I’m fascinated by the different roads writers travel to get to where they are today, and I enjoy hearing what has influenced people on their journeys. Come September, I’ll be giving a workshop and presentation at the York Festival of Writing on self-publishing, and I’d love to be able to present an international take on why writers in the WG2E community took the self-publishing leap!
To that end, it’d be fabulous if you could share with WG2E and my workshop participants:
- Why did you decide to self-publish (or why are you considering self-publishing)? Do you see it as an avenue to traditional publishing? Are you happy sticking with it for the foreseeable future?
- What do you find the biggest benefits to self-publishing?
- What are the biggest challenges?
- Anything else to add?
Feel free to answer one, none, or all! If you’re not comfortable with me sharing your response with festival participants, please let me know in the comments and I’ll respect your wishes.
I’ll get the ball rolling with my response below . . .
Thank you for your input as always, and have a great week!
I decided to self-publish mainly because it made more sense financially. After having four books traditionally published, I was confident I understood enough about the process to take it all ‘in house’ and keep all my royalties!
For me, the biggest benefits are having control of my timeline, being able to publish as soon as I’m ready, and taking ownership of the process. I love that I don’t need to wait for other people (besides editing and cover design).
The real challenge is staying on top of what’s happening in the industry and being able to stay flexible and respond quickly . . . plus the fact that it IS all down to you! That can be a little scary.
Bit of a story. I won a place on a mentoring scheme at Exeter uni, and Paul was unmerciful with my travel manuscript so I rewrote and rewrote (I think he knew I could do it, which is why he kept pushing), and finally he said that the book would have found a traditional publisher ten years ago but not now. (There’s no space in traditional publishing for anyone who isn’t famous or does something truly ridiculous. Which doesn’t include travelling round the world in your mid-fifties, though I confess I felt pretty ridiculous at times.)
Do it yourself, he said. So I did. It was a huge learning curve – the whole formatting and uploading and downloading, the language of it all defeated me at first. But, not being one to give up, I fortified myself with coffee and cake (and sometimes wine) and did it. And am hugely proud of it too.
There’s even another small ebook due out soon, about my recent trip to Nepal. So I wasn’t put off by the challenges first time round.
The hardest bit – marketing. I’m simply rubbish at it.
Thanks, Jo! Marketing can be difficult… and time consuming.
I’ve heard a lot of stories like yours – that the book might have been published ten years ago but that the market is very hard to break into now. Best of luck!
I have decided to begin self publishing later this year for a few reasons:
– I would like more control over what happens with my book once published
- I write adult fiction and nonfiction and fiction for children which complicates things enormously when looking for a publisher.
- I would like to publish more than one book per year.
The fact that I work full-time worries me in terms of having enough time to dedicate to the effort required to nurture my books and keeping them ‘visible’ to readers once I have self published them, but I am planning on giving up one day of work per week next year and hope that this will give me the additional time I will need.
Thank you, DJ! Timelines were one of the biggest factors for me, too. I can write two-three books in a good year, and from what I’d heard (and seen), traditional publishing would have a hard time keeping up with that.
■Why did you decide to self-publish (or why are you considering self-publishing)? The control and freedom to get your story out when you want to, how you want to and the way you want to:)
■What do you find the biggest benefits to self-publishing? Freedom and control:)
■What are the biggest challenges? Marketing- Promotion
■Anything else to add? In the first post I ever did for WG2E it says it all… http://thewritersguidetoepublishing.com/welcome-to-the-wg2e-lois-lavrisa
The gate keeping and frustration trying to get your book “picked up ” with editors and agents
Funny how freedom and control are both the best and the worst (or most challenging, anyway) . . . I couldn’t agree more. It’s scary and exciting at the same time. Thanks, Lois!
i began self publishing initially for the same reason i enter paintings in art shows, and do blog posts, and teach seniors fitness classes, because it’s extremely fulfilling
for me, creating a work of art, image or written, is first – as is fitness movement and awareness
sharing the result, is second, and the only ways i can share my written work for now is either posting on the internet, or self-publishing
ie, indie self-publishing is my best avenue for commercially sharing my written, and via my photobooks, visual creative work
if the work eventually allows me to solely concentrate on being creative, then selling my work will have succeeded in feeding me the opportunity to continue doing what i love doing
for me, not too bad a thing
Adan, excellent point – it is indeed very fulfilling to create something and to share it with others. And making a bit of money is a big bonus! Thank you!
I needed money. I know, that is NOT why I write but the burden has been on hubby’s back since I retired 4 years ago as a 9-1-1 dispatcher (burned out) Writing fulltime is my dream, but I drive a 12 yr. old Jeep and worry about the future. I am published with 2 small publishers (5 books) but sales were small. Self-publishing looked like an opportunity, so I jumped. The money, one year later with 3 books, is starting to roll in. I still am shopping 2 manuscripts to agents & editors, but I can always self-pub them later.
Nancy, I can relate. I was with a small press, too, and it seemed to make more financial sense to go out on my own. It’s panned out so far!
