions, comments, and requests for interviews or requests for the bonus audiobook (see #3 below). This helps add to your “warm market database” You need at least 5,000 names or you will never be successful as a self-published author.
3. I HIGHLY recommend recording your book in audio and using it as a bonus to offer on radio interviews. If you do not have a MAC, do not worry. (I do not recommend Audible for self-published authors) You can record your book with free software as chapter links and stream it from your hosting service.
4. Oh yeah. There is a 4. You must follow everything Dave writes about how to add legs to your best-seller. Trust me. I know you can have a #1 best seller on Amazon for two weeks, and then it will drop to a couple dozen a month. You need the legs. Read EVERYTHING Dave writes.
Great insight and thanks! You totally made my day.
hey im eying to become a non fiction self publisher and i was just wondering which is the better course for that niche (authority pub academy) or (self publisher 101)
They are both really great courses but I think if you are just getting started that Authority Pub Academy might be a better fit.
Hello. Thanks for the great reviews. I was recently quote very different prices, do you think they could have gone up that much since this article was written? Or are the prices you mention still accurate?
I bet you’re referring to the Self Publishing School by Chandler Bolt? I actually just reached out asking about their latest price (I’ve heard its been increasing). If it is someone else`s, let me know and I’ll re-reach out and check. .
Just got off the phone with SPS, literally (did not go with them, which is a long story), but It is $4997 if you “get approved” with a phone interview. $2997 or 3x$1200 if you sign up on that call. If you just walk in off the street, with no interview It is $6997. All in all, I’m grateful to have found this article and read the comments here to help me decide to go with one of the other 3. *checking them out now*
Boom! That is why I sat through them all – I wanted to be able to legitimately write about each one. For some, one is the best, and for others It is another. The key is, which one is best for ‘you.’ Happy hunting 🙂
I have Your First 10k course and whilst I picked up a few things almost ALL of the techniques he covers no longer works when trying to promote fiction books, for example things like categories and keywords may have worked in 2014 when Nick was selling books, but they do not work now. I think Nick has worked out he can make far more money teaching the how rather than actually writing, which is fair enough but the techniques MUST be kept up to date. Nick did recently update a section for AMS ads, although that one video alone is not enough to create a single profitable ad, it did alert me to Dave and Kindle rocket which I had already bought. Dave`s course was actually very good and I am implementing it.I was interested in Chandler`s course, as for me the key issue is getting people to SEE and BUY my book, but at almost $7k it is not marketed for most people I think!
Hi Chuck – great insight. I’ll say this – if Nick`s course did not help, I would not expect Chandler`s to help. You can see in the chart above the difference between Chandler`s and Nicks content (in terms of video hours). As for keywords, I’ll say that so long as Amazon shoppers go to Amazon and type in the search bar what they are looking for, keywords will be important. I actually just sent him updated videos that I made for his course on both Keywords and Categories (I agree, those needed major updating and told him that myself). So, if you did not see those, you’ll want to.With the part about SEE and BUY, I think your best bet is AMS. AMS gives you the direct ability to PUT your book in front of those shoppers. So, it takes care of that part. But if you they choose not to buy, then you know either your book cover did not intrigue them, or your description did not convince them to pick it up (so it can help you diagnose your issue). And as you mentioned, I have that full free course on AMS: AMSCourse.com
Have you heard of Self-Publishing Mastery (also known as A to Z of Self-Publishing)? It is taught on teachable.com – and It is FREE. Take a look at the class curriculum. It covers the basics, KDP, creating an author platform, building a mail list, promotion, audio and translation, and other streams of income. Here is the link: https://azofselfpublishing….
Great review thanks Dave! I came across Self Publishing School at a conference and they are pitching their course to me at the moment, so I wanted to compare them to others. After doing some research, I am shocked at what they are trying to charge me for the course – $7000! I do not know the prices of the other ones you reviewed, but would not you say That is a lot?! And that their price has gone up a lot?!
