If you’ve ever gone from a secret diary on a journaling app to publishing your thoughts on a blog, consider putting them into an actual book. Self-publishing is easier than you think. How far you want your diary or journal to go, however, depends on your choices.
Export your text and there are sites that can print it for an affordable price. This article explains why and how to publish a journal book, as well as what to consider when planning to do so.
Why Publish Your Journal?
Although a digital journal is more secure and easier to keep track of than a paper one, turning that journal into a book is like looking at a cherished family photo album. It feels more intimate than reading your content online or on a screen.
Self-publishing your diary also provides another way to backup and preserve your thoughts. Published personal journals, depending on the content, may be of interest to your family or even the wider public.
Anaïs Nin wrote her diaries expressly to be read by others. Writer and director, Spike Lee, released a few journals based on his successful movie projects. Published diaries also preserve the memory of Virginia Woolfe and Anne Frank.
Even if you’re not famous, your words could help and inspire someone else.
What You Should Consider
There are several things you need to consider when learning how to publish a diary or journal:
- Self-publishing book sites like Lulu, Blurb, and Kindle Direct Publishing (formerly CreateSpace) let you upload your content in different formats, but PDF tends to work best.
- Self-publishing can be expensive. Unless you want to print a single book, plan your publication carefully and consider the cost of designing, printing, shipping, and taxes.
- If you have a few dozen pages of journal entries, upload a sample from your journaling software to preview the results. You want to preserve the paragraphs, layout, and images in the final PDF.
- Consider how much and what parts of your journal you want to publish. For example, you might want to focus on the birth and first year of your child’s life, or the photographs from your travels.
- If your self-published journal includes personal and sensitive content, consider what it might mean if your book is discovered by a family member before or after you die.
From Journal to Book With Different Services
Working out how to publish a journal has never been easier as self-publishing platforms are constantly growing. Below are four great places to start your research.
Each can create digital and print copies of any prepared document, whether it came from a blog or journal apps and printables. Pay attention to pricing and what tools are on offer.
1. Lulu
Lulu can print your journal in three book formats:
- Standard black and white paperback: starts at $5.25
- Standard black and white hardback: starts at $10.75
- Letter-sized premium paperback: starts at $18.50
There are other forms to choose from, like a photo book and magazine. Whatever you go for, just upload your manuscript and cover. Then, Lulu’s algorithm decides if everything is in printing order, including your margins, image quality, and so on.
For extra help, Lulu lets you download interior and cover templates for Adobe InDesign and Photoshop in the size and style you want. The bundles also contain instructions on how to design your book and export a PDF with the right settings.
Lulu walks you through the process really well, but it’s important to carefully preview your book on the site before you send it for printing. In terms of your journal’s cover, you can use one of Lulu’s generic designs or turn to professional ebook and print cover design services.
2. Blurb
Let’s say you’re focusing on book formats for your journal when looking at Blurb’s wide price range. A standard black and white paperback layout for 5×8 or 6×9 sizes costs $4.99 per unit, while economy color printing for the same specs is $3.99.
Even with the added expenses, you can come up with a decent deal. The platform also gives you design tools and tips to get your journal ready for publication.
3. Kindle Direct Publishing
If you want to turn your journal into a book, as well as instantly promote it to a huge audience, then Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is your best bet. That said, get to know what options and rules it involves before joining.
For example, since you’ll be selling your book through Amazon, it gets a commission from your royalties. Apart from that, you can upload and set up your KDP publication for free before ordering copies at your book’s basic printing cost.
Other Print-on-Demand Services to Check Out
If you’re looking for even more self-publishing services, you can also try the following sites:
Publishing a Journal Is Complicated But Exciting
With everything done, you’ll relish lying in bed and reading through your published journal—as you will in years to come. And all you started with were scribbles, pictures, and random daily thoughts in a notebook or diary app.
You may never get around to writing a proper novel, but keeping a journal or diary is the next best thing, whether you intend to publish it or not. With the help of user-friendly web services, you can easily publish your journal.