I decided to Indie-Pub when my literary agent decided she didn’t want to represent chick lit.
I still believed that my stories were entertaining and had value for readers, so we agreed that I could self pub my chick lit manuscripts under my own imprint (Monterey Press). I’m so glad that I did! It’s been a great journey so far and a wonderful learning experience!
Biggest benefits to self-publishing? Choosing my own cover designer, formatter, making final editing decisions
Biggest challenges? Not enough time to write and do all of the marketing- promotion required
Thank you, Lauren! It’s a shame your agent decided against chick lit, since I think there’s still a huge market for it. Having control is a definite plus, but I hear you on the challenge of marketing.
Simple reason for self-pubbing. I came back to publishing after a long break due to a serious riding accident. My publishers (2=erotic & mainstream romance) had vanished. One merged with a conglomerate the other ceased to be due to a death and I had shares in the company. I tried submitting to a few big-named publishers. Each time I got through to final stages of publication and then mergers occurred, new staff new ideas and nothing happened. I thought okay I’ll pen a couple of M&Bs and see what happens = nine month wait and I didn’t cut the mustard nor had I enjoyed writing to a formula they stringently deny exists. I tried Choc-Lit out of curiosity though didn’t hold my breath!
I tried a US publisher and bingo, but doubt I’ll sub to them again . For me it’s not about money it’s about people reading and hopefully enjoying my books: stories! Hee hee, like yourself I’m happy at the helm of my own booky boat. 
best
F
Being at the helm is fabulous, isn’t it, Francine?
I’ve heard lots of things about the long lead time for M&B – it makes me shudder. Plus, I don’t think they pay much in terms of advance of royalties, so by the sounds of things, you made the right decision!
I took the plunge with books which had been previously published with a small press and found I liked being in charge and receiving a higher royalty. I floundered with the pros and cons of self-publishing my next manuscript and decided I didn’t want to wait another year for it to be available. The hardest part is marketing and not getting discouraged when I see the huge numbers from other indie authors. It’s a game of patience, perseverance, and determination. But so is being traditionally published! I’ve found I prefer not being locked into anyone’s timelines and deadlines than mine. It removes the stress from writing, something much needed in my life as a full-time caregiver.
Carol Ann, I think it does take time and perseverance . . . with maybe a splash of luck? I like being in control of my timelines, too. And I try to remind myself not to compare my books to others, although it is very hard!
I decided to indi-pub when I realized I had a great book that would never see the light of day in traditional publishing because of timing. By the time Heaven Is For Heroes would have made it through the two years it would have taken to get an agent, a publishing contract and jumping through all the hoops to get it on the shelves, it would no longer be relevant. Since I had three books all set and ready to go and was told the writing was good but that they “didn’t quite fit the market,” I decided rather than write for the market, I would take a chance that there was a market for my stories and I just needed to go out and find it. It’s worked out well for me and I believe that there is a market for every well-written, well-produced story.
I’m not adverse to pursuing a contract if it makes sense financially and doesn’t give away all my rights, but so far, no one is beating down my door with offers.
The benefits are as others have said: Artistic freedom, immediate return on investment, control over production, scheduling, and cover design.
Drawbacks: Publishing books is not meant to be a one-woman show. There are way too many moving pieces to do it all and get it all right. There is no system of checks and balnces when you are totally responsible for the outcome of a project. Marketing and promotion added to the job makes it all but insanely challenging. It’s doable, but it isn’t easy. Then again, if I wanted easy, I would have stuck to my crayons.
I believe there is a market for well-written stories, too, PJ, and well done for finding yours! Like you, I also find being on my own without the checks and balances quite difficult. I try to temper this with beta readers and editors, but it’s hard to juggle everything sometimes, I must admit!
Great questions, Talli, and questions that will be a wonderful workshop builder! U Go, Girl!
Here are my answers:
1. After ten years plus of attending TradiPub-based conferences, I was totally appalled by the attitude of all the gatekeepers and disgusted by their noses held high in the air when alternative methods of publishing were even dared mentioned or inquired about. By 2010, I’d also been agented by a Top 20 Deal-making Agent for three years and was tired of hearing from top editors we submitted to that “we love your work, but those kinds of books aren’t selling now.” Simply put, I just thought that was total bullshit. If chick lit style romantic comedies were still hotter than hot at the box office then those kinds of stories on their own still had a huge audience too! THEN, I ended up working for one of The Big Six in their Returns Centers, and OMG!…once I saw how they “accounted” for returned books in the TradiPub world, and that screwing authors was a daily endeavor, I ran, not walked to the Indie Epublishing Path!
2. The biggest benefits to self-publishing for me is that I’ve learned that it’s all about Readers and by going the self-published route, you have the freedom and ability to connect with them daily and make decisions for your Epublishing Empire that puts their needs first, which, in the long run, are the kinds of decisions you’ll benefit most from as an author. Think Great Books for Great Prices and Lots of ‘Em, and you’re on your way to a very successful career as an Indie Epublished Author.
