Best Udemy Courses for Self-Published Authors

The journey of self-publishing can be overwhelming. From writing and editing to marketing and book formatting, there’s a lot to learn. Thankfully, Udemy offers affordable and comprehensive courses tailored for self-published authors. In this article, we’ll explore the best Udemy courses to help you succeed in every aspect of self-publishing.

Best Udemy Courses for Self-Published Authors

1. Bestseller Book Marketing: Amazon KDP Self-Publishing

“Bestseller Book Marketing: Amazon KDP Self-Publishing” is a top-rated Udemy course that teaches authors how to become Amazon bestseller authors in 2025 and generate significant cash from their works. This course covers techniques and insights into efficient book marketing, with a focus on Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform. By mastering these tactics, self-published authors can improve their book’s visibility and sales success on Amazon. This course is an excellent resource for authors who want to negotiate the competitive world of self-publishing and attain blockbuster status.

Rating:

Benefits of the course:

Gain insights into proven marketing strategies that have helped sell over 10,000 books.
Learn to self-publish both paperback and Kindle (KDP) books efficiently.
Master techniques to make books visible and appealing, even in competitive niches.
Improve personal branding and establish authority as a thought leader in your niche.
Receive personalized support from the instructor, including opportunities to join office hours for direct assistance.

You may also like: How to Avoid Plagiarism in Assignments: 10 Easy Steps

2. SELF PUBLISHING - Outside the Box

“SELF PUBLISHING – Outside the Box” is a highly rated Udemy course designed to guide aspiring authors through the self-publishing process. The course covers essential topics such as understanding the motivations behind writing, developing compelling topics or storylines, and making decisions about page and book sizes, as well as the use of images.

Rating:

Benefits of the course:

Comprehensive Content: The course offers a thorough overview of the self-publishing journey, from conceptualizing ideas to finalizing the book’s design.
Expert Guidance: Led by experienced instructors, learners receive valuable insights into the nuances of self-publishing.
Flexible Learning: With 36 minutes of content spread across 10 lectures, the course is structured to accommodate various learning paces.
High Student Satisfaction: The course boasts a 4.6 out of 5 rating, reflecting positive feedback from participants.
Global Reach: Having enrolled students from 49 countries and offering content in 16 languages, the course is accessible to a diverse audience.

3. Write & Publish Your First Nonfiction Book on the Side

“Write & Publish Your First Nonfiction Book on the Side” is a brief Udemy course that teaches busy professionals how to write and self-publish a nonfiction Kindle bestseller while working full-time. It lasts about 1.5 hours and provides concrete insights into topic selection, efficient writing tactics, and successful self-publishing on Amazon KDP.

Rating:

Benefits of the course:

Topic Selection: Learn to identify nonfiction subjects that resonate with readers.
Time Management: Discover techniques to focus on essential tasks, enabling book completion despite a busy schedule.
Self-Publishing Guidance: Gain step-by-step instructions on publishing your book on Amazon KDP.
Bestseller Strategies: Uncover simple tricks to position your book as a bestseller and establish authority in your field.
Financial Insights: Understand potential earnings from writing and self-publishing a book.

You may also like: List of 10 Best Libraries in Patna for Bookworms

4. Create and self publish a children's picture book for FREE

This Udemy course is perfect for aspiring children’s book authors looking to publish without upfront costs. It covers everything from story development to illustration and formatting using free tools. The course also guides students through the self-publishing process on platforms like Amazon KDP.

Rating:

Benefits of the course:

Learn to create a picture book without any investment.
Gain hands-on experience with free design and publishing tools.
Step-by-step guidance on formatting and uploading your book.
Ideal for beginners with no prior experience.
Helps authors establish themselves in the children’s book market.

5. Book Marketing: Amazon Series Landing Page and Custom Domain

“Book Marketing: Amazon Series Landing Page and Custom Domain” is an Udemy course that teaches authors how to effectively sell their books without the need for a personal website or blog. The course teaches participants how to optimize Amazon book product pages and series descriptions, which increases book visibility and sales.

Rating:

Benefits of the course:

Learn to create optimized Amazon book product pages and series descriptions to boost book visibility and sales.
Understand how to set up a custom domain for your Amazon series landing page, providing a professional touch to your marketing efforts.
Gain insights into effective book marketing strategies without the need for an author website or blog.
Access a practical, step-by-step approach to creating a series landing page, simplifying the marketing process for self-published authors.

You may also like: 5 Affordable Tools for Easy Book Formatting and Design

6. The Foundations of Fiction (Writing Mastery)

“Write a Bestselling Novel in 15 Steps (Writing Mastery)” is a comprehensive Udemy course that walks prospective authors through the key ingredients of creating a successful novel. Jessica Brody, a certified Save the Cat! plotting method instructor, teaches the course, which looks into 15 key story beats inherent in all great stories and provides a clear roadmap from inception to conclusion.
Students will learn how to plot a whole novel, analyze what makes novels successful, and create a compelling outline.

Rating:

Benefits of the course:

Develop complex, realistic characters that resonate with readers.
Craft vibrant dialogue to bring scenes to life.
Construct vivid settings that shape the world of your story.
Compose intricate prose that captivates readers from the first word.
Structure gripping plots that keep readers engaged and turning pages.

