4 Questions to Ask Before You Self-Publish
Self-publishing is not for everyone. There is a lot of learning involved, and abundant work. Despite this, it can be the best option for many people who dream of getting their stories and ideas out in the world.
Before you decide to self-publish, here are 4 questions you need to ask yourself.
1. Do you plan on publishing more than one book?
When you self-publish you will be doing all the promotion.
For a non-fiction book, it may be worth it for a single book because the book will be growing your authority in your field of expertise, and can lead to workshops and courses, speaking engagements, and more.
If you are writing fiction, you will want to consider whether the significant amount of work you will do to promote the book is worth the return on investment in time, energy, and money if you plan on writing a single book.
For most fiction authors, self-publishing is a long game. They know they have many stories to tell, and the work to promote the first book is just the beginning of a relationship with their readers.
I don't want to discourage you if your heart holds a single story and your main goal is simply to get it written. By all means, write that book and don't worry about the rest. Just keep in mind that sales may be quite limited.
2. Do you want to make money as an author?
This is related to the first question. When you write non-fiction, a single book may bring in significant sales if you are targeting an acute pain point for people (the demand is high for your solution). But for fiction, making money at writing is a long game. I know there are authors who made significant money on their first book, but this is the rare exception and not the norm.
If you want to make money by writing fiction, you should be prepared to write several stand-alone books, or a series of books.
3. Is the prestige of being traditionally published important to you?
Though many self-published authors have reached New York Times and USA Today book list fame, thousands (if not millions) of dollars, and movie deals, you need to be clear if being published by a big publishing house is the real goal. Consider what is most important for you before you decide to pursue a contract or go the indie route.
4. Are you prepared for a steep learning curve?
I'm so glad that I didn't know how much work would be involved when I started writing my first book. It might have dissuaded me given that I was writing it during graduate school. And I'm still discovering new software, promotional opportunities, and improving my craft. When you are an indie author, you have to learn it all or have the money to pay someone else to do it for you.
A few things you'll have to figure out:
- formatting for ebooks and print
- blurb writing for your cover and online description
- marketing and finding your audience
- using self-publishing marketplaces
- getting reviews and building a street team
In the end, self-publishing has been worth it for me. I get to be nimble with my work (changing covers, descriptions, and even the price) without working with an agent or publisher. I publish on my own schedule, which allows for the ebb and flow of life. I can write for as niche of an audience as I want. And I get a larger percentage of my book sales.
Ask these four questions if you are just starting out, or if you are unsure of the direction you want to go. They will help you choose self-publishing or seeking a traditional publishing contract.