Is Self-Publishing For You?

Self-publishing has become a popular option for authors looking to get their work out into the world. And who can blame them? Not only does it feel more accessible than traditional publishing, it also allows authors to exercise full creative control over the publishing process. While this sounds attractive, it is a lot of work and it may not be for everyone. (I would know—I self-published my own novel.) As you might have guessed, self-publishing can sometimes come with a few drawbacks. In this post, I’ll explore some of the pros and cons of self-publishing, as well as why I personally chose the publishing path I did. My hope is that it will help you make an informed decision before taking the next step with your own precious manuscript.

The Pros of Self-Publishing

As mentioned before, one of the major benefits of self-publishing is that you retain complete control over the entire process, including the production and distribution of your work. This means you can decide when the book is released, who distributes it, and how much you will charge for it. You also have the opportunity to build a personal connection with your readers, as you can interact with them directly through social media, email, and other channels. Finally, self-publishing also gives you access to a wide range of marketing options, such as paid advertising, that can help you reach a larger audience.

The Cons of Self-Publishing

One of the drawbacks of self-publishing is that you’re largely responsible for the quality of your work. Without the professional editing and proofreading services offered by traditional publishers, it can be difficult to ensure the quality of your work remains high. Additionally, since you’ll be responsible for the marketing of your book, you’ll need to spend a lot of time and energy ensuring your book reaches its intended audience. Finally, self-publishing can be expensive, as you’ll need to pay for the printing and distribution of your book. If you're on a budget like me, this can be incredibly daunting and make you feel like giving up. It's part of the reason I put off publishing my own novel for so many years, because I just wasn't lucky enough to have loads of disposable income. But, I'm here as a testament that with a little determination, grit, and a ton of research, it is possible to self-publish your novel without completely breaking the bank.

Below is a screenshot of a spreadsheet I created once I started my own self-publishing journey. I used this to track all expenses related to publishing my novel. And while I continuously updated these categories and prices as my publishing needs evolved, it covered the basics and provided a visual for me to refer to when I was working out my budget. It's important to keep in mind that these expenses accumulated over the course of months. I couldn't afford to shell out over $1,000 all at once! And, as with subscriptions and website maintenance, some of these are ongoing fees and not a onetime-deal. (It's also important to note that these costs can fluctuate over time because of price hikes by various companies/subscription services, such as website hosting.) But the vast majority of these costs were one-and-done, at least until it's time to start over with the next book!

Overall, self-publishing can be a great way for authors to get their work out into the world. I personally chose to self-publish because of the creative control I would have, but it meant making plenty of sacrifices with my time, money, and energy. This is why it’s important to weigh the pros and cons before taking the plunge. Every writer's journey is unique, and so are their personal publishing desires and needs. But with the right approach and the proper preparation, self-publishing can be an incredibly rewarding experience.

I hope you found this helpful, and I wish you the very best as you work to make your writing and publishing dreams a reality.