Hi Suzie, the prices are all in the table at the top which should give you a clear perspective as to how they all compare side by side. Hope that helps!
Hey Dave,
I’ve taken two of these and avoided two, I can couch for “10K readers” Good solid down the middle approach. Mark Dawson`s course is a little more detailed and very good. Thought Chandlers seemed a little to “Beginner” for me and Just had to chose so I took the 10K over Steve Scott. Great article man. do not think you could go too wrong with any of those courses.
Yeah, That is why it got a “beginner/Intermed” mark where as the others all got Beg-Advanced. The key thing was I wanted to make sure I actually took all of those courses before I talked about them….way too many hours of watching..haha.
Hi Dave, Thanks for the article, It is quite helpful while There is a lot of information available out there. Do you think that the K Money Mastery still good for a beginner in 2018?
It is, but I think you’d do better going to some of the Udemy courses that are newer, plus they have specials where It is only 10.99 per course. Which is cheaper than K Money Mastery.
Hi Dave, Thanks for the article, it’s quite helpful while there’s a lot of information available out there. Do you think that the K Money Mastery still good for a beginner in 2018?
It is, but I think you’d do better going to some of the Udemy courses that are newer, plus they have specials where it’s only 10.99 per course. Which is cheaper than K Money Mastery.
Before you consider the merits of Self Publishing School, you might check out the fine print in their “100% Guaranteed Refund” promise, which is nothing (in reality) like what it sounds. I was a very satisfied customer until I realized I was over-extended and could not keep up with a 90-day program (in fact, I did not have the time to get started), so I asked for a refund, based on their “100% Guaranteed Refund.” I even told them why, and said I’d re-start the program, probably this summer, when I expected to have more time. What happened next was not exactly customer-friendly customer service. I wrote about that here: https://badbusinessalert.bl…
Glad you have let us know about this attitude, Ned. Very helpful. And apparently it i`s not the first time.
On the subject of refunds, I accidentally signed up to Mark Dawson`s Ads for Authors course realising afterwards that it was probably too advanced for me and I should have started with SPF101. I sent an email asking if they would give me a credit for later in the year to use when SPF101 was open again. They said, why do not we give you a refund and you can sign up and pay when you’re ready. I did not even ask for a refund and got one within a day. No hassle, no fuss. So, you can sign up to Mark Dawson`s courses knowing you’re in good hands.
Yeah, they’re great guys.
Before you consider the merits of Self Publishing School, you might check out the fine print in their “100% Guaranteed Refund” promise, which is nothing (in reality) like what it sounds. I was a very satisfied customer until I realized I was over-extended and couldn’t keep up with a 90-day program (in fact, I didn’t have the time to get started), so I asked for a refund, based on their “100% Guaranteed Refund.” I even told them why, and said I’d re-start the program, probably this summer, when I expected to have more time. What happened next was not exactly customer-friendly customer service. I wrote about that here: https://badbusinessalert.blogspot.com/2018/01/self-publishing-schools-100-percent.html
Hi Dave: thanks for a very informative article. As a first time would-be author there are only two course that apply to me, and Chandler`s is too expensive for my budget right now. I am extremely sceptical of K Money Mastery, and I’m wondering what your (and others’) take is on it, and if – after your research – you think I’m unnecessarily concerned? In the introductory “sales” video, although several people give very positive reviews, most do not give their full names and not one is linked to books they have successfully published. I emailed Stefan`s customer service twice, asking for qualified references – and they replied both times saying that Stefan has himself published many books, which the only proof I need. I do not buy that – I am not Stefan and being “trained” by him is not proof that his course is good, or that it works for other individuals. The other thing that leaves me cold is the way the Stefan is shown leaning on an extremely expensive car, standing on a luxury boat/yacht, walking on a tropical beach, etc, etc – as if he has to sell his course not on its merits, but with an enticement of excessive wealth. Is it just me, or do other people have the same reservations? And is a 2015 update really applicable in 2018?
