Pros vs. Cons of Self-Publishing

You finished your book. Now what? The next step is usually getting it published, and there are a few ways to do it. This week, I'll be focusing on self-publishing, the pros vs. cons, and how you can get started.

When people want to get published, they typically will seek out the traditional publishing houses first. They are known for providing professional marketing, putting your books on the shelves, and generally giving your book the attention you want it to have. However, there are also several perks to self-publishing that are worth paying attention to.

First, the Pros:

Creative Freedom

Let's be real: When you have just spent who knows how long creating a fictional universe that revolves around your own rules, it is hard to sign creative control away to someone else. With self-publishing, you don't have to! You maintain total creative control over the marketing, cover design, title, etc. So, if you want to have a picture of your dog as the cover of your epic fantasy novel, go for it!

Keeping the Copyright

With self-publishing, you retain all of the rights to your books, letting you publish them on a global scale in any language. You'll have to do a lot of coordinating with professionals in the field, but it is ultimately your decision where you want to sell your book. You can also set the sell price.

Faster Publishing Times

When you have to go through less people, or none at all, to get your book published, the process will be much faster compared to traditional publishing. Ordering a hard copy on-demand may take a few weeks, but if you are just focused on Ebooks, it's just a few clicks away to getting it published.

Royalties

Typically, the percentage of royalties you get to keep are higher. For example, you can keep 70% of royalties from a $3-$10 book published through Amazon. It won't be as high as the money you could make from a traditional route, but if you spend enough time and effort into marketing, you can earn a decent sum.

Now, the Cons:

Unfortunately, reaching success isn't a few clicks away in the publishing world. These are a few cons that come along with self-publishing.

"With great power comes great responsibility"

You have to do everything yourself or hire people who know what they are doing. It is up to you to find an editor, cover designer, and other professionals to help you make your book look polished and professional. If you want to distribute it to stores or in a foreign language, again, that's all in your hands. This can prove to be a timely process which may disinterest some people. Or, you can be someone who enjoys the challenge and wants to handle everything themselves.

Self-Marketing

Building off of the last point, selling your book and getting people to pay attention is up to you. You have to learn how to market your book, or hire someone who can. Unlike traditional publishing, you don't have a team of people planning marketing campaigns around your book. You have to put in time and effort in order to drive up your sales.

Overall, the main idea of self-publishing is that you get to be your own boss and handle all of the responsibilities that come with it. If this route interests you, check out some of the links below for more info and help.

Happy writing!

Self-Publishing Sites

Draft2Digital - helps with formatting, publishing, and distributing your Ebooks (also offer on-demand paperbacks)

CreateSpace - on-demand printing and publishing service provided by Amazon

WattPad - social media-styled way of uploading your books and gaining an audience

IngramSpark - Ebook, on-demand printing, and distribution services

Other Resources

Alliance of Independent Authors - advice on self-publishing

Writers Beware - tips on how to avoid scams in self-publishing

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