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A Powerful Look at the Good and Bad of Self-Publishing a Book
Sunfire
CONTENTS
Overview
When thinking about how you want to publish your book, even if it’s still a work-in-progress, traditional publishing probably comes to mind first. Why not since it’s the dominant route in making it happen? However, there is another way you shouldn’t overlook and it’s called self-publishing a book.
Self-publishing is exactly what it sounds like. Instead of having a traditional publisher doing it for you, you’re doing it all by yourself. Self-publishing a book is becoming increasingly popular in this day and age due to the advancements in technology. Moreover, it’s becoming more accepted by the public as more authors turn to self-publishing instead of a traditional company.
What does this process entail? In many respects, it’s akin to that of traditional publishing. The only thing is that instead of the company doing the work for you, you’re doing it pretty much by yourself. That means you have a great deal of responsibility on your shoulders to make it happen which can be off-putting for some authors.
There are quite a few advantages to going down this route. For instance, you retain control over your book which is a powerful and compelling reason to do it. The pros of self-publishing enable you to do your novel your way without sacrificing its spirit to sell more copies, an appealing prospect to many authors who seek to sell their stories on their merits.
While self-publishing has great advantages, it contains its fair share of cons that needs to be taken into account when considering it. One such is that the burden of publishing falls upon you as you have to do pretty much everything all by yourself. Writing a book is hard work and self-publishing it is more work, which some authors have little desire to do.
This is the forty-sixth article in the writing a fantasy book series. More articles are located on our blog page. Surely you’ll find one that catches your eye!
The Process of Self-Publishing a Book
Even though many writers look to traditional publishing, they should also take a look at self-publishing. The latter is becoming more and more acceptable due to a number of factors, one being the democratization of the internet. The rise of self-publishing is changing preconceived notions about the publishing industry.
So how do you go about self-publishing a book? The process is very similar to traditional publishing with the only difference being you’re the one putting in all the work. The beauty of this route is that you alone determine how fast or slow you want to go.
When you’re ready to have your book edited, you’ll have to hire a professional editor to look through it. There are many independent editors out there. Just keep in mind that there are different types of editors so you’ll need to find one that does what you’re searching for. Do your homework to find an editor you’re comfortable and compatible with.
Moving onto artists, it’s the same as finding an editor. There are independent artists looking for work who’d like to design a fantastic front and back cover for you. Always research the ones you’re interested in to see whether they’re a good fit for you and look at their previous work to get a feel for their style. You want to use one that has the style you want for your cover.
The task of promoting your novel falls upon you should you opt for self-publishing a book. From using your social media platforms to raise awareness to organizing book tours in select cities, it’s all up to you to reach out to would-be customers and persuade them to buy your book instead of somebody else’s. It can be a daunting prospect for some authors but it’s the only way to help sell copies.
One aspect of self-publishing is that you can have independent printing companies print copies of your novel so you can sell physical copies to your customers or bookstores who are interested in it. Before deciding on one, evaluate the pros and cons of each one as well as their printing quality. You want to use one you’re comfortable with and prints well.
Excellent Reasons for Self-Publishing a Book
Now that you understand the basics of self-publishing a book, it’s time to see what benefits they bring to the table. This is noteworthy as you consider whether to go with self-publishing or a traditional publisher. While the majority of authors still go with the latter, the former has advantages you might be overlooking.
The best reason for pursuing this is that it offers you the best freedom in regard to publishing. You’re not beholden to traditional publishers where they give you a list of options at each step of the process that you must select. Instead, you get to do your book your way which many authors find enormously liberating.
Another benefit is that you make more money per sale. Instead of having to pay a cut for each copy you sell to a traditional publisher, you keep that cut for yourself. While you may charge a lower price than a book that a traditional publisher is selling, you make up for it by having more money in your pocket. This is a powerful motivating factor for authors who self-publish.
You move faster than you would if you went down the traditional publishing route. Companies move slowly whereas working by yourself enables you to go faster. Furthermore, you also determine the rate at which you’ll proceed since you don’t have to constantly worry about meeting the deadlines dictated by traditional publishers. This is one reason why self-publishing appeals to many authors.
You can promote your novel in interesting and creative ways. Since you’re self-publishing a book, you have no choice but to promote your book by using methods that catch their interest. This opportunity enables you to stand out in a crowded marketplace as you can devise a bold approach. Take this time to come up with superb strategies to market your novel.
Disadvantages of Self-Publishing a Book
While there are a number of glorious aspects about self-publishing, it contains its fair share of disadvantages that spur authors to just go down the traditional publishing route. Consider them as you decide whether to self-publish. As always, do your research so you have as much information as you need to make the best decision for yourself.
The number one reason why some authors would forgo this is that you do all the work yourself. Nobody is telling you what to do; it’s all up to you. The responsibility of getting your book ready to be sold and promoting it is a bit too much for some authors. Before deciding to self-publish, be aware of the scope of the work you’ll have to do.
You have to network by yourself. At each step of the process, you’ll hire different editors and artists and see whether they’re a good fit for you. You’ll also have to meet with people who will sell your book in their stores. This can be tricky for introverts or people who like to be alone.
With all the work that comes with self-publishing a book, it’s easy to feel lonely. Even though you may have a supportive family standing at your side, offering words of encouragement, they don’t understand the stress and strain you’re putting yourself through with all the work you have to do. This can lead to periods of self-isolation as you spend precious time away from your loved ones.
One disadvantage about self-publishing is that even after launch day, you still have to constantly promote your book. Marketing your novel isn’t an one-time thing, it’s an ongoing endeavor. You’d still do this as you’re writing your next one. This juggling act is a central fact of self-publishing.
Even though you may do everything right, your book may not become a bestseller right away. If this is your first time publishing a book, it’ll take some time since you’re building your brand and promoting your book to prospective readers. You have to give them a reason why they should buy your book and not someone else’s.
Tying it all Together
Self-publishing is on the rise in today’s world for a number of reasons. A growing number of authors are eschewing traditional publishers, choosing to self-publish instead. If you’re unsure whether to go down this route or go with a traditional publisher, evaluating the pros and cons of each one will help you decide.
Self-publishing is almost identical to that of traditional publishing with the difference being you’re the one doing all the work by yourself. You’ll hire editors to go over your novel with a fine-tooth comb and artists who will design its front and back covers to. You’ll also be promoting it which signifies you’ll need to compose a plan to help you reach prospective customers.
This route has its fair share of advantages that many authors find appealing. For instance, you get to do your book your way without being beholden to that of a traditional publisher. Another pro is that you pocket more money per sale since you don’t have to pay a traditional publisher a cut for each copy it sells.
Don’t forget that self-publishing has its disadvantages. While it’s liberating to do your book your way, the amount of work you have to do can be a bit off-putting for some authors. It’s also easy to feel alone when you have this enormous responsibility lying on your shoulders.
Self-publishing a book is a journey with many ups and downs. For some authors, the reward is worth the risk. The question is, are you one of them?
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Thanks for reading this and until the next time,
Sunfire
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