Actually, the best way forward right now is Udemy. This week (till January 5th) all courses are just $10. You can find a list of the ones I think best here: https://kindlepreneur.com/b…Now, are one of these better than a $1000 course above? No. However, I believe that the combination of a couple, and some specific marketing tactics like “Facebook Ads” and such make this a much better situation. So, in the end, a combination of multiple Udemy courses is cheaper and a better.
Hi Dave: thanks for a very informative article. As a first time would-be author there are only two course that apply to me, and Chandler’s is too expensive for my budget right now. I am extremely sceptical of K Money Mastery, and I’m wondering what your (and others’) take is on it, and if – after your research – you think I’m unnecessarily concerned? In the introductory “sales” video, although several people give very positive reviews, most don’t give their full names and not one is linked to books they have successfully published. I emailed Stefan’s customer service twice, asking for qualified references – and they replied both times saying that Stefan has himself published many books, which the only proof I need. I don’t buy that – I am not Stefan and being “trained” by him is not proof that his course is good, or that it works for other individuals. The other thing that leaves me cold is the way the Stefan is shown leaning on an extremely expensive car, standing on a luxury boat/yacht, walking on a tropical beach, etc, etc – as if he has to sell his course not on its merits, but with an enticement of excessive wealth. Is it just me, or do other people have the same reservations? And is a 2015 update really applicable in 2018?
Actually, the best way forward right now is Udemy. This week (till January 5th) all courses are just $10. You can find a list of the ones I think best here: https://kindlepreneur.com/best-udemy-courses-for-self-publishing-authors/
Now, are one of these better than a $1000 course above? No. However, I believe that the combination of a couple, and some specific marketing tactics like “Facebook Ads” and such make this a much better situation. So, in the end, a combination of multiple Udemy courses is cheaper and a better.
I really like your website and emails. This article is awesome but doesn’t mention money enough in my opinion. Regarding Your First 10K Readers, you should add whether or not you are an affiliate and warn people that their agreement cites the $59 a month as a monthly payment on an almost $1000 course. Their customer service (Tyler) will point that out if you try to cancel. There is a 30-day money back guarantee on the first month but after that they expect the full amount. It is not a subscription. I’m battling right now to get out of that agreement. It’s my fault for not reading the fine print, but I’ve never run into this before. Hopefully they’ll see the light and let me out.
Bummer you ran into that, but if you read the beginning of the article I stated: “Now, I’ll tell you from the start that most of the links on this page are affiliate links.” It’s right below the bullit points in the intro. So, I was up front about that. As for the pricing, these courses sometimes offer a pricing system. You could pay it all up front or make payments. That’s something they explain on their home pages. So, again, sorry you ran into that, but I was upfront about it and my affiliation.
Hey Dave, thanks for the links to Udemy. I picked up three amazing courses for $36!
That’s awesome – yeah, I’m pretty jazzed about it too. Did my own personal Christmas shopping from Udemy as well 🙂
Kindlepreneur needs a self-publishing course. Take what you learn and make your own course better than all the rest, and sell it for $19.99. I think you could really broaden your base, give people like me something extremely valuable, and sell a ton of KDP Rockets.
Hey Dave, proud of owner Of KDP Rocket here. Love your stuff! Question: are you familiar with Luca De Stefani AKA Big Luca? I was thinking about getting his course because he seems like he really knows what he’s doing. I’m wondering why his course isn’t here.
Another question: why don’t you make your self-publishing course!?
Hi Scott, no I’m not. I’ve seen the name, but never come across his content (which is probably why he’s not on this list). I like to list those whose content on marketing and publishing I frequently come across and I’ve heard great things from students and the benefits it’s given them. I will be updating my comparison chart in about a month or so to include Tim Grahl’s and Mark Dawson’s though. As for my course, I haven’t felt the need to make one because there are many good ones out there and I didn’t want to be ‘another.’
the way you think of Pat Flynn is how I think of you, and I am sure that many others would feel that way. You actually care about people, whereas all of these other guys (including those mentioned here) are completely full of shit. I would trust what you say before them, and I would choose your course over any of those. I would hardly consider you “another.”
