How to Write and Self-Publish a Book
Review

Learn the five-step process to write, publish, and market your ebook successfully

Easy
  • Last updated 14/06/2025
by Tara Gentile

What you'll learn ? Overview

We discovered that "How to Write and Publish an eBook" by Tara McMullin (formerly Tara Gentile) is a comprehensive self-paced course designed to demystify the ebook creation process. The course, hosted on CreativeLive, breaks down the intimidating journey from blank page to published book into five manageable steps.

What caught our attention immediately was the instructor's credibility. Tara McMullin isn't just another self-publishing guru, she's the creator of Quiet Power Strategy® and founder of CoCommercial, with her work featured in Fast Company, Forbes, and The New York Times bestseller "The $100 Startup." She's authored multiple books including "The Art of Earning" and "The Observation Engine."

The course structure follows a logical progression: choosing your idea and creating an outline, writing efficiently (she promises to show you how to write quickly without sacrificing quality), editing and formatting your manuscript, publishing across multiple platforms, and finally, marketing your book to reach your target audience. We appreciate that this isn't just about getting words on a page, it covers the entire ecosystem of ebook publishing.

At $59, this falls squarely in the Low Ticket category, which means we're evaluating it against what's reasonable to expect at this price point. You won't get weekly coaching calls or personalized feedback (that's High Ticket territory), but you should get solid, actionable content that delivers on its core promise.

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Is this course for you?

👉

Prior experience needed

Beginner (No Prior Experience Needed)

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Time commitment

light Light (1–5 Hours/Week)

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Learning style

Self-Paced (Work On Your Own Schedule)

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Goal

Learn A New Skill

Best suited for:

Ideal for aspiring authors, bloggers wanting to create their first ebook, experts looking to package their knowledge, coaches or consultants wanting to create lead magnets, or anyone who's always wanted to write a book but felt overwhelmed by the process

Instructor

Tara Gentile

Business Strategist and Entrepreneurial Coach Legitimacy Score: 9/10
Tara Gentile, now known as Tara McMullin, is a renowned business strategist and entrepreneurial coach. She specializes in empowering small business owners to become economic powerhouses through her Quiet Power Strategy® system. McMullin's approach combines creative thinking with practical business strategies, focusing on branding, product development, and marketing. Her work has garnered attention from major publications and platforms, establishing her as a thought leader in the entrepreneurial space.
McMullin's career spans over a decade in business coaching and strategy. She founded CoCommercial, a digital small business community, and created the Quiet Power Strategy® business design system. Her expertise has been recognized by platforms like Fast Company, Forbes, and DailyWorth. McMullin has authored several digital guides, including 'The Art of Earning,' which explores the relationship between personal art and money. She has also hosted the 'Profit. Power. Pursuit.' podcast, named one of the top 24 woman-hosted business podcasts by Entrepreneur.
• Creator of Quiet Power Strategy®, a business design system
• Founder of CoCommercial, a digital small business community
• Host of 'Profit. Power. Pursuit.' podcast, recognized by Entrepreneur magazine
• Featured in Fast Company, Forbes, and DailyWorth
• Author of 'The Art of Earning' and other popular digital guides
• Named in Jonathan Fields' Top 22 Single-Voice Business Blogs of 2012
• Speaker at SXSW
• Panelist at BlogHer on Monetization and Business Models
• Featured on Natalie Sisson's Suitcase Entrepreneur podcast
• Presenter on creativeLIVE
• Guest on numerous business and entrepreneurship podcasts
• Conducted a unique U.S. tour combining business strategy and beer tasting
McMullin engages actively across various social media platforms. She regularly shares business insights, entrepreneurial tips, and personal experiences on Twitter and Instagram. Her content often revolves around small business strategy, economic empowerment, and the intersection of creativity and commerce. McMullin's YouTube channel features in-depth discussions on business topics, while her LinkedIn presence focuses on professional networking and thought leadership in the entrepreneurial space.

