For many authors: “Should I self-publish?” is a question that has two answers. It’s either, “No one else wants me, so I have no choice but to self-publish,” or it’s: “I would love to control when and how my book gets published -- and to cut out a useless middleman. Why wouldn’t I self-publish?”
There are plenty of pros-cons to publishing a book in a variety of ways. Let’s explore:
Traditional Publisher (Big 5)
These big boys run the industry. It’ll take a literary agent to pierce the gatekeepers. The process from query to book could last 18-24 months. But they produce quality books, have strong distribution, and can sell foreign and film rights to a book.
Medium-Sized Publisher
Same as Big 5, but not as huge. They are willing to take a modest risk but they can’t afford huge advances.
Small Press
They make up for size with a passion to publish books they believe in.
University Press
Smallish in size but they are good at marketing their books. Offers a brand name publisher if prestige is important to you.
Hybrid
It’s a form of self-publishing that can be more expensive or less expensive than self-publishing, depending on what they will do for you and how they split expenses and revenues.
Self-Publish
Avoid going with self-publishing companies. They are merely going to publish through Amazon KDP. or Ingram Spark -- but charge you high fees to do so. Then, they’ll try to talk you into costly editing, cover design, or useless marketing programs. To publish on your own, use Amazon KDP and their 90-day exclusivity window -- then add Ingrams Spark which provides you with access to being carried by bookstores.
Self-publishing allows you to decide things like: Title of the book, publishing format, book price, editing, cover design, and all decisions about your content. It provides you with a chance to make more money for each book sold vs. a low royalty rate from a book publisher. It lacks prestige and you may feel the burden of being the author AND publisher but you also have freedom, control, and the power to shape your destiny.
Self-publishing in 2022 was a big option. Out of around 2.7 million new titles released last year, more than 80% were self-published. The competition for book sales is fierce, but if you have a good book and do a decent job at marketing, you have a chance to establish your brand and build book sales.
If you self-publish, you will follow the footsteps of some hugely successful authors whom at one point self-published and went on to each sell a gazillion books. Whom do you think I’m talking about? Try these names:
- J.K Rowling of Harry Potter glory
- EL James of 50 Shades of Gray stardom
- Andy Wick of The Martian fame
- Amanda Hocking of Watersong notoriety
- James Redfield of The Celestine Prophecy success
You may also have heard of these self-published
authors:
- Mark Twain
- Margaret Atwood
- Wayne Dyer
- Stephen King
- Robert Kiyosaki
- Beatrix Potter
However you publish, keep writing, and push to make your dreams come true!
FYI, samples of best-selling books rejected by at least 20 book publishers:
- Dubliners by James Joyce
- M*A*S*H
by Richard Hooker
- Heaven
Knows, Mr. Allison by Charles Shaw
- Kon-Tiki
by Thor Heyerdahl
- Jonathan
Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
- The
Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain
- Lorna
Doone by Richard Doddridge Blackmore
- Auntie
Mame by Patrick Dennis
- The
Peter Principle by Laurence Peter
- Dune by
Frank Herbert
- Chicken Soup for the Soul by Mark Victor Hansen and
Jack Canfield
Need
Book Marketing Help?
Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning
blog, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com He is available to help authors promote their
story, sell their book, and grow their brand. He has over 30 years of
experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him
be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!
Read This!
Why Are Book
Publicists Disliked?
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/04/why-book-publicists-are-disliked.html
Will Authors See
Social Media Differently?
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/04/will-authors-see-social-media.html
How Free Is Book Publishing?
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/04/how-free-is-book-publishing.html
Roald Dahl Censored By Weak-Minded PC
Police
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/04/roald-dahl-classics-censored-by-weak.html
Writers Should Edit Others To Become Better
Writers
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/04/writers-should-edit-others-to-become.html
Will Chat GPT Help Or Hurt Writers?
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/03/will-chat-gpt-help-or-replace-writers.html
The Book Marketplace Universe for Authors and Publishers
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/03/book-marketplace-universe-opportunities.html
What The Media Wants From Authors
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/03/what-media-wants-from-authors.html
How To Get Others To Sell Your Book
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/03/how-to-get-others-to-sell-your-book.html
Newspapers That Authors Should Contact
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/03/newspapers-authors-should-contact.html
Messages That Sell Books
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/03/the-messages-that-sell-books.html
An Author’s Attitude Is Their Biggest Asset
https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/03/authors-attitude-is-biggest-asset.html
About Brian Feinblum
Brian Feinblum should be followed on Twitter
@theprexpert. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2023. Born and
raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and
Ferris, a black lab rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer
and IBPA’s The Independent. This
award-winning blog has generated over 3.3 million pageviews. With 4,400+ posts
over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by
BookBaby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018
as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by
www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades,
including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book
publicity firm, and two jobs at two independent presses, Brian has worked with
many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with
best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen,
Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard,
Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C.
Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He recently hosted a
panel on book publicity for Book Expo America, and has spoken at ASJA,
Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction
Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland)
Writers Association, APEX, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association.
His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal,
USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News
(Westchester) and The Washington Post. He has been featured in The
Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald. For more information, please consult:
www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.