Self Publishing Resources
Welcome to the Tasty Shelf Publishing Hub
This is where we share the tools, services, and strategies we use to publish our cookbooks. Whether you’re a first-time food writer or a seasoned home cook, this page is your starting point for creating your own cookbook — beautifully, affordably, and efficiently.
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Self Publishing Resources
What You'll Find Here
This page is broken down into helpful sections:
- Tools We Use – Our go-to platforms for writing, editing, design, marketing, and distribution
- Tips & Tutorials – Quick-start guides to help you move forward confidently
- FAQs – Our answers to the most common publishing questions we hear
Tools We Use
All tools below are either what we use ourselves or highly recommend. Some may include affiliate links, which help support Tasty Shelf at no cost to you.
Writing & Organizing
- Google Docs – Collaborative, simple, and ideal for recipes
- Scrivener – For advanced writers or long-form structure
- Notion – All-in-one workspace for tracking recipes, images, and outlines
- Trello – Visual planning and workflow board to manage project stages
Design & Layout
- Canva Pro – Easy drag-and-drop design, great for covers and promo graphics
- Affinity Publisher – Professional-level book layout alternative to Adobe InDesign
- Adobe InDesign – Industry standard for complex layouts
- Mockup Tools: BookBrush, Placeit – Great for promotional visuals
Publishing Platforms
- Amazon KDP – The simplest way to get your cookbook into the world
- Draft2Digital – For distributing ebooks to other retailers
Email & Community Building
- MailerLite – Our favorite for collecting emails and sending updates
- Substack – If you're looking to build an audience around your food writing
- ConvertKit – Great for creators managing email campaigns and automation
Website & Content Management
- WordPress – Industry standard for blog- and resource-based websites
- Squarespace – Easy website builder with modern templates
Marketing & SEO
- Publisher Rocket – Keyword research tool for Amazon books
- Ahrefs / Ubersuggest – Find blog/SEO keywords
- SocialBee – Schedule and manage posts across social platforms
- Helium 10 – Advanced Amazon SEO and product research suite for self-publishers
AI Tools & Content Assistance
- ChatGPT – For idea generation, content refinement, and book description writing
Tutorial & Tips
- How to Structure Your First Cookbook
- Print vs eBook: Which Format Should You Choose?
- How to Price Your Cookbook for Amazon
Still Have Questions
Interested in publishing your own cookbook or joining the Tasty Shelf author team?
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