Writers Ask: Should I self-publish?
I’ve been fielding a few consultations lately on publishing picture books for children (one of the BEST genres in publishing and you can fight me on it), which means I’ve been getting this question a lot lately.
I tend to get this question most often in the children’s literature realm as ideas for children’s books are usually timely (i.e., a book on how to help your toddler adjust to wearing a mask) and don’t have the luxury of time to wait on traditional publishing, OR the person with the idea for the book really just wants to create the book for the children in their life (and if more children enjoy the book, all the better.)
A lot of people tend to agonize whether or not to self-publish; let me cure your agony. There are times when self-publishing a book is the appropriate path and other times when it’s not.
Here are a few common situations perfect for a self-published book:
Your book idea is a supplement to your business or larger brand.
Maybe you’re a yoga teacher or own a studio and have an idea for a children’s book you could easily sell in your existing shop. Or maybe you’re a teacher and this book will better engage your class. Maybe you’re a professional speaker who travels to conferences around the nation, and the book is an excellent way for your listeners to leave with something in hand. Self-publish away!
You’re a self-starter with a business-oriented mind—and some cash.
You don’t just want to be a writer—you want to be a brand. You know how to run P&L sheets, have a five-year plan for your career, know how to diversify your offerings, how to Always Be Closing, and you have some starter funds. You’re basically are ready to create an empire (of books.) Go forth with your ambition! Maybe take a business class or two. Because that’s what this is—a business.
You have a clear vision, you are not willing to compromise, and you don’t care about sales.
You know exactly what you want your book to look like. You know exactly the illustrator you want to use. You have a non-negotiable demand in your book that you are not willing to lose at any cost. Will other people buy it? Maybe, maybe not. Do you care? If not, go ‘head then.
And here are times where self-publishing is not the best choice:
You want your books in major stores or libraries.
The cold, hard truth is that most libraries and major bookstores will not carry self-published books. They just won’t—especially if the author isn’t a known quantity. The reason stores and libraries are willing to buy new authors from publishers is because of existing trust—if the gatekeepers of the publishing company found the work valuable enough to sell, the library or store will likely buy. But without those gatekeepers who have cultivated a system of trust (and taste), it makes it harder to break out the wallet and hit the purchase button.
You don’t have a mind for marketing, publicity, or sales.
Self-publishing is just that—you publish it yourself. Which means you sell it yourself. That’s right, people. Press releases, cold calls to local stores, hand-selling out of the trunk of your car. You want a book tour? That’s cool—plan it, map it, book the stores, and hit the road. You have to be willing to hit the pavement for your book and cold pitch it to anyone who will listen. Of course, you can always hire a publicist to help you. Which brings me to the next piece….
You’re broke.
Did I mention that self-publishing a book means you do it all yourself? That means you foot the bill for it all as well. You pay for a cover designer, you pay for editing and proofreading, you pay for printing (extremely expensive right now, thank COVID very much), you pay for advertising, you fund your tour—all while funding your next book. Stories of self-published authors hitting it big and becoming millionaires do exist—but there are way more fledgling and forgotten titles on Amazon to go around. If you’re choosing to self-publish and you’re already broke, you run the risk not only of not making any money—but losing a lot of money in the long-run.
The Middle Way
A lot of the agony over the “to self-pub or not to self-pub” decision comes from a misconception: Many people believe there are only two journeys to publish—the traditional route and the self-published route. Au contraire—there is a third way: the indie route.
Indie publishing is the middle way of publishing, with less gatekeepers and more autonomy. You can typically submit to an indie house without a literary agent. You are likely to be working with a much smaller team, which means you may have more control over how your book turns out. And the publisher can still offer things like advances, royalties, and a marketing plan. Most importantly, they will use a distributor, meaning your book can still get into stores and libraries without you needing to pay for printing or distribution costs.
For someone who is agonizing over whether to self-publish or traditionally publish, consider the middle way—try indie.
Pros to Going Indie
You can usually submit to houses without an agent (though agents are still helpful when it comes to contract time.)
Yours may be one of a few titles in the season’s catalog, which means they have more stake in making your work work.
Smaller teams mean more responsive and personalized assistance on your pub journey.
So if you’re on the fence about whether or not to self-publish, do yourself a favor and try going the indie route first. Unless you’re ready to run your own book empire, you owe your work the chance to at least be considered by a professional house before going it alone. It never hurts to just submit and see what comes.
Here are a few houses to consider.
And here’s a great primer on what indie is and what indie isn’t.
Lastly, see a reputable directory of indie publishers and get other FAQs answered at the Independent Book Publishers Association site.
Hope this helps ease your agony.
Cheers,
Lisa