Good Prose Studios Press
Independent book publishing services
for authors who love beautiful books.
Independent publishing is now a first-choice pathway for serious authors in Australia.
Good Prose Studios Press offers premium independent book publishing services in Australia, for authors and leaders who want to produce high-quality, commercially impactful books. We combine the intellectual rigour of traditional publishing with the personal control of an independent press, to help you publish a book you can be proud of.
What sets us apart is our story-first approach. Whereas most independent publishers focus solely on production and printing, we start with story structure. We build your book’s foundation from early manuscript to final publication, with a focus on narrative non-fiction techniques and storytelling excellence throughout. This story-first method is the very ethos of Good Prose Studios, and forms the foundation of all the services we offer.
If traditional publishing pathways feel out of reach, talk to us about independent publishing. We offer a structured, high-quality, white-glove service – from first draft to launch.
Independent book publishing packages.
Our flagship independent publishing packages for non-fiction books.
Investment: From $15,000 + GST
Our core offering is a complete, guided publishing experience. You’re not navigating self-publishing alone, nor are you tied to a traditional or hybrid trade publication deal. With Good Prose Studios Press, you retain all copyright, full royalties and 100% editorial control. Under our expert guidance, you move from manuscript to publication, with our full support – and all on your terms.
This service includes:
- Manuscript appraisal
- Structural editing
- Copyediting
- Proofreading
- Typesetting
- Cover design
- Figures and indexing
- ISBNs, barcodes and National Library deposit
- Project management
- Digital formatting (eBook and print-on-demand)
- Online distribution (Upload to IngramSpark & Amazon)
Our book publication services are highest quality, ensuring your work meets the expectations of both readers and industry.
Custom digital and eBook publishing packages.
Flexible independent publishing packages for strategic print and digital projects.
Investment: From $5,000 + GST
Not every author needs a full-length book.
Our custom packages are designed for shorter, sharper publishing projects, including eBooks, short-form titles, series, and business assets. We also work on high-end commemorative projects such as anniversary books and archive-quality memorial volumes.
Our tailored independent publishing services include:
- Editorial development and positioning
- Structural and copy editing
- Proofreading
- Typesetting and cover design
- Digital formatting and eBook creation
- Project management
- Print and publication management
The result is a professionally produced book or asset, aligned to your strategic purpose and built to a high standard of editorial excellence.
How independent publishing in Australia works.
Why a premium, guided publishing experience can launch your book with success.
Traditional publishing pathways are notoriously difficult. Many authors leave dreams in the bottom drawer after countless rejections or a lack of response from publishers and literary agents. In recent years, razor-thin margins and a focus on celebrity culture has made trade publishing an all-but-impossible dream for most aspiring or first-time authors. Generative AI has compounded the situation, with AI-produced books flooding the market and making it more competitive than ever. If all this sounds grim, don’t despair. Our mission is to help you tell your story, and publish it to the highest standard.
Independent publishing in Australia has become a first-choice for authors who want to publish their book – just as it was for some of the greatest authors in the English language: Mark Twain, Jane Austen and Virginia Woolf, to name a few. It offers more flexibility, faster timelines and more favourable rights’ deals than traditional publishing contracts. It’s also a way to put your work out into the world, such that it gets noticed, as Woolf’s living room publishing house Hogarth Press so powerfully proved.
A book published with Good Prose Studios Press can be sold directly to your audiences, creating a powerful platform for building profile, networking and partnerships. It can also be published within 3-6 months, whereas major publishing houses will take anywhere from 1-2 years. Most importantly, independent book publishing services ensure your writing stakes its place in the world, rather than ending up in mothballs. After all, what is a book without a reader? It’s time to see it through.
If you’re weighing up your options remember this: DIY self-publishing is fraught with uncertainties, especially for those who are unfamiliar with the publishing industry. From editing and typesetting to printing and distribution, there are many potential pitfalls along the way.
Our service offers a unique blend of pure DIY self-publishing and traditional publishing. Our independent publishing services are built on editorial excellence and deep industry knowledge, giving you an edge over other self-publishing pathways.
Good Prose Studios Press is designed for authors who want more than a DIY formatting job done on Atticus or Scrivener. A professionally edited and typeset book will stand the test of time. It will delight your readers, strengthen your ideas and sharpen your authority in the field. It will also stand proudly alongside any other commercially published title on the bookshelf.
Why you no longer need a traditional publisher to produce an exceptional book.
Authorial credibility is built long before publication day.
In traditional publishing, editorial development is what separates an early draft manuscript from a book that lasts. The editor’s unseen red pen, and the typesetter’s clever design, is what makes a book a joy to read – even if the reader cannot put their finger exactly on the difference.
In self-publishing, this step is usually overlooked. Even when the foundational product is good, professional editorial input is the difference between good and great.
At Good Prose Studios Press, excellence is the standard we set for ourselves. Our team comprises seasoned freelance and former in-house book editors who know the importance of textural and narrative quality, and apply critical attention to detail – across every aspect, in every project.