3. The biggest challenges for me, because I’m a Techno Dunce, is keeping up with all the technology we have at our fingertips in the Epublishing World. Thank the powers at be that I learn fast and have the balls to give it all a whirl.
4. There’s never been a better time to be a writer! And, as the wonderful Bob Mayer says, it’s all about your “story”, not just the book version of that story. For me, that means…Think Multi-Media (as in Audio formats, gaming, television and movies, comic con genres, apps, serial novels and more). In a nutshell, it’s not about “books” anymore…it’s all about reaching a variety of audiences with your “story.”
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, DD! I have to agree whole-heartedly on the ‘chick lit isn’t selling right now’. Chick lit sells hugely on Kindle, and if we can reach to our readers directly, why not?
I have a hard time seeing you as a techn0-dunce!
I decided to self-publish because the story I was writing wasn’t long enough for a novel, and I really liked it as I thought it had a tale to tell. I also thought it was the right length for YA on a Kindle, not too short and not too long, that would interest that age range. I had read various interviews with well-known authors and other lesser known writers who had self-published ebooks with great success and thought it worth a try.
Benefits – having control over what you write, the time to write it, the cover and when it can come out. Oh, and findng readers out there that have never read your work before.
Challenges – like DD says, all the techno stuff that keeps changing. And learning how to write fluently without too much repetition (still learning).
Julie, if you don’t mind me asking, how much time did it take you to make money since you decided to go solo?
I decided to self-publish for the same exact same reasons as yours. Today is my book’s first day on Amazon. I don’t expect to make much, but it’s always good to know.
Thx, Alex
Alex. I first self-epublished last October/November. I haven’t made much at all since then. I have calculated that on Amazon I have earned just over $38 and on SWords nearly $5. Mind you, I only have 2 ebooks out right now, but am working on the third, and will also be having romance ebooks coming out shortly that will probably help. I firmly believe now that it is all about discoverability and visibility. The more ebooks you have out there, the more visible you are and the more readers will discover you.
Thx Julie, i guess i should start working on my second novella. Romance ebooks are the most successful among all genres. Good luck, i’m looking forward to read it soon. If you have the time please check out mine on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008R15GV2
it will be for free for a day on august 1st
Cheers,
Alex
Thank you, Julie! I love having readers, too.
And I agree – it can be hard to keep up with all the technological advances!
Love this because (and I hope this doesn’t appear ridiculously self-serving) but I started blogging about this on Monday…just yesterday! I would love for you and anyone interested to check it out at http://dinasilver.blogspot.com/
I have learned SO MUCH from others authors journey’s that I decided to share my own. Here are my answers to your questions. Thanks TR!
– Why did you decide to self-publish (or why are you considering self-publishing)? Few reasons, but mostly b/c my agent wasn’t doing ANYTHING for me, and I knew I could do better for myself. Once I research SPub, and saw how the industry was changing, I could not get out of my contract fast enough. That, and I’m a control freak, so it’s perfect for me.
Do you see it as an avenue to traditional publishing? Are you happy sticking with it for the foreseeable future? I absolutely see it as an avenue and gateway into trad pub, if that’s what an author wants. I’ve have just recently started to entertain the idea of going back to a new agent, and pursuing that route.
What do you find the biggest benefits to self-publishing? Control, potential, owning the rights to your hard work.
What are the biggest challenges? Just having to doing every little thing myself. But I honestly love it.
Anything else to add? I’ve added a ton of info on my blog…check it out if you have a moment. Thanks!
-D
Thank you, Dina! I popped over to your blog and really enjoyed reading about your journey. Like you, I’d never say no to getting an agent and heading down the traditional route – it’s all about what’s the best way to get my books to readers, really. However, I love the option that self-pubbing gives me!
I’ve had a bad time with an ankle since I crushed it 20 years ago. It finally got to be so painful I couldn’t do the walking and stair climbing necessary to continue doing investigations for the family courts. I’d been writing for a while, but I never really had time to pursue actually publishing. I had been attending a weekly writers workshop though and decided it was a good time to start submitting. I began my research and found blogs like JA Konrath, Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch. And finally, thank goodness, the WG2E and DeeDee Scott.
What they said made sense to me. Why give away all the control and the majority of earnings to someone else. BUT the biggest factor was the wait time to publication. When I realized how long it took to get a book published traditionally (after the long wait to acceptance) and that most only had one book a year coming out, I knew I didn’t have that kind of time to waste. Why should I have to wait that long? I can write, have edited and publish two or more books a year.
Like most are saying, I like the freedom to write what I want and I don’t have to write to the market. I also like having control over my story, cover, pricing, etc.
The biggest challenge for me is also having the control.
I’m responsible for everything including whether my book succeeds or fails. I’m having to learn about covers, formatting, conversion, branding, marketing and everything publishing. I was afraid I’d be over-whelmed, but I take it one day at a time and am amazed at how far I’ve come. I’m not rushing it because I want to start out with the best book I can and begin to build a reputation for producing a quality product. And to be honest, it’s just a little bit scary. But, it’s also very exciting.
