THE JOURNAL
Notes on marketing, editing and self-publishing.
Practical advice for small businesses and authors in South Dakota and beyond.
- How to Publish a Family History in South Dakota
A step-by-step guide to researching, writing and printing a South Dakota family or ranch history, from the State Archives in Pierre to a finished book. - Do You Need Your Own ISBN?
When a free KDP ISBN is fine, when to buy your own from Bowker, what ISBNs cost in 2026, and how many your book needs for paperback, hardcover and ebook. - Amazon KDP or IngramSpark? Why We Use BothKDP vs. IngramSpark in 2026: royalties, print costs, fees, bookstore and library reach, and the simple setup we use to publish every book on both.
- Copyediting vs. Proofreading: Which Does Your Book Need?The difference between copyediting and proofreading, what each costs, and how to tell which one your manuscript needs before you self-publish.
- What It Costs to Self-Publish a Book in 2026A line-by-line 2026 budget for self-publishing: editing, cover design, formatting, ISBNs, printing and Amazon KDP and IngramSpark fees, with sample budgets.
- 5 Essential Offerings Every New Business Needs from a Digital Marketing Agency in South DakotaStrategy, a responsive website, SEO, social media and content: the five services every new South Dakota business should expect from a digital marketing partner.
How to format an ebook for Kindle
How to self-publish a devotional or Bible study
Does your book need an author website?
What a developmental edit actually looks like
One useful email a month
Marketing and publishing tips for small businesses and authors. Short, useful, no spam.
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Book editing, publishing, brand and web from Vale, South Dakota. Rooted in faith, family and the prairie.CONTACT[email protected](605) 641-431713390 194th St., Vale, SD 57788Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 Mountain