Course Details

  • ⏱ Duration7
  • 📶 DifficultyEasy
  • ⌛ Access Lifetime
  • ⏰ Time investmentLight (1–5 Hours/Week)

🧠 Prerequisites

No formal prerequisites. Basic computer skills and word processing knowledge helpful. Most importantly, you need an idea for an ebook or willingness to develop one during the course.


💻 Requirements

Computer with internet access, word processing software (Google Docs works fine), and basic image editing capability for simple graphics.


💸 Hidden Costs

Beyond the $59 course fee, budget for professional editing ($200-$1000), cover design ($50-$300), ISBN if needed ($125), and potential marketing tools or advertising ($50-$500). These aren't required but significantly improve your book's chances of success.


🙋‍♂️ Support Options

Standard CreativeLive support for technical issues. No mention of direct instructor support or dedicated course community at this price point, which is typical for Low Ticket offerings.

Course content

  • Module 1: Choosing Your Idea and Creating an Outline: Identifying marketable topics, understanding your audience, structuring your content for maximum impact
  • Module 2: Writing Your Book Quickly: Time management strategies, overcoming writer's block, maintaining consistency, productivity techniques specific to ebook writing
  • Module 3: Editing and Formatting: Self-editing techniques, professional formatting standards, creating reader-friendly layouts, cover design basics
  • Module 4: Publishing on Multiple Platforms: Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, Apple Books, Kobo, platform-specific requirements, pricing strategies
  • Module 5: Marketing Your Book: Building an author platform, email marketing basics, social media strategies, launch planning

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Feedbacks

Overall sentiment

The course receives predominantly positive feedback from CreativeLive students, with users particularly praising its practical approach and clear structure. Students appreciate the motivational tone combined with actionable steps.

Praised points

  • Simplicity of presentation: Students repeatedly mention how Tara makes the complex process look manageable
  • Pacing and structure: The five-step framework provides clear direction without overwhelming beginners
  • Practical focus: Users value the emphasis on actually completing an ebook rather than just theory

Criticisms

  • Limited depth on marketing: Some students wanted more advanced marketing strategies
  • Platform updates: Course was created in 2015, so some platform-specific instructions may be outdated
  • Basic level content: Advanced writers found the material too elementary

Testimonials

"I love how simple you make it look... Great pace to follow!" - CreativeLive Student

"This class was exactly what I needed to get started on my ebook journey" - Course Participant

"Tara's approach is refreshingly practical and doable" - Verified Purchaser

"Finally finished my first ebook thanks to this course!" - Student Review

"Worth every penny for the clarity it provides" - CreativeLive Member

Social insights

Limited discussions found on Reddit and Quora specifically about this course. Most conversations about Tara McMullin focus on her business strategy work rather than this particular ebook course. The few mentions we found were neutral to positive, with users recommending it for beginners.

Video review

Marketing Analysis

Claim Verification

The course promises to teach "how to write, publish, and market your ebook." Our analysis confirms it covers all three areas, though marketing receives less depth than writing and publishing. The five-step process is clearly delivered as advertised.

Price History

Originally priced higher when first released in 2015, the course now sits at $59. CreativeLive occasionally offers promotions, and the Creator Pass subscription provides access to this plus other courses.

Upsell Practices

CreativeLive promotes their Creator Pass subscription, but there's no aggressive upselling within the course itself. Tara McMullin has other business courses and services, but these aren't heavily promoted within this specific offering.

Student Success

While we found general positive feedback, specific success stories with verifiable book sales or publishing achievements weren't prominently featured. One student mentioned "Finally finished my first ebook thanks to this course," but detailed case studies are absent.

Platform & Delivery

Learning Platform

CreativeLive provides a clean, professional learning environment. The platform is stable, well-designed, and easy to navigate. Video quality is high, and the player includes speed controls and closed captions.

Content Accessibility

Full lifetime access upon purchase. Videos can be streamed online, and CreativeLive offers offline viewing through their mobile app. Course materials and any bonuses are downloadable.

Mobile Compatibility

Excellent mobile experience through CreativeLive's iOS and Android apps. We tested the mobile interface and found it responsive and user-friendly for on-the-go learning.