The absolute biggest hurdle I face is the self-promo. I’m shy and I dislike being the center of attention. I don’t mind bringing the attention to others and in fact I love helping others. But it’s difficult for me to do the same for myself.
Wow, I guess the ankle was a blessing in disguise! Those blogs you mention are great ones – and especially this one, of course. A lot of what JA Konrath made absolute sense to me, too, and played a major role in why I decided to head down this road. And, like you say, the wait-time to publication.
Control is a double-edged sword for sure!
Great post, Talli,
For me it’s about reaching readers. What I love and find daunting about self publishing is that the buck stops with me, which is very freeing and also terrifying.
There’s a huge amount to learn, but I’m enjoying (most days) having 100% control over the end to end operation.
The reader sits at the forefront of my mind during the entire creative process and what I find is that if I’m having fun, so is she, and that’s being borne out by the comments I’m receiving via twitter/facebook/email. It’s truly the only way to know if I’ve ‘hit the spot’.
I was on Kindle Select but because I want to reach as many readers as humanly possible, I’m now in the process of placing my books on as many platforms as I can and that will include paper books too if the terms and conditions are right for me.
CC, I love that we can reach readers directly. It’s such a great feeling! And, like you, I’ve also decided not to renew with Kindle Select for the moment, and to give other platforms a try. We’ll see how it goes!
What a great post and thought-provoking questions!
- I chose self publishing mostly because I don’t like to wait. I don’t mind doing the leg work myself. The creative process is endlessly fascinating to me. If something I write gets picked up, great. If not, I’m ok with that too. I write because I love it. Right now, the kinds of things I’m writing aren’t likely to immediately get picked up so self publishing gets it out there to my readers and that’s what matters to me.
- the biggest benefit I see is control over my work. I like the marketing part and trying it my way. As a newbie, I stumble sometimes but I’m enjoying the journey of learning as I go.
- the biggest challenge for me has been navigating the technical aspects…uploading, downloading, design…but there’s great “how to” help out there…thank goodness!
Discovering self-publishing is taking me on the journey I longed for but never thought was possible. I can learn, stumble and succeed all on my own terms. How cool is that?
“Discovering self-publishing is taking me on the journey I longed for but never thought was possible. I can learn, stumble and succeed all on my own terms. How cool is that?”
Dawn, that is beyond cool! I love that self-pubbing is opening so many doors for so many writers. And like you, I enjoy the control aspect, too!
I have yet to get my book out (should be done by October), but one of the draws to self publishing, from a guy with a business degree, is the entrepreneurial spirit of the whole thing. Building a brand, being your own boss, meeting your own deadlines, working out a successful marketing strategy. I love writing, and I love business. Being able to put it all together for myself with all the freedom I want is a dream come true.
Now to just finish the damn thing!
Get writing, Bryan!
I love the entrepreneurial spirit, as well. It’s a great feeling to be running your own business.
Why did you decide to self-publish (or why are you considering self-publishing)?
I spent 2 years and 200 rejections querying. I came close several times to being trad-pubbed but it didn’t work out. At the time Amazon didn’t support non US authors, but as soon as they did, I self-pubbed and haven’t looked back since. I would have to be offered a pretty amazing deal now to take a trad=-pub contract!
Do you see it as an avenue to traditional publishing? Are you happy sticking with it for the foreseeable future?
I’m very happy sticking with it. Woo hoo
What do you find the biggest benefits to self-publishing?
I earn fab royalties and am in complete control of my creative projects. I can decide what I write and when, which cover I’m going to use, my blurb, etc. I’ve got the best job in the world!
What are the biggest challenges?
Spending time on promoting and marketing when you want to be writing. But like anything, writing is a business, so you have to get involved in everything if you want to succeed. I’ve met some fantastic readers and friends through social networking. Also, keeping up to date with things like new formats etc can be tough to keep track of. I’m a bit of a control freak so I like to know everything at once!
Sibel, you’re a real inspiration! I think you were one the first UK (or European!)-based authors I’d heard of who was self-pubbing. I’m sure your success has spurred on many others. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Great idea to gather info for your workshop this way
I will be at York but not booked onto your workshop, sorry to say.
I have 2 non-fiction books tradtitionally published, and one thing I’ve learned is that I still have to do all the marketing myself, so moving into Indie publishing for my fiction is not going to be so different on that front.
My first novel won a writing competition and gained me an agent, but still didn’t sell to a publisher. I am just finishing a new novel and I shall try again, but as the first one is sitting around doing nothing, I’ve decided to give the Indie route a go with it. I’m enjoying the control of being able to commission my own cover, and although I don’t expect to make a fortune straight away, I’m excited by the whole concept, with books that never go out of print, and that I can build up a catalogue over the coming years until it does begin to produce a living income. Hopefully in time for my retirement from my day job!
