This post comes from Christian Literary Agent Rachelle Gardner. It’s the second part of a discussion on publishing, and you can find the other segment here. After a debate on “6 Reasons Authors Still Want Publishers,” here is the other side of the coin. Many writers are still trying to decide which path is right. Or maybe some combination of both approaches might work. So hopefully this post will be helpful.
So here are Rachelle’s six reasons writers consider self publishing:
1. To supplement an established writing career.
It’s a lot of work to be a full-time writer and be able to make a good income. These days many full time writers with traditional publishing contracts are self-publishing both new books and their back list as a way to supplement their income and keep their work out there in front of readers.
2. To revive a lagging traditional-publishing career.
Some writers get the bad news that their publisher doesn’t want to do a new contract with them. But they’re still writers and they already have experience with the whole process. While this situation used to mean a writer was basically finished, nowadays self-publishing opens up new opportunities.
3. They’d like a bigger piece of the pie.
Most self-publishing deals will pay anywhere from 30% to 70% royalties, which is much higher than traditional publishers pay. Many writers prefer to do the marketing and sales work themselves in exchange for a higher royalty.
4. They have the time, skills, and the money to do it well.
Some people have an entrepreneurial spirit and the ability to be a good business person and a great marketer. Not everyone has these skills, but they’re pretty much a necessity for self-publishing. Some people are writing to a niche audience and they have the ability to reach this audience on their own without the help of a publisher.
5. Frustration
Some people can’t get the attention of agents and publishers; or if they are, they’re getting rejections. This is a very frustrating place to be. Many writers get fed up with the “system” and decide to go it alone.
6. Freedom
In self-publishing, you don’t have to listen to anyone’s vision for your book but your own. You get to choose your cover, your title, and everything about your book. You don’t have to wait years to be noticed; you do not have to wait a year or two for your book release after the decision is made to publish it. You set your own pace, answer to yourself, and take responsibility for your own success or failure.
Whether you take the traditional or self publishing route, writing and publishing is hard work. In the past, publishers were the gate keepers, and owned the two essential elements writers needed to become published authors. Publishers had the printing presses, and they had the distribution channels to the public. Both of these now are available to the writer directly. Your book can be printed on demand, and kept as a digital file on some distant hard drive rather than printed hard copies which are boxed in some distant warehouse. Secondly, if you build a good platform, you can create your own distribution channels directly to your tribe, your audience. The only thing left is to sell the books. And whether you are pursuing a traditional or self publisher, this one fact hasn’t changed in the industry. No one will sell more of your books than you, the author.
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