Thanks Scott. To be mentioned as a Pat Flynn is honestly the highest honor anyone could give. He specifically taught me that you can be you, keep your morals and make the internet a better place…all the while succeeding. So, I really mean it when I say that means a lot to hear.
My family is in the Philippines, and I am in the United States. I am not trying to bring them here though. Instead, I want to move there and be with them. It’s better for them to stay there. Anyway, I need an online business. I need a business that I can operate and collect pay from anywhere in the world. That’s when I first found out about KDP.
I gravitated to KDP because I have always been a writer, and I’m very natural with computers. I had a 4.0 GPA in all of my online classes in college. It just made sense. I know it was real, and I knew I could do it.
However, my income wasn’t sufficient enough at that time for me to pay $300-$400 for one of these guys’ courses. They withhold information. They tell you just enough to lure you in so they can sell you their products and services. With all due respect, K Money Mastery is the best example of this.
At any rate, I’ve seen them all! If it’s on the Web for self-publishing, ebooks, SEO, or the like, I’ve seen it! That’s how I found you. And out of all the guys in the business, I trust you the most. I get excited to see everything you put out. I’m not trying to stick ride you, but I really like what you have out there. Thanks for all the great content and the Godsend, KDP Rocket. Oh, and thanks for letting us know about Pat Flynn.
beyond that, by creating a self-publishing course, you will add to your following. You can reach a new market full of people searching for someone they can trust.
Great article Dave thanks – a great one to keep for reference.
Thanks Grace and you bet!
I must be dead lucky Dave. I nearly went nuts trying to figure out which course to take before I chose 10k. I’ve been blogging for 4 years and have self-published 3 books – all as a hobby. When I finished my first novel I thought, maybe I should try and make some money out of my books. That’s how it all started. I’ve no idea how it will end. Thanks for endorsing my choice of course. By the way I’m enjoying working through your excellent stuff too. Being a nuclear engineer must be an advantage over being an unclear writer!!
Hi James, I’m glad you found it then. The whole point of that crazy article was to FINALLY sit down and figure it out myself. I hated giving advice on courses and honestly, not have taken them. It was expensive (not all of them would allow me to review them for free) and super super time consuming. So, glad it helped! As for the nuke part, well, God might have blessed me with an analytical mind, but he sure didn’t give me the gift of writing or communications. hahaha.
Thanks so much Dave. I was wondering whose course I should take. (Another course, oh dear.) I was tossing up between Self Publishing School and Authority Pub Academy, and leaning toward the latter, but you have made me much more confident about my decision. (Except the price … oh well.)
Dave, you just set yourself heads and tails above the noise. I was about to hit the “buy” button for similar program, you cut through the fog for me. I’ll not forget it. I’m posting this to my 26k Facebook followers, as well as tweet etc. Thanks for being a stand up guy!
Thanks Jack! Well it all started when I realized I didn’t know the answer to it the question of “what’s the best.” And I’m sort of a comparison guy so it really felt like this needed to be written 😀
I read Chandler’s first book on publishing, but I have to say that I don’t trust someone who starts a publishing school after writing one book. He’s written some since then, but still only one book before writing about how to publish a book which is easily by far the biggest money making topic out there.
I prefer Steve Scott because he’s actually done it.
That’s why there’s the side by side comparison. Helps to see how they are as courses – plus I also include the writer’s information on that chart as well.
The problem I have with the above courses are the lack of details. You have to figure too many things out for yourself. And that takes time and effort.
If you are into details and a very straighforward connect-the-dots method,
I would strongly consider this combination for Kindle Publishing:
http://myselfpublishingrevolution.com
http://kindleautopilot.com
Then I would combine this information with the information from https://kindlepreneur.com and KDP Rocket.
