They say that everyone has at least one book inside them. Is yours a coffee table book?
Creating a coffee table book can be a rewarding experience. They are often colorful and jam-packed with inspirational photographs, quotes, and information. And they make great birthday and holiday gifts, too.
If you do want to create a coffee table book, it will be a different process to creating a novel or memoir. It could be a steep learning curve if you have never done anything like this before. But once you see your book in the center of someone’s coffee table, it will all be worth it.
This is a simple step-by-step guide on how to create a coffee table book and publish it.
Table of Contents
1. Think of a Great Coffee Table Book Idea
Coffee table books have a different purpose from other types of books. Novels entertain, non-fiction books educate, and coffee table books inspire.
They are not text-heavy and have lots of gorgeous visuals. Anyone should be able to pick up this book, read a small section, and get some enjoyment from it.
Here are some examples of great coffee table books:
- Accidentally Wes Anderson by Wally Koval
- Atlas of Beer by National Geographic
- Supreme Models by Marcellas Reynolds
When starting to create a coffee table book, think of ideas that you can make into lists or spit up into tiny sections.
2. Figure Out the Visuals
When creating a creative coffee table book (as they all are), you need to know where you are sourcing the visuals ASAP.
These are your options:
- Photograph them yourself
- Hire a photographer
- Buy pictures from stock image sites
- Hire an illustrator or graphic designer
You will need to work together side-by-side throughout the project. Without visuals, you do not have a coffee table book.
3. Write the Text
To create a coffee table book to sell to publishers, you need a book! So, get writing.
First, plan your book and then set daily writing goals. As long as you stay disciplined and focused, you will finish it.
4. Find a Publisher (Or Do It Yourself)
You have the idea, words, and visuals. Now, it is time to get your book printed and published!
The traditional publishing route is to find a literary agent who will then help you find a publisher and editor. Your publisher would hire a designer to create the layout of your book, hire coffee table book printing services, and market the book.
You could also self-publish your coffee table book via companies like Amazon. For this route, you would need to provide the upfront funds, but if the book finds an audience online you would keep 100% of the profits.
That’s How to Create a Coffee Table Book in Four Simple Steps
Figuring out how to create a coffee table book is not easy, but it is simple. As long as you have a great idea that people want to buy and do the work, you will have a book to feel proud of.
If you have more creative business ideas you want to pursue, check out our website for useful guides that will help you get started!