7. Write a Bestselling Novel in 15 Steps (Writing Mastery)

“Write a Bestselling Novel in 15 Steps (Writing Mastery)” is a comprehensive Udemy course that walks prospective authors through the key ingredients of creating a successful novel. Jessica Brody, a certified Save the Cat! plotting method instructor, teaches the course, which looks into 15 key story beats inherent in all great stories and provides a clear roadmap from inception to conclusion. Students will learn how to plot a whole novel, analyze what makes novels successful, and create a compelling outline.

Rating:

Benefits of the course:

Provides a step-by-step guide to plotting a novel from start to finish.
Offers insights into the storytelling structure behind successful novels.
Helps in crafting a compelling “novel road map” or outline.
Enhances understanding of plot and story structure.
Assists in developing effective revision plans for existing manuscripts.

You may also like: The Pack’s Weirdo: A Mystery to Unveil a Book by Mudita Upreti

8. The Easy Way to Write Short Stories That Sell

“The Easy Way to Write Short Stories That Sell” is an Udemy course that teaches authors how to create intriguing short stories for magazines, ezines, book compilations, and self-publishing sites such as Amazon.This course provides practical tools for inspiration, story structure, and understanding market dynamics to improve the commercial appeal of your stories.

Rating:

Benefits of the course:

Comprehensive Content: Covers essential aspects of short story writing, including plot development, character creation, and dialogue crafting.
Market Insights: Provides guidance on identifying suitable markets and effectively submitting your work to editors.
Practical Exercises: Includes writing exercises and assignments to apply learned concepts and refine your storytelling skills.
Flexible Learning: Offers on-demand video lectures, allowing you to learn at your own pace and revisit materials as needed.
Experienced Instructor: Learn from a seasoned writer with industry experience, providing valuable insights and real-world examples.

This course is a valuable resource for self-published authors aiming to enhance their short story writing skills and increase their chances of commercial success.

9. Block Buster: Overcoming Writer's Block

“Block Buster: Overcoming Writer’s Block” is an Udemy course that will assist both new and seasoned authors overcome writer’s block and infuse their writing with originality. The course includes practical creative writing exercises designed to turn blank pages into inspired content.

Rating:

Benefits of the course:

Provides effective strategies to overcome writer’s block.
Enhances creative thinking and imagination.
Builds confidence in writing abilities.
Encourages a playful and enjoyable approach to writing.

You may also like: List of 10 Best Libraries in Patna for Bookworms

10. Writer's Journey: 5 Lessons to Step Up Your Writing Skills

“Writer’s Journey: 5 Lessons to Step Up Your Writing Skills” is a thorough Udemy course meant to improve writers’ skills by focusing on essential components of the writing process. The curriculum includes tools for brainstorming, identifying one’s niche, character development, story design, and developing a distinct writing style. This course is ideal for aspiring writers who want to better their craft.

Rating:

Benefits of the course:

Enhanced brainstorming abilities: Learn innovative approaches to generate and organize ideas effectively.
Niche identification: Discover the writing niche that aligns with your interests and strengths.
Character development: Master techniques to create compelling and relatable characters.
Plot construction: Gain insights into structuring engaging and cohesive storylines.
Style development: Cultivate a distinct writing style that reflects your unique voice.

11. Design/Write High-Converting Books-Start Earning Income Now!

“Design/Write High-Converting Books—Start Earning Income Now!” is an Udemy course that teaches budding authors the fundamentals of self-publishing. It provides useful suggestions and hacks for simplifying the self-publishing process, increasing profitability, and streamlining workflows. Participants will learn the subtleties of book interior design, page sizing, and how to create multi-page interiors that improve the book’s appearance and readability.

Rating:

Benefits of the course:

Gain insights into effective self-publishing strategies to maximize profits.
Learn practical tips and hacks to simplify the self-publishing journey.
Understand the intricacies of book interior design and page sizing.
Create multi-page interiors that enhance book appeal and readability.
Streamline workflows for efficient book production.

You may also like: Top 10 Writing Podcasts You Should Listen To

12. How To Create Profitable Book Covers For Amazon KDP

The Udemy course “How To Create Profitable Book Covers For Amazon KDP” is intended to help self-publishers create engaging book covers without incurring the hefty costs of professional designers. It emphasizes the importance of book covers in attracting the intended audience and offers step-by-step instructions for developing covers for a variety of formats, including eBooks, paperbacks, hardbacks, and audiobooks. The course also covers fundamental design ideas, book formatting, and the proper file formats for uploading to self-publishing services such as Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, and Draft2Digital.

Rating:

Benefits of the course:

Cost-effective design skills: Learn to create professional-quality book covers without hiring expensive designers.
Comprehensive design principles: Understand core design principles and formatting for various book formats.
Platform-specific guidance: Gain insights into preparing and uploading covers to platforms like Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, and Draft2Digital.
Practical application: Apply learned skills immediately to enhance the marketability of your self-published books.
Increased sales potential: Attractive, well-designed covers can lead to higher visibility and increased book sales.

Conclusion

Investing in your growth as a self-published author is crucial for success. Whether you need help with writing, editing, marketing, or time management, Udemy has a course for you. Start learning today and take your self-publishing journey to the next level!