Deborah, hopefully we’ll get a chance to chat at York! Looking forward to meeting you.
I have to agree – I did as much work marketing my traditionally-published novels as I did for my self-published ones. I think you’re making a smart move with your first novel, and many authors are going that way. If it’s of a standard where your agent has been trying to sell it, why not put it up yourself? It can take a lot of persistence and patience to start making a living when it comes to self-pubbing, but it is definitely possible.
Hi.
I had been toiling for years to get my novels published and got close several times but my stories don’t fit into one genre neatly, causing problems for traditional publishers. While I was trying to build an author platform as a lure for acquiring an agent, I put up the first chapter of my novel on my website. Immediately, I had several people on Facebook ask me where they could get my books? When I told them they weren’t published yet, they were disappointed. It was then that I realized that my market had found me, instead of the other way around. I discovered that I didn’t need an agent or publisher to reach my readers.
I’ve spent the last nine months revving up to the release of first novel, which came out last week. I love the independence and not having to wait for some publisher to pick me to be on their team like some geek waiting to be picked for a game of dodgeball.
How wonderful that your market found you, Janice, and congrats on your first novel! I love the independence, too. It’s so freeing to know you can make your own decisions regarding timelines etc. Love your dodgeball analogy!
Self-publishing, ‘How do I love thee. Let me count the ways.’
1. No cover letters to write.
2. No synopsis to write.
3. No waiting for acceptance/rejection letters.
4. Complete control of the creative process.
5. I own all the rights and answer to no one but my readers.
6. No waiting while a publisher takes a year to get the book to the readers.
7. My books never go out of print.
8. I can write what I want, when I want, and publish it when I think it’s ready.
9. I can modify any of the details of a book at any time to make it more appealing to readers.
10. And I don’t need or want a literary agent.
LOVE this, Doug! I couldn’t agree more.
Hey Talli,
My son encouraged me to start a blog in July, 2009 to earn revenue. I said, “Why not?” Using my unfinished manuscript of “Murder in Half Moon Bay” I posted the chapters, one at a time, until a newspaper got hold of a post, did an interview on the book and made me want to get going and finish it – fast!
I found CreateSpace at the bottom of the Amazon home page and followed the yellow brick road – having no idea what I was doing at the time. I learned through trial and error and now have published five books in my Jillian Bradley Mystery Series with book 6 “Waiting for Santa” due out in November.
I have nothing to lose and everything to gain by self-publishing. The Lord God is my guide and friend – I leave it up to Him whether I succeed or not – that way I know the outcome is His will for my life. And in the interim I’m doing everything humanly possible to write good books and get the word out!
This is still the best blog for e-publishing. You contributors are always on the mark for new information. Good luck on your seminar, Talli – sure wish I could be there.
~Nancy Jill
Wow, Nancy, what an amazing journey into self-publishing! Thank you so much for sharing that. You’re right – all we can do is the our best to produce good-quality books that readers want. And if we enjoy the process . . . why not?
Thank you for the kind words about WG2E. I’m constantly amazed by the wealth of information people bring to it in the comments. I wish you could be at my seminar, too!
Fun post! Back in the day, I did whatever I needed to. I wrote, I entered contests, I learned, I submitted, I signed with agents and most of all…I waited! And waited! And waited some more. I waited to hear back from agents and editors. It all felt like one big waiting game. But that’s what most writers did. I had no choice but to play the game if I wanted to get my work in front of an editor. You write and write and revise and submit and if you’re lucky your manuscript gets five minutes with an editor. Rejection. Start again. In 2011 I talked to a few authors who were self-publishing and after 19 years of playing the game, I was done waiting. What a wonderful relief. It’s been over a year and I still love every bit of the self-publishing process. I love working with a cover artist and with formatting wizards and wonderful beta readers and editors. Amazon, CreateSpace, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords and now Kobo. 70% royalties! It’s all too wonderful for words. Authors now have control over content and covers and formatting and editing and we get paid for our effort…what a concept!
“Authors now have control over content and covers and formatting and editing and we get paid for our effort…what a concept!”
Theresa, I know!
Crazy, eh? The best thing about self-publishing? No waiting! Waiting is such a killer.
We did so since we’ve owned our own business before and weren’t happy with the terms of the two small press contract I got. Also, control of our product. We have learned a lot, but this isn’t for the faint of heart.
LM, you’re so right – it’s definitely not for the faint of heart! But it’s a great challenge.
I’ve always been an independent-minded person (I homeschool my kids, if that tells you anything!) and also impatient! I hated the idea of having to wait around for the gatekeepers to open their doors a crack and decide if my book would make them money or not. So, after reading this great blog, I e-published my first book on Amazon on July 2, 2012. Talk about exhilarating! I didn’t expect to make a cent for the first few months, but I’ve been happily selling 2-4 books a day without doing much marketing (still trying to figure that one out). I’m over the moon about it! Just the fact that readers are finding my book (and loving it, according to their feedback) is enough to make me never look back. If I’d waited around for the agents/traditional publishers to “discover” me, I might have waited forever. My dream is being realized NOW.
