The 4 Biggest Concerns about Self-Publishing
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First, let’s throw some confetti for self-publishing! Not because it’s the best choice for everybody (that’s not necessarily true), but because possibilities exist now that never have before. Authors have never been able to bootstrap their own careers in the way they can now.
Obviously, I love self-publishing, however I understand there are serious concerns. Let’s address them head-on so you can navigate the best way to successfully take advantage of all the fabulous opportunities.
1. “My biggest concern is standing alone on my mountaintop, looking out on a world of indifference, forever.” - Scott
Don’t we all Scott, don’t we all. This is probably the biggest concern, so let’s start here. The good news is that the ball is always in your court, and actually, it would still be in your court if you went with a traditional publisher.
This is the age-old conundrum of marketing and sales. There’s a stereotype that authors only feel comfortable alone under the lamplight with a feather pen. That’s the image. It’s time to break that stereotype, even if you believe it to be true about yourself. No matter how you choose to publish, the book isn’t going to market itself, especially in the beginning.
I know, I know, you’ve heard all of this before, but why does it have to be that waaaay?!?!?
Don’t fret. With practice it can become easy, habitual and even enjoyable. Plus if you choose to do it on social media you can stay introverted and spend most of your time being creative (like me). Furthermore, I think it’s our global civic duty to take back the internet from the conspiracy theorists. (Especially for those of you who are fiction writers and actually admit outright that what you’re writing isn’t real.)
I’ll be doing a free webinar “Write Your Book and Grow Your Audience (at the same time)” next week, and you can get started now with prep worksheets here. Remember, I’m a former full-time school teacher with a toddler, so I know how to make this work even if you feel like you’re already stretched thin. I’ll do a poll in the FB group to find the best time for everybody. So let’s go on to the next concern.
2. “That I won’t be taken seriously.” -Belinda
There used to be a stigma around self-publishing, but now publishers prefer to work with books with a proven track record. Opportunities open up if you start by self-publishing. Nobody says “no” to a profitable book.
The publishing industry is a massive distribution system, it’s not God. As alternative distribution systems evolve, some of the hype about being “chosen” has tapered down. Genre and series novels are thriving under new digital startups, and many people prefer working for themselves. Small businesses and services are finding huge advantages in publishing themselves and getting their product on the market fast.
3. “The cost!” - Bridget
Successful self-publishing is basically bootstrapping your book, so yes, there are some upfront costs. However, as Laura mentioned it’s good to keep things balanced. You can start with the basics and add bells and whistles as your audience grows and you sell more books. Here are the investments I recommend:
Professional Cover Art:
Check out Fiverr, 99Designs, Reedsy and our fabulous community member Amy Doak.
Proofreading:
Try out Proofreadingpal, or if you prefer personalized service, talk to Marion Metz in our community.
Formatting:
You can go to Reedsy and Fiverr for formatting services, but many of our community members just download Vellum and do it for themselves.
4. “That it will look amateurish.” - Christiane
It’s easy to get the basics covered as far as professional cover art, proofreading and formatting, however, the most important piece is the story. You want your work to stand out because of the art and depth with which it’s crafted. That’s what we’re working on all day every day in the Writer’s Block Community and The Meaning Method Writer’s Workshops. Your next right action is to get signed up for the free webinar. We’ll be digging in together.