Following on from last week where we disputed Ros Barber’s out-of-date notions for not self-publishing, here are more reasons for self-publishing according to an article written by Hazel Butler for the Huffington Post.
It is possible to self-publish on a small budget, Butler says, but producing a quality book and effectively marketing it does take a lot of time and expense so this is something to bear in mind.
But Butler’s top five reasons for self-publishing are:
Control – when you self-publish you have complete control over every aspect of your project, from the cover to the marketing, to the editing. Traditional publishing houses will expect you to re-write copy and make changes. This may well improve your book, but can often be simply for commercial reasons.
Being True to Your Book – the changes that publishing houses often ask for, Butler states in her article, might require compromises you are not willing to make, such as drastic cuts to the word count or changing whole elements which aren’t viewed as suitable for main stream publishing. Such changes can change the very nature of the book.
Royalties – self-publishing allows for greater royalties, everything left after the costs of the production of the book. Of course, traditional publishing houses (and especially the large ones) are in more of a position to facilitate higher sales – but that’s not guaranteed.
Profile – if you self-publish a book, you boost the profile of your business, whether that’s being an author, a writer, a blogger or just a professional in any capacity who publishes a book relating to their industry.
Time – traditional publishing takes an age. It can be a long, long time until your book hits the shelves. Smart self-publishers often build on the momentum created by a first or second book, knowing that voracious readers will devour books if they find a writer that they like. A book shouldn’t be rushed, but there is a lot to be said for setting your own timescale.
It is possible to self-publish on a small budget, Butler says, but producing a quality book and effectively marketing it does take a lot of time and expense so this is something to bear in mind.
But Butler’s top five reasons for self-publishing are:
Control – when you self-publish you have complete control over every aspect of your project, from the cover to the marketing, to the editing. Traditional publishing houses will expect you to re-write copy and make changes. This may well improve your book, but can often be simply for commercial reasons.
Being True to Your Book – the changes that publishing houses often ask for, Butler states in her article, might require compromises you are not willing to make, such as drastic cuts to the word count or changing whole elements which aren’t viewed as suitable for main stream publishing. Such changes can change the very nature of the book.
Royalties – self-publishing allows for greater royalties, everything left after the costs of the production of the book. Of course, traditional publishing houses (and especially the large ones) are in more of a position to facilitate higher sales – but that’s not guaranteed.
Profile – if you self-publish a book, you boost the profile of your business, whether that’s being an author, a writer, a blogger or just a professional in any capacity who publishes a book relating to their industry.
Time – traditional publishing takes an age. It can be a long, long time until your book hits the shelves. Smart self-publishers often build on the momentum created by a first or second book, knowing that voracious readers will devour books if they find a writer that they like. A book shouldn’t be rushed, but there is a lot to be said for setting your own timescale.
