The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Self-Publishing

A decade ago, storytellers were largely confined to reaching only friends and family, as big publishing houses controlled the market, favoring established authors with built-in audiences. For new authors, breaking through these traditional barriers was a daunting challenge.

However, the rise of self-publishing in recent years has liberated authors from the constraints of publishing houses. Now, aspiring writers can publish their work without needing validation from a traditional publisher. Self-published titles now make up a significant portion, around 30% to 40%, of ebook sales.

Despite the newfound accessibility of publishing, authors face the challenge of navigating the various functions typically provided by publishing houses, such as editing, distribution, and marketing. In this article, we explore the complexities of self-publishing, discussing its advantages and disadvantages.

What is a publishing service company?

A publishing service company acts as a bridge for authors to prepare and distribute their books to their intended audience. These companies typically offer basic services or templates to format manuscripts for publication and access to various retail platforms. On the other end, they provide comprehensive services such as professional editing, cover design, broad distribution channels, and marketing support to boost visibility and sales.

How long does self-publishing take?

Self-publishing can be completed within hours to days. Simply create an account with a publishing service company and prepare your book according to their formatting guidelines. Some platforms, such as Draft2Digital, even offer free ebook formatting services.

What are the costs associated with self-publishing?

Many companies offer format conversion and publishing services at no upfront cost, instead deducting a commission from book sales, typically ranging from 10% to 65%. Self-publishing often yields higher royalties, ranging from 35% to 90%, compared to the 7% to 15% typically offered in traditional publishing. Additionally, self-publishing platforms provide authors with dashboards and trackers to monitor sales and royalty earnings conveniently.

Are there advantages to self-publishing apart from higher royalties, independence from the traditional publisher, and quicker publishing?

Certainly. The rise of online platforms like Amazon has fueled self-publishing, especially with ebooks becoming the go-to format for independent authors. This surge in ebook sales has opened up a global market, allowing authors to reach readers in unexpected corners of the world. Such exposure would have been difficult through traditional publishing routes unless the book achieved massive international success.

Furthermore, the digital landscape has facilitated book discovery for readers, who can stumble upon titles long after their initial release through online searches. This grants self-published books an enduring presence compared to their traditionally published counterparts, which rely heavily on in-store visibility.

Whether you choose self-publishing or traditional routes, you retain the copyright to your work. However, self-published authors benefit from using their own ISBN, which distinguishes them as the official publisher in book databases, providing added control and recognition.

What are the disadvantages of self-publishing?

Self-publishing authors face significant time and financial investments. They must cover costs for essential services like book editing and cover design, typically provided by traditional publishing houses. Additionally, authors shoulder the responsibility of marketing their work, necessitating skills in blogging and social media. This often means less time for writing. Another challenge is limited distribution; traditional publishers offer access to extensive distribution networks, enhancing a book’s reach. Convincing bookstores to stock self-published books is challenging due to concerns about competition with online giants like Amazon and the inability to accept book returns, which retailers may be wary of.