What it Means to Self-Publish

Used to be, self-published authors were looked at with a wary, squinty eye.

No more.

Or at least, rarely.

There are still those moments, but things have changed. 



The best news is that though some retail book stores still take issue with self-published authors, and even some libraries, there's still an entire arena of folks who are open to self-published authors and the books they produce.

Being self-published takes guts, and I love that. These authors not only have to know how to write their books, they need to find a good editor, beta readers before that, know how to market, get out of their comfort zone and do speaking engagements. They must - backing up - know what makes a great cover and how to glean fans through social media and one-on-one exposure.

Though the traditionally published author must put their best foot forward, the intricacies of publishing are frankly, missing from the page. Much is done for them and though much is still expected from their publishing house, they don't carry near the burdens and opportunities as an author who has been self-published. 

I should know. I have experienced both.

I love the fact that I can choose my book's cover and layout. That I can decide on my book's price, and don't have to check back 'home' before I take a step forward in a creative direction. I love it that I can make up to 70% on each of my books over maybe 12% with a traditional publisher. And I love POD publishing, where I can order the copies I wish at one time: one, ten, or a hundred. I don't have to order a thousand books and have them sitting in my basement. I can buy as I need books.

Who wouldn't want that luxury?

I realize, of course, that there are authors out there fishing for traditional publishing, and my thumb is up for them, because, after all, we're all unique.There are authors that choose not to worry over many of the options mentioned above. It's hard enough just to write the book, without thinking about everything else. 

But I'm glad I'm now a self-published author, and that I can assist other authors who want to be self-published on their book journey.

I can't think of anything greater.

Kathryn

Trust Me, You Will Be Published

After seven years of writing consistently, and that means every day even if it was for only 15 minutes, I wondered if I'd ever be published. All of it just seemed so difficult; the learning, the practicing, the editing, the rejections...

In my eighth year of writing I made my first sale. The sale was to The Ensign, an LDS magazine, and my short article was printed in the Random Sampler section; the place where readers share their experiences.

I was thrilled.

After that I continued to sell, but not as frequently as I would have liked. I'd sell an article one month, go two, and sell another. But mostly (dare I say it?) I was learning, and with the learning came many and varied opportunities to improve my work.

I received much criticism in the beginning, and much of it I didn't take in. But as the years went by, I got better at receiving criticism and my writing improved.

I published a book before I entered college in my 40s. I'd published with the local papers, written some articles for local magazines, had won some contests, but hadn't yet published a book.

But then it happened. A local publishing house accepted my book, "A River of Stones."

I was elated!

I was published.

But my story doesn't end there. I think it takes some grit to publish with a local publisher and then learn, through the years following, that what works for you personally is to go another route.

It wasn't easy for me to leave my publisher, because when I did I really wasn't sure what I was going to do. Would I find another publisher or publish on my own?

Honestly, I never wanted to be a self-published author. I thought the self-published crowd just didn't know how to write and so they had to publish their own works.

I was wrong.

As in all learning, I discovered that being published for me meant I no longer had to wait and see if a traditional publisher thought my book would sell because it was the right topic, the right length, the right voice....I could publish it myself.

Yes, you will be published if you continue to pursue your dream. Whether you decide on the traditional or self-published route, if you continue to work at what you love, you will be published. 


Photo by Melody Campbell, courtesy of Flickr

There's just no getting around it.

Keeping Up With Standard Publishers

Do you ever say to yourself, "I wish I had the time and means to keep my marketing up to snuff with those standard publishers"?


Photo by: 401(K)2013, courtesy of Flickr

If you consider that most writers are writers because they love it and not because they're making a trunk load of money, then you quickly get a sense of how difficult it is for some of us to keep up. With a standard publishing company, you may go on a few book signings or give your publisher some ideas on how to get the word out about your newest book, but you usually don't have to set up your own signings and the company will pretty much let you in on what it will take to sell your book.

Photo by Toby Otter, courtesy of Flickr

If you're self-publishing like I am, these ideas are not handed out on a platter, though you want to stay in the loop without too much trouble. That's why I teach classes on marketing and why I'm also putting together the second issue of Marketing Your Book on a Budget.

 

We need the help and we need to save as much time and money as possible.

Still, with the Internet continuing to give us FREE opportunities to sell and talk about our work, we really don't have any excuses for not marketing. In fact, most people check online blogs and websites for the books they are going to purchase (if they haven't had a friend tell them about their latest favorite book first) and it's really not necessary for you to worry about your book getting mentioned in a magazine or newspaper.

People, quite honestly, aren't reading many magazines and newspapers, unless they are online!

I tell writers that they can do A LOT to get their work out there without spending a mint, but I'm not sure many of them believe me, until I give them the list. Not every marketing idea is as good as the next, but be assured that being open to new and creative ways to market is the best thing you can do as a modern day writer.

It takes GUTS to get your work out there in the first place, but it takes extra DETERMINATION to have enough faith in it to put it anywhere and everywhere you can.

How else is a potential reader going to see it?

This blog post might sound to you like a rah rah speech and it is!! Get out there and talk to other writers. Get their ideas for marketing. Share yours.

And keep up with those standard publishers!