What Is Self-Publishing? Definition, Examples, & if it's right for you
S.R. Beaston
Crafty with words, wit, and wisdom, just add caffeine to make it more interesting.
The publishing industry has evolved, devolved, changed, and fought change since its conception. Despite our ever-evolving world of technology, this industry has been one of the last willing to adapt.
With smaller advance payments, higher barriers to entry, discrimination, and an overall lack of care for authors, the Big Five are slipping from grace in today's publishing space. In a world of entrepreneurship, writers have stepped around the traditional publishing industry to take their power back.
What is self-publishing?
Self-publishing is the process of independently publishing and distributing a book, e-book, or other written work, without the involvement of a traditional publishing house or company. In self-publishing, the author takes on the roles and responsibilities traditionally handled by publishers, including writing, editing, formatting, designing the book cover, marketing, and distribution.
Self-publishing pros and cons
Self-publishing has its advantages and disadvantages, and it's important for authors to consider both sides before deciding whether it's the right path for them. Here are some pros and cons of self-publishing.
Reasons to self-publish
Here are some factors that may convince you to self-publish.
1. Money
While it's not the rule that self-published authors will make more than traditionally published authors, $ there is a much higher chance for the average writer to make a full-time living with self-publishing$ . If you learn the industry and work strategically, the vastly favorable royalty rates are hard to pass.
2. Creative control
You are in control of every bit of the process. You set your own deadlines. You hire the editors, designers, and cover artists—or you learn to do it yourself! No one tells you what you can or can't include in your story or marketing strategies. This is your work and you control it all.
3. Sales strategy
Self-published authors can utilize marketing techniques that third-party published authors can't. Strategies like rapid release, $ write-to-market$ , and series hooks. With the slow turnaround and lack of control from a traditional publisher, writers have zero access to these money-making moves.
4. No gatekeeping
You don't have to be a traditionally "sellable" writer to self-publish. That means authors of marginalized groups, authors who are still honing their craft, and authors who haven't found their niche yet can have the freedom to try things, experiment, find their voice, or simply tell a story that the more rigid publishing industry isn't ready to take a chance on.
5. Flexibility
Self-published authors are free to experiment with different genres, formats, and writing styles without pressure to stick in the original box they were signed on.
6. Speed
The traditional publishing industry is famously slow. It could be two, three, four years from when you sold the book to when it's available on shelves—if ever. Did you know many books bought by publishing companies never see the light of day? With self-publishing, you can publish that sucker as soon as it's ready.
Reasons not to self-publish
Here are a few cons to consider before self-publishing.
1. Investment
With a traditional publisher, they cover the costs associated. With self-publishing, the costs are on you. How much you spend (if anything) will depend on your goals and strategy, but potential costs include marketing, cover design, ISBNs, and editors.
2. Learning curve
There’s a lot to learn about self-publishing. Hiring professionals or learning to edit, design, and format yourself. Publishing. Marketing. If you're not willing to invest some research time, self-publishing might not be for you. There are so many free resources for self-published authors to learn every aspect of the process, but if you hate the prospect, it'll be an uphill slog.
3. Stigma
Financially, self-publishing is becoming the obvious best route for most authors. But there's still a pretty heavy stigma around self-publishing. Since there are no barriers to entry, there's no recognizable "quality check" for your work. This is very important to some writers. If you're not in it for money or making your work accessible, and you simply want the street cred, self-publishing may not be best for you.
4. No advance
Typically, selling a book to a publisher comes with an advance payment. This number can vary, depending on the author's popularity, genre, and many other factors. Debut authors might be paid as little as $1,000 for their first novel, while authors like Stephen King can rake in millions.
While self-publishing will award you no advance payment, the royalty rates are vastly better. Self-publishing typically earns you 60-90% royalty rates, while traditional publishing typically earns you from 10% to absolutely nothing.
One other note on advances is that the price of a book in a publisher's eyes has not matched market inflation. Authors are being paid pennies for their work, and in the past few years, publishers have taken to splitting that small advance into even smaller chunks by divvying it out over two years instead of one payment. Publishing is a business, and businesses in the US market operate with a Constant Profit Growth model, meaning they want to decrease expenses and increase income into perpetuity. Authors are an expense, so publishers are incentivized to pay writers as little as possible.
Is self-publishing successful?
Self-publishing has produced some of the most famous books and authors we know today, from Charles Dickens to Mark Twain, Jane Austen to Christopher Paolini. Self-published books are bestsellers, they're adapted to film, they're taught in literature classes.
Publishers have to hedge their bets and go with the safe options to upkeep a consistent profit growth model. They don't want to put their money on the long shot, or on a style that's too experimental, or on a topic that's not trendy enough, or on a marginalized voice that might be uncomfortable to hear from. They have historically left classic works like Sense and Sensibility in the reject pile. John Milton crowdfunded the production of Paradise Lost through newspaper ads.
Self-publishing has been around for longer than the printing press. It's interesting, how we turn our noses up at it today. When there's major stigma around a topic, it's often helpful to ask ourselves: Who benefits from that rhetoric? Who stands to gain from the public's negative attitude toward self-publishing? What powerful entities might perpetuate that narrative for their own benefit? These are fun questions! :)
If success means making decent money, self-publishing can absolutely be successful. Even if you are not a bestseller, the profit goes straight back to you—this means self-publishing is often a more lucrative option when you don’t have to worry about tiny (or nonexistent) royalty rates.
If success means having your work available for public consumption, self-publishing can absolutely be successful.
If success means having a socially impressive answer when your spouse's co-worker asks, "Like a real author, or like the kindle author thing?" at the company Christmas party, then check out these posts on $ literary agents$ and $ query letters$ .
Is self-publishing right for you?
Self-publishing is likely a good option for writers who want a straightforward, timely way to publish their books, who want to become career authors, or who want absolute creative control over their work.
If you're a writer who prefers avoiding decisions, and you're not too worried about making money, you might go the indie or traditional publishing route for a hobby and bragging rights.
If you are love being in control of your creative work and want to run a business, self-publishing is a booming industry with a growing reputation.
Look at the pros and cons and reflect on what kind of writer you are. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for publishing. It's a unique, customizable journey for every author!