May all of you writers out there realize your dreams, too!
Riley, well done on publishing your first book and have such a successful start! I hear you – I’m very independent and impatient, too. I reckon that makes self-publishing perfect for people like us.
Yes, Talli, indie publishing is perfect for people like us!
My mom says she wishes indie publishing (the way it is now) had been around when she was a young writer. She said it would have been so liberating. We’re lucky live in this day and age, and to be part of the e-publishing revolution.
Thanks for opening up the forum, Talli. Looking forward to your presentation – er, you will share highlights on the blog, I hope!
Hi Deniz! Yes, I’m sure I’ll share the results either there or here. Thanks for dropping by!
Well, I’m new to the self e-publishing thing, but what drove me here is that, frankly, my fiction is very difficult to categorize. I know my readers like my work – they’ve told me so and they’ve bought my traditionally-published books – but because my writing doesn’t fit neatly into the big publishing marketing categories, my agent has a difficult time selling my longer work. Compound this with the fact that much of my work is in the form of novellas, and you can see why it’s difficult to get things published! The big publishers consider novellas taboo, so far as I can tell, unless you’re already a NYT Bestseller, and novellas seem to hit the “sweet spot” with e-reader users. So for me it’s a function of style and size.
As to what’s difficult, the techno-savvy required for marketing . . . absolutely. Though I very much enjoy connecting with readers! It’s fantastic to hear a reader tell you that they “connected” with your characters, your style, your plot, whatever it is. Yes, I write because I love writing, but I was a reader long before I was a writer, and it pleases me to fire up another reader’s imagination!
It is wonderful to connect with readers. I couldn’t agree more, Forrest! And I think self-pubbing is perfect for writers who find their novels difficult to categorise. The good thing is that you can reach directly to your market without the middlemen that like to pigeon-hole books.
I had 16 novels (10 contemporary romance, 6 women’s fiction) traditionally published when I noticed my earnings drop off sharply around 2005, 2006. In 2007 I was dropped by my romance publisher. My agent marketed a contemporary romance about an American man struggling to come up with funds to pay his last semester of medical school and an illegal immigrant who has access to her murdered father’s estate whom the INS is about to deport. When she couldn’t sell it (it had a lot to do with my having been dropped combined with the sweeping changes taking place even back then), I decided to indie publish it. I set up a name for my outlet (Bunderful Books), and published in 2009. In 2010 my women’s fiction publisher dropped me as well, but since I was already established as an indie publisher, I didn’t miss a beat. This time I didn’t waste time trying to get a publisher to pick me up. I love indie publishing and hope I will be able to do it forever.
I love the freedom to tell the stories I want, in the way I want to tell them. That is also a drawback, because I’m doing it all myself (except for editing and cover design, and even those I have to approve). I have to write the copy. I have to do the formatting (once I got this down pat I saved it as a template, so that really isn’t an issue anymore). Other things, like creating book trailers, notifying readers my book is available, etc., have always been on my shoulders. But sometimes it can feel like quite a heavy load.
So far I have published four original eBooks and one backlist title. I will be bringing out another new project and another backlist title in the coming months. Sales have been good; I think it helps that I had an established audience. I don’t have those runaway numbers other authors have, but they are respectable, more than enough to make it worthwhile.
Bettye, thank you so much for sharing your story – what a great one! I love that you’ve taken things under your own control and didn’t let the challenges get you down. And yes, the freedom is invaluable.
I agree it can seem like a lot of balls to juggle at once, though!
I’ve had six books published traditionally. I have two more “in the pipe,” which will be out this fall and 2013. I’m self-pubbing an original ebook this month for three reasons.
One, it’s the direction publishing is moving. There’s too much going on in the self-pub world for me *not* to get involved.
Two, the freedom. Freedom to write what I want. Freedom to publish when I’m ready. Freedom to create the cover I want (with help from a designer!). Freedom to see the real numbers on royalties more than twice a year.
And, three, I know mid-list writers who are actually making money–unheard of!–with their ebooks. Looking forward to my own ebook experiment!
Sara, what you say sounds very smart, and I know a lot of writers who are still traditionally published and who are also experimenting with self-pubbing. It makes perfect sense!
Talli,
I am so pleased you are asking this question today as it’s good to have to focus my thoughts on why I chose this avenue when my dream, my entire life, was to succeed as a writer pursuing the ‘orthodox’ route. So for me this was one of the biggest decisions of my life. GUNSHOT GLITTER is due out in a few weeks and it is my debut novel. So your question is also timely : )
Okay here goes and feel free to share my opinions at your event:
Q: Why did you decide to self-publish (or why are you considering self-publishing)? Do you see it as an avenue to traditional publishing? Are you happy sticking with it for the foreseeable future?