If you want to learn more, one enquiry is all it takes.
Want to hire one of Australia's best ghostwriters?
Our ghostwriting services bring your memoir to life. Confidentiality guaranteed.
What types of books are best suited to independent publishing?
We specialise in non-fiction publishing, specifically business and leadership books, memoirs, and narrative non-fiction. We also guide researchers and academics who want to translate their research, from a data-heavy thesis to an accessible, high-impact book for wider public access.
We typically work with:
- Business leaders and entrepreneurs
- Memoirists and personal storytellers
- Academics and experts translating research into accessible books
As one of the best independent publishing companies in Australia for non-fiction authors, our focus at Good Prose Studios Press is on combining deep editorial expertise with high-quality production. The result is a published book which inspires readers today, and for generations to come.
For serious authors who want to bring an exceptional book to market.
Our clients are typically business leaders and executives, non-executive board directors, subject matter experts, leadership consultants and entrepreneurs, and first or second time memoirists. They aim to:
- Build authority in their field
- Share stories that carry personal or cultural weight
- Translate research into accessible knowledge
- Create strategic assets for their business or career
Our team of writers, editors, researchers and book designers has worked in-house and freelance with leading publishing houses including Wiley, Hachette, Affirm Press, Simon & Schuster and Monash University Press. We bring the intellectual and editorial rigour of a publishing house to independent publishing.
What’s included in your independent publishing package.
A high quality, professionally published book, built to last.
Whether you choose our flagship publishing service or a custom option, at the end of the process, you will have:
- A well-structured and professionally edited manuscript
- A high-quality, market-ready work
- An attractive bespoke cover design
- Professional page design and typesetting
- Files formatted for print-on-demand and eBook distribution
- International online distribution
- A handsome printed book in your hands
Need your manuscript expertly appraised?
Our team of manuscript assessors, book editors and publishing consultants can help you go from draft to done.
Client success stories.
Dr Gary Shiels AM – My Blueprint for Successful Ageing (2025)
Dr Gary Shiels had completed his PhD on healthy ageing when he came to Good Prose Studios. He wanted his research-heavy thesis to be adapted into an engaging, accessible book for a mainstream audience. While the information was strong, the manuscript required structural and stylistic refinement to broaden its reach, update its research basis for the target audience, and refine the case studies that were at the heart of the storytelling.
We began with a manuscript appraisal, followed by a structural edit that reshaped the narrative for accessibility and impact. A key recommendation was the inclusion of a personal memoir chapter, grounding the science of diet, sleep and exercise in Gary’s lived experience. We also helped Gary simplify technical content and translate the research for general readers.
Once the structure was established, we undertook copyediting and proofreading, working closely with Gary to preserve his voice. We then moved to the publication phase, including professional typesetting and cover design. Finally, we uploaded the book to IngramSpark for print-on-demand and global online distribution, making it available to readers everywhere. As part of our service, we referred him to a website designer, website copywriter and a specialist book publicist to ensure his book hit the right markets.
The project took 12 months from draft to publication, culminating in the launch of My Blueprint for Successful Ageing on Gary’s 80th birthday – a fitting celebration of health, wellbeing and longevity.
Why independent authors choose Good Prose Studios Press
We’re one of the best independent publishers in Australia – because we lead with story.
Story-first advice.
We begin with manuscript appraisal to ensure your ideas are market-ready and connect with the right audience.
Editorial depth
We apply rigorous developmental, structural and copy editing to ensure your writing ‘lifts off the page’.
Professional standards
We combine the intellectual rigour of a traditional publisher with the freedom of an independent press.
Considering a writing coach?
Stop thinking. Start writing. A Good Prose Studios writing coach can show you how.
FAQs.
Frequently asked questions.
What types of content do you edit?
Our end-to-end self-publishing services include editorial development, editing, design, typesetting, project management, upload to publishing platforms and global distribution.
What’s not included?
Marketing, publicity, audiobook production and printing costs are not included. We can refer you to trusted partner
How long does the process take?
Typically 3-6 months, depending on manuscript length and complexity.
Do I retain copyright?
Yes, you retain full ownership of your work when self-publishing with Good Prose Studios Press.
Who are your independent publishing services for?
Business leaders, entrepreneurs, memoirists, public figures, experts and academics, including those looking to turn research or a PhD into a book.
Can you help with structure and positioning?
Yes. We begin with a manuscript appraisal and developmental editing support to ensure your book is built on a strong narrative foundation.
Will my book be professionally produced?
Absolutely. We apply industry-standard publishing processes across editing, design and production.
Can I customise my publishing package?
Yes. All self-publishing book services can be tailored to your goals, timeline and budget.
Where will my book be available?
We prepare and upload your book to platforms such as IngramSpark and Amazon for global distribution.
Can you help after publication?
While Good Prose Studios does not offer post-publication services or media management, we know plenty of trusted individuals and services in these fields. We can connect you with trusted marketing, website and PR partners following the publication of your book.