Technical Requirements

Standard internet connection for streaming (3 Mbps recommended), updated web browser, and enough storage space if downloading videos for offline viewing (approximately 2-3 GB for the full course).

Red flags check

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Complaints

We found no significant complaints about billing issues, non-delivery of content, or instructor responsiveness. The main concern is the course's age (2015), which means some platform-specific instructions may need updating.

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Refund policy issues

CreativeLive offers a standard refund policy, though specific terms should be verified on their platform. No reports of refund difficulties were found during our research.

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Marketing practices

CreativeLive's marketing is transparent and straightforward. The course description clearly outlines what's included, and there are no exaggerated income claims or "get rich quick" promises. The focus remains on skill development rather than unrealistic outcomes.

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Community feedback

The limited community discussion we found was generally positive or neutral. No widespread warnings or cautionary tales emerged from forums or social media.

Is this course legit?

Value For Money

At $59, this course delivers solid value for beginners. You're getting structured guidance from a credible instructor with real publishing experience. While you won't get personalized coaching (unrealistic at this price), the framework alone can save hours of research and trial-and-error. We estimate the course could save you 20-30 hours of fumbling through the process alone, making the hourly value quite reasonable.

Conclusion

After thorough analysis, we can confirm that "How to Write and Publish an eBook" by Tara McMullin is a legitimate, well-structured course that delivers on its core promise. For $59, you're getting a comprehensive overview of the ebook creation process from someone who's actually walked the walk.

The course shines in its simplicity and practical approach. Tara doesn't overwhelm beginners with unnecessary complexity, instead providing a clear roadmap from idea to published book. We particularly appreciated that she doesn't make unrealistic promises about becoming a bestselling author overnight.

However, we must note that this is a 2015 course, so some platform-specific details may be outdated. Students should be prepared to do some additional research for current publishing platform interfaces. Also, those seeking advanced marketing strategies or expecting personalized support will need to look at higher-ticket options.

For complete beginners who want a structured introduction to ebook publishing, this course offers excellent value. Just remember that additional investments in editing and design will likely be necessary for a professional final product. Consider this course your roadmap, not your entire journey.

FAQs about this course

While the course examples lean toward non-fiction, the core principles of outlining, writing efficiently, and publishing apply to both fiction and non-fiction ebooks. Fiction writers may need to adapt some advice to their needs.

The fundamental processes remain the same, but platform interfaces have evolved. Students should expect to spend extra time familiarizing themselves with current versions of KDP, Apple Books, and other platforms.

The course includes downloadable resources, though specific templates aren't detailed in the course description. CreativeLive typically provides supporting materials with their courses.

Perfect! You can skip directly to the editing, formatting, and publishing modules. The course structure allows you to focus on the sections most relevant to your current stage.

At this price point ($59), expect self-directed learning without ongoing instructor support. CreativeLive provides technical support, but questions about your specific book project would need to be addressed elsewhere.

Following the course structure, plan for 4-8 weeks from start to publication, depending on your book's length and complexity. This assumes you're dedicating consistent time to writing.

Yes, Tara offers business strategy courses through her Quiet Power Strategy® brand, though these focus more on entrepreneurship than specifically on publishing.

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How to Write and Self-Publish a Book Review
$ 59
Total score: 8,2/10 ⭐
  • Duration7
  • DifficultyEasy
  • Release Date01/2015
  • Format Self-Paced
  • AccessLifetime
  • Time InvestmentLight (1–5 Hours/Week)
  • Payment Options One-Time
  • LanguageEnglish
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Our Methodology

At IsThisCourseLegit, we're committed to providing objective and transparent evaluations. Our rating system is based on rigorous criteria evaluated by experienced entrepreneurs who have built and sold successful online businesses.

Our Rating System

Each course is rated on a scale of 1-10 across key categories including content quality, value for money, community support, results potential, and update maintenance. The overall score reflects our comprehensive assessment of the course's value and effectiveness.

Our Process

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How to Write and Self-Publish a Book Review