At My Word Search, it’s easy to make dozens of word searches in a short amount of time. Maybe you give these word searches to friends, family, peers, or students. Or, you might enjoy them on your own. You might also find, though, that you can make word searches faster than others solve them.

If this resonates with you, it sounds like it’s time to make your own word search book! There are plenty of reasons to make an entire word search book, and it’s easy to make, too.

Why Make Your Own Word Search Book?

You might make your own word search book for many reasons. You’ll probably feel drawn to one of these three reasons.

You can earn money.
Have you ever thought about publishing your own book for personal or financial reasons? Many people have, but most people have not thought to publish a word search book. It’s a low-cost nonfiction book with an audience.

They make great gifts.
Not everyone wants or needs to financially profit from a word search book. You can also give them away as presents! And when you make your own word search book (instead of buying one), you can personalize the puzzles for the receiver. Similar to how people will give calendars or books with unique photos, you can give a book with unique word searches.

It’s a fun activity.
Sometimes there’s a reason to say, “It’s about the process, not the product.” This is a time where you can say it’s about both! The process of making a word search book is just as enjoyable (if not more so) than giving away or selling the book. In other words, it’s a great hobby for yourself.

Making a Great Word Search Book

Now it’s time to get into the nuts and bolts of making your own word search book. It takes just six simple steps, and you’ve probably already done the first two before.

Step 1: Make your word searches.

When you make your word searches, you’ll want to keep the size, shapes, fonts, and themes consistent throughout the book. Also, when making your puzzles, think ahead a little bit to the size of the book and who will enjoy it.

Step 2: Download them as PDFs.

As you finish each word search, download the PDF and the answer sheet, as well. This will prepare you for the next step.

Step 3: Lay out the rest of your book.

Once you have your puzzles and your answer sheets, you’ll need to make just a few more pages. You’ll want to make a cover, which you can design yourself in Canva. If you plan to sell the book, you’ll need a copyright page, too.

Step 4: Merge your PDFs.

Using a program like Adobe, or a browser-based PDF merger, merge your puzzles, answers, and extra pages in order into one PDF.

Step 5: Upload to your preferred platform.

Many people who self-publish print books use Amazon’s CreateSpace, but there are many places out there you can turn your PDF into a print book.

Step 6: Share!

We’ll talk about this more in the next section. Whether you plan on selling or giving your word search book away, don’t forget to share it after all your hard work.

Some final creation tips.

There’s no right or wrong way to make word searches for your word search book. These tips will help you to make the best book you can, though.

First, solve a lot of word searches. Take note of what you like, what you don’t like, and why. Incorporate these elements into your puzzles.

Then, have trusted friends solve your puzzles. Ask them specific questions to get the best feedback you can. For example, instead of simply asking, “Did you like it?” ask, “Was the word list too long, too short, or just right?”

Finally, if you plan to sell your book, check out best-selling word search books. Take note of the following elements:

• Size
• Number of puzzles
• Layout
• Themes (if any)
• Price

Where to Sell Your Word Search Book

For those of you who wish to sell your word search book, there are several places you can promote it. Here are a few to get you started.

• Your website
• Amazon
• Etsy
• Teachers Pay Teachers
• Independent bookstores
• Social media

No matter where you choose to share your book, make sure potential customers can find it. Describe the puzzles in detail (without giving away answers, of course!). Then, make sure the description features words or phrases you would use to find the book. If you’re not sure, ask your trusted friends who already solved the puzzles.

Congratulations on making your own word search book! What’s the best way to celebrate your achievement? Making a second book for crosswords.