So I wish Dave would review these other courses since they are much more into detail.
Dave, you are so hard working. And so diplomatic!
Just to say that I have done Nick Stephenson’s course and it is worth every penny. I made the money back in 3 months and I heartily recommend it. Having said that – I agree with the comments above. It is not for the faint-hearted. If you’re going to do it, then DO IT.
This is a great service you have done for us, Dave, which has helped me make my choice. Now while I am here, may I remind you that I sent you an email about the fantastic BD Generator tool that you are offering, but am unable to download,
I can’t find anywhere on your page to download it. I tried clicking on Code Generator but it never gave me a code. I filled the form at the bottom of the page which took me to everything but the BD Generator. I joined your YouTube Channel.
Still no BD Generator.
Now what?
Hi, Glad you enjoyed the the breakdown of the courses. As for BD Generator, this is no ability to download it. You can use it at: https://kindlepreneur.com/amazon-book-description-generator/ (That top part isn’t a picture – you can start writing your description and then click on the buttons to make your words look exactly like they will on Amazon. Then, when you have it looking the way you want it, just click “Generate My Code.” That will then give you the HTML code you need to copy and paste into your KDP backend.
PS: Love the Gandalf reference… 😀
Cheers Dave. “Geru” is the colour worn by sadhus in India. So instead of Gandalf the White, I am called “Gandalf the Geru.” So about the BD Generator. Is it only for KDP? It doesn’t work for the Amazon Book Sales pages?
haha..nice. It does. But the CSS (style of the words) looks a little different – but the html rules still apply. I use my Book Description Generator for my Amazon books and Kindle.
Wanted to let you know, your links to the courses are not working. Please let me know when you have them fixed. Thanks.
Hi E.S….sorry about that. Some of the courses are seasonal – as in they launch the course for a couple of weeks and then focus on the those student/class and then relaunch it again (changing up their links or course). I’ve corrected the the 10K Readers course link, which was the only one that wasn’t working properly. If there’s another, let me know. Also, 10K will be relaunching in about 10 days. Thanks for the heads up!
Thanks for the info on them launching in ten days. That was the primary course I was interested in. Do you happen to know how long that course takes. I know it says in ten days, but learning the material may take more time than is in the sales copy. I thought I clicked one of the other links too but they seem to be working right now, so maybe not. I felt each one might have info I’ve missed and might help me streamline my process, however they could also be a waste of time and money if I already know the material. Which was why I was looking at the ten day course. I really appreciate this blog and the information in it. Thank you for putting it out there.
How long a course takes really depends on your experience and knowledge on the subject. If you want, we can chat about it and see if its a good fit based on your experience and goals. I’d hate for you to take a course and pay all that money, only to find that’s not what you needed. just contact me via my contact page.
I’m late to the party, as usual, but wanted to say thanks for this review and comparison. Good descriptions with very fair recommendations. These courses must be very profitable as there are a lot more out there, some tightly focused on a single marketing idea like Facebook ads or email lists, for $600+. Some days I feel I’m spending too much time just delete email pushing “Get Rich with Kindle” courses. Thank you for spending all of the money and time to provide honest reviews.
Thanks, Dave. Great reviews. Makes it so much easier for newbies like me to stay afloat. You rock.
Absolutely. Yeah, this article was all about finding some way to give people an understanding of how all of the Self Pub courses compare. After having sat through them all, it’s great to say with certainty which one is best suited for particular people….which its insane who much these courses really different. And with such a high price point, we need to know which one is right for us.
Wow this is incredible Dave – thank you! I hadn’t even heard of the first 10,000 course but it seems like that’s the one for where I am at right now. I’m going to sign up for that one and will make sure I use your link!
Hey Kelly, awesome to here. I know he’ll reopen his course this summer, but in the meantime, if you have any questions, send em my way.