I chose to self-publish for creative control. I’d freelanced my whole career, control and freedom to direct my life is a huge deal for me on a personal level. I was horrified when I was told by 2 of my favourite writers they didn’t have cover control. It shocked me hugely. I’ve seen covers do great work a disservice, I didn’t want that to happen to me. I didn’t want to rely on luck. I also can’t ‘write to order’. Gunshot Glitter has taken ages to write, I wouldn’t want to churn out a book a year ‘on order’. I also wanted a bigger share of the pie.
I want to write great stories otherwise it’s pointless. Great stories don’t necessarily fit in tidy pigeonholes to satisfy a commercial marketplace or a supermarket shelf! I was asked by a lovely publisher if I’d consider re-writing my novel to make it fit one genre. That swung it for me, I stopped pursuing the orthodox route – and though it terrified me, the prospect of going it alone, it was also a massive relief to decide to do this.
What do you find the biggest benefits to self-publishing?
Hopefully I’ll be able to answer this question properly in a year’s time! But I would say, so far, being able to manage my time-scales, creative freedom, not being dictated to or having to tow a publisher’s line or having to worry about pissing them off with having what might be deemed a controversial opinion about the reality of the industry.
What are the biggest challenges?
Feeling quite alone, not having that team support behind me to show me the ropes or reassure me it’s going to be okay. I am really quite scared here to be honest! Part of me wants to hide behind someone’s skirt. I am nervous of formatting my novel at the moment and getting it right. I have really exacting standards for myself. Also, the volume of time the Marketing and editing/proofing, directing takes up is HUGE. Huge if you want to do it properly, which I do. I don’t want to have anyone pick up my behemoth and diss it because it’s ‘self-published’. I am concerned about how to distribute printed copies of my novel efficiently, I still love the print format and want my novel sold in bookshops. But one step at a time!
Anything else to add?
Yes, it’s critical that people in this new, burgeoning community, really take the time and patience to create great output. I see a lot of sniping that the books are bad and reviewers/bloggers are often blocking self-published books for consideration. While this angers me, I’ve seen enough to see why this is happening. Plus, learn decent social media etiquette, if you’ve never marketed before – take a seminar, read up on good behaviour, educate yourself. There are fantastic resources out there if you look! Duo Lit and Wise Ink are great. Don’t diss critics who dislike your novel, be professional, not everyone will like what you write. Don’t spam Twitter with hard-sell, vary your tweets, I could go on forever! I’lll be blogging about some of this stuff soon.
Writers also need to try and focus more on getting impartial reviewers of their work, though this is hard and scarier, as a reader, I respect a series of 4 star critical reviews far more on Amazon than a blanket of vague 5 star reviews that just say a book is great and I should read it. It’s okay to get your peers and friends to review it, as long as the reviews are honest. If you are in it for the long-term than take time to build genuine bonds and be generous with yourself when you can.
p.s. I also want to say THANK YOU to the other souls who’ve shared their stories on this thread, like I said, it can feel lonely, and I really enjoyed reading everyone else’s responses. Talli, I love this site! Good luck with your event. x x
Yasmin, thank you for such a comprehensive answer. I was stunned, too, when I first found out authors have no say over their cover. Luckily, I was working with an editor and publisher who was open to my input, but I have heard horror stories. Control is one of the biggest reasons I decided to self-publish, too. I completely agree with your thoughts on spamming Twitter and criticising reviewers. It’s a shame a few unprofessional writers have ruined it for the rest of us.
Congrats on the release of your upcoming novel!
Thanks for the empathy and the congrats, Talli : )
Let us know how your event goes and what kind of feedback you get?
(1) Why did you decide to self-publish?
–We wanted to retain control over every aspect of the finished book.
–We wanted to retain control over timing, and publish when we were ready, rather than relying on someone else taking a chance on us.
–We are writing an unusual blend of fantasy, adventure and metaphysical/spiritual, and believe our novels’ main appeal lies with a niche audience. There is wider appeal, too, but we didn’t think a traditional publishing house would ‘get’ what we are about!
–I have long-term (and sometimes disabling) health issues and am healthier and happier writing, editing and ‘working’ at my own pace, and without pressure.
(2) Do you see it as an avenue to traditional publishing? Are you happy sticking with it for the foreseeable future?
–We didn’t originally view publishing independently as a lead-in to traditional publishing, and are happy to stick with indie. We have never pitched our work.
–If we’re ever made an offer (!) then we will consider it on its merits, taking all of the answers to Part (1) into account. We’re a formal partnership so it would be a joint decision!
(3) What do you find the biggest benefits to self-publishing?
–Control of our pace and our content
–Fun and enjoyment
–The feeling of achievement – “we’ve done all this!”
(4) What are the biggest challenges?
–Building and maintaining our online platform, and establishing the best use of our limited energy and time. This is my second business, and my co-author’s third!
– Building visibility of our name and work.
– The time used, and frustration experienced, when learning the ropes of the various elements of self-publishing.
– Remembering to pace myself!
(5) Anything else to add?
–The importance of other online indie authors – for friendship, for networking, and for offering and receiving support, guidance, and advice!
Thanks for this, Talli – I wish you every success with your workshop!
Thank you, Joanna! I love that you’ve pointed out the feeling of achievement you get. It’s such a satisfying moment to look at your novel for sale and to think you did it all yourself! I agree that it is so important to foster relationships with other writers who can advise and provide support.
■Why did you decide to self-publish (or why are you considering self-publishing)? I had a lot going on personally and realized that (a) It was taking a while to work on the book I was writing. Enjoyable work because it was a different style book, but still a while. and (b) I could not commit to a publisher for schedule and promo accountability becuase with everything going on my schedule was a moving target. Yet I’d completed the book. So I hired an editor and cover and format person and did it all at my pace. I still ran into issues in that the hired folks had me on their schedule and even then I couldn’t always meet the target. If you can’t supply and meet deadline and do marketing requirements as set out by your publisher, you burn you name in the industry. I have a good rep and want to keep that. Also; I wanted to try my hand at it, and since I couldn’t commit to a publisher I figured, why not give it a whirl on my own.
*Do you see it as an avenue to traditional publishing? Are you happy sticking with it for the foreseeable future?
I see it as one more avenue open to me as an author. The more choice, the more alive the industry. I plan to keep going what ever route seems best for the project and my lifestyle at the time. I’ll continue to use independent along with traditional.
■What do you find the biggest benefits to self-publishing?
Turn around time to market, and royalty rates. Second to those, the opening up of market to story. With the reduction of NY perspective by gatekeeping, true market preference in genre can be discovered. There were things like Mens Adventure, that were held back by the main houses, when in reality, they found a wide, voracious audience in indie pub.
I also think from big picture, lowering of overhead will benefit everyone, because more will be available to read. That’s the hardcore reader in me speaking. It will increase issues with ‘presence’ , or to quote Bob Mayer “discoverability”.
■What are the biggest challenges?
Obtaining quality editors , the competition is fierce with all the rise in digital platforms and outsourcing to freelance editors. Also, if you don’t have organizational skills on par with project management, you’re going to run into issues, so if you’re an author who doesn’t have that skill set, a basic book or quick course in project management might be helpful.
■Anything else to add?
It’s a great time to be an author.
Thank you for such a thorough answer, Ursula. I agree – it’s a fabulous time to be a writer. I also agree with how hard it is to find a quality editor, sigh! That’s got to be one of the toughest challenges. The ability to set your own timeline is a definite benefit, though.
Massive thanks to everyone who took the time to write such thoughtful, interesting answers. It was wonderful reading about all the journeys to self-publishing, and I look forward to keeping up to date with you all!
This is an easy one to answer/expound on.
I’ve been a published and paid writer since the mid 1970′s, but mostly as a sports writer/columnist. This gave me zero cred as a novelist, which I tried to be for about 20 years, give or take a few sleepless nights. I had about a half a dozen agents throughout the years, and they were so good, I forgot their names.
Then I got the bright idea to self-publish non-fiction books on something other than sports, something I have supreme knowledge about – the mob and gangsters. To save time, and my life, I won’t mention why this is my best gig, but from second No. 1, I never considered traditional publishing.
Don’t need no stinkin’ agents.
Don’t need no stinkin’ publishing companies.
Do it yourself and sing or swim on your ability; that’s my motto. (But please, have someone proofread your work before you publish.)
In the past 14 months or so, I’ve written and self-published five non-fiction books – all about “the worst human being God has ever created.” And they are selling pretty well. Not great; but not too shabby.
The best part about self-pub is that you are your own boss. You also have to self-motivate yourself, so if you have doubts about your ability, get another job. Hint – Bartenders make good money.
The worse part about self-pub? Not one thing I can think of.
And as long as I don’t piss off the wrong people, I should be just fine in the foreseeable future.
I always wanted to write a novel – pretty much since I was four. The only problem I had up until October 2011 was that I couldn’t write more than 5 sentences. Then something changed in me and I still don’t know what that something is (rewiring of brain?). I got the story sorted and managed to write my first draft within 2 months. Once that was finished I read a volume of horror rejection stories from writers all over the internet and realized my chances of traditional publishing in fiction were non-existent. So, I decided, self-publishing in the world of a few mouse clicks is what I want to do. I self-edited my book 20-times, then professional copy-editors did their job and proofreaders theirs before it was finally submitted. It was exhausting as months of sleepless nights take their toll, but I totally enjoyed every moment, day and months of the process. I want to do this for the rest of my life, period.
The biggest benefit of self-publishing is creative/personal freedom. We like good stories (my reader’s hat is on now) and good stories sell. It may take months or even years but it does happen (eventually).
Discipline is the single biggest challenge. Discipline in the sense that cutting corners isn’t working no matter what you do in life. Books need to be drafted, self-edited, copy-edited, proofread and potentially beta-read. On the other hand, you’ve got to read, read and read again, and as if that wouldn’t already take most of your time, you also have to write, write and write over and over again. Though, I love it!