Agh yes – I just saw the course is not evergreen. I have signed up to get notified of when it’s on next xx Thank you!
Dave, this is really well done, thank you so much for taking the time and putting this together. You’re truly adding value here by saving us time and helping us make a decision. I’m currently in Jeff Goins’ Tribe Writers and although Publishing is just 1 of the 4 modules, it’s more along the lines of Steve Scott’s longer-term strategies. I’m also a big fan of Joanna Penn and she has a course, too (I have no idea what it’s like, but she does everything with quality in mind: http://www.thecreativepenn.com/courses/).
Again, a huge thank you for this!
Thanks Bradley! Joanna is pretty awesome sauce. I want to expand this article to more classes/course, however, the article is already +1500 words. I might add Nick Stephenson’s and leave it at three…but to add more, I might have to put on my thinking cap and get creative. Maybe infographic or something….hmmm…infographic. I might just try that…haha.
I’m also in-depth kind of guy. In my review of Scott’s “61 Ways to Sell More Nonfiction Books on Amazon” I trashed Chandler’s “Book Launch”. Let me recall the wording:
“Book Launch” can make you excited about writing and publishing. “61 Ways to Sell More Nonfiction Kindle Books” will make you do the necessary steps to create your own Kindle business from scratch.
I would say SPS is for novice who wants to learn the ropes and it’s a bit pricy for that goal. Scott’s course is for a novices and advanced authors who want to learn the business.
I’ll add to that last sentence with “and grow their self-publishing business.”
Thanks, Dave! Very helpful analysis.
No problem Marnie!
Hi Dave. Good job putting this review post together and for making the effort to give a balanced overview of both the Authority Pub Academy course and Chandler’s course. I hope you have a lot of affiliate sales of that one with Steve Scott. 🙂
Thanks!
This rocks. Wish more people did things like this for courses. You just stumbled on a heck of a business blog idea. 🙂
Hahah…awesome. Yeah, most of the time I just ask myself, what’s my biggest struggle. After seeing all the courses that are out there, I just wanted to know how they all compare and since there wasn’t really anything out there, I figured I’d dive on that grenade….haha. Let me know when that blog idea is out 😉
Ha! If only I had more time. 🙂 but you are definitely a braver man than I. 🙂
Haha…not brave…just well stocked with Red Bull 😉
Hey Michael, I just found your youtube videos. Way to rock it!!
Thanks, man!
I agree, Michael. There’s just SO much out there, it’s overwhelming and hard to sift through. Dave here has saved us time, money and possibly going down the wrong rabbit hole and I’ll happily click an affiliate link as a thank you for his time and effort.
I have developer WordPress (also for writers) over the past years and this makes me think I should have a post called, “The top 5 WordPress themes for writers.” and let people know what’s what.
I personally enjoy reading those…might be why I write those kinds. Actually I just did a guest post Rob Cubbon’s website about comparison sites: http://robcubbon.com/product-comparison-blog-post/
An excellent review of two products, I have follow Steve Scott for several years now, he always delivers great content, Chandler only from his online presence. But overall a nice review of self publishing products
Yeah, like I said in the article, when I heard he was creating a course, I was like “well it’s about time dude.” I mean, look at those numbers! If you haven’t figured it out, I’m sort of a numbers and analytical geek.
Thanks so much for this great write up Dave AND for taking the time to slog through all the videos. That’s an insane amount of time you’ve spent just to put together this one blog post. You’re a beast, man!
Haha…thanks buddy. Loved it
Nice comparison! I personally like Chandler’s mind-mapping idea to a book. Did you know Buck Books also has a publishing school? It’s the link at the bottom of their page which leads to Archangelink. I have seen their free video series, they have a SOLID launch sequence. But the rest I dunno…
However, after explaining his mindmapping process, it would have been AWESOME if he had shot a video of him actually creating one…instead of just showing clips of the finished product.