Myths about Self Publishing
83You'll frequently see articles telling you that self-publishing is a recipe for disaster. But you'll also see plenty of people claiming those articles are written by old fuddy-duddies, who need to embrace the new reality. The truth lies somewhere in between. Self-publishing can work, but only if you approach it the right way - and if you're prepared to invest money and time into making it a success. It's certainly not a free lunch, and the word "self" is a little deceiving - because if you try to do the whole thing completely alone, you'll fail.
Myth #1 - "There are Lots of Successful Self-published Authors"
There's a list going the rounds of the internet, listing 400 authors who became successful through self-publishing.
That sounds like a lot - but as one romance writer put it:
"When these names get brought up over and over, it gives the impression it happens all the time. But when you have to dredge through millions of authors who have produced work over TWO HUNDRED years....then it's the equivalent of saying a person can strike oil while digging a swimming pool."
She has a point - but it doesn't end there!
The world of publishing has changed over those two hundred years. In the 18th and 19th centuries, only the educated classes bought them regularly. It was quite possible for an author to get a book printed and circulate it around the litterati in (say) New York or London, and that meant they had reached a big part of the world's influential readership - which would be enough to make the book a sensation.
These days, there's a lot more competition, and it's much harder for your book to get noticed by people who matter. So you can't really compare the successful self-publishers of yesteryear with today. Remove those authors from the list, and you're left with a much less impressive array of successful authors.
Myth #2 - Self-publishing will catch the eye of a big publisher
Dont get sucked in by the idea that if you self-publish, it will improve your chances of being noticed by a mainstream publisher. That's just a line promoted by the self-publishing houses to sell their services. True, it has worked for some writers, but the reason it makes news is because its so rare!
In fact, this myth isn't just untrue, it's dangerous - because I've had it direct from the publisher's mouth, that being self-published can actually count against you with a mainstream publisher!
Did you know that when a manuscript has been accepted by a mainstream publisher, the author's work is only just beginning? For weeks or even months before publication, the author works with the publisher's editor, polishing the novel until the publisher is happy with it. Now remember, this is a manuscript that is already so outstanding, it has managed to jump all the hurdles to being accepted by a mainstream publisher in the first place. And that includes major bestelling authors like J K Rowling and Dan Brown.
When you self-publish your book, that sends a message to the mainstream publisher that (a) you're impatient and (b) you think you're too good a writer to need an editor - you judged your book to be good enough for publication without any professional critique. They worry that you won't be humble enough to take an editor's advice, that you'll be difficult to work with and object to their requests for changes. There are plenty of authors out there, so why should they take a risk with someone who might be arrogant and difficult?
There are two situations where a self-published book may be picked up by a mainstream publishing house, and they're pretty rare:
- If you strike it lucky and your book is read by a friend or family member of a publishing house executive.
- If you manage to sell more than 5,000 copies. At that point, the mainstream pub will rapidly rethink their attitude!
What Works
To be successful in self-publishing, you need
- a killer manuscript which has been fully edited and polished not just by you;
- a detailed and costed marketing plan and the money to pay for it;
- an understanding of your self-publishing options, and a solid justification for the one you've chosen.
If you don't have all three of those, you're not ready to self-publish, period.
Well, you can if you want - but it's highly unlikely you'll be successful.
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All text copyright Marisa Wright. Photo by Mike Licht, Notionscapital.com
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Amen. Hub Pages is about as sucessful as self-publishing gets.
Another GREAT Hub Marisa!!
I am just delighted you are writing a series of Hubs on "writing, editing and publishing!!" Thank you so very much!! GREAT Hubs to pass along to my clients!!
I disagree slightly with Myth #2 as my experience has been just the opposite!! The self-published authors I work with become more humble in the process as they see how much work is involved!!
Blessings always, Earth Angel!!
@Earth Angel, thanks for your lovely comments both here and on my other writing-related Hubs. I do think Myth #2 stands: not because self-published writers really are arrogant, but because that's the perception at large publishing houses - and that's what creates the obstacle.
I've spent considerable time researching the publishing aspect of writing. Well, not research really, but visiting many forums of writers where this is a hot topic. I think a person must be very organized, and very well known on the internet and in their own communities to self publish. The marketing and promotional aspects seem a little daunting if one must sell 5,000 copies to get mainstream attention.
I don't see anything wrong with self publishing for new writers/authors. I do however, only found one company called Tate Publishing who my fiance' likes.
David, Google Tate Publishing and you'll find lots of conflicting information. On the surface, they look more like a vanity publisher - you pay them to publish your book. Under their contract, you get refunded if you sell more than 5,000 copies - but we all know that figure is almost never achieved by self-published authors, so they're fairly safe to make that promise!
That said, they claim to invest substantially in marketing on the author's behalf and they appear to have an effective channel in Christian bookshops - so if that's an appropriate market for your fiance's work, it could be worth doing. I would be asking for a detailed marketing plan to show where the dollars were going to be spent, though.
Good Hub, Marisa - I am going down the self-publishing route for a couple of non-fiction books. However, it is for a scientific-resource site that attracts upwards of 30 000 good quality hits per day, so we hope to sell a few copies.
I can imagine that it is much more difficult for creative works - it must be very difficult to find a marketing angle.
Thanks Sufi. Self-publishing in non-fiction is a totally different ball-game - perhaps I should make that clear in the Hub. You're far more likely to have a clearly identifiable market and more obvious ways to promote it, so there's a lot more chance of success. Good luck with it!
Thank you for shareing your views on self publishing. I have been contacted by two self publishing companys already which has certainly opened my eyes. I think I will try the usual publishers first until I am totally deflated if nothing is offered. I may then try to self publish but the cost can be horrendous. Good hub.
And, lets not forget that nowdays, the authors whose work is picked up by a publisher will probably have to do all their own marketing anyway. Small publishers don't necessarily have the budgets; and larger publishers are going to spend the bulk of their marketing dollars on the authors/books that are going to make them the most money - think Dan Brown, James Patterson, Janet Evanovich, Rachel Ray.
No matter what route you go, you MUST be your own marketing department. And, as mercenary as this sounds, authors need to think in terms of marketing from the day they sit down to write their first page - ESPECIALLY if they plan to self publish.
There is no reason that someone can't be successfully self published. The author just needs to adjust their definition of success. If, for example, you are say a firefighter, and you write a book on fire investigation, a traditional publisher probably won't go near this one. But, lets say you lecture across the country on fire investigation. Self publishing your work and selling it at your lectures and through your website might very well be a good option for you.
The key to successful self-publishing, I think, is to have a specialized niche market. And, to keep in mind that such a work will never make the New York Times Bestseller lists. And, that's okay.
Great hub Marissa. Any plans for a follow up article on what types of works WOULD be a good option for self publishing?
I'd love to see it.
@celticmelody, Lynn made a similar point in her article about marketing, so clearly things have changed at the big publishers! Their main benefit, though, is that they can get your book into bookstores (which self-publishing houses can't do).
Your example is a non-fiction work and as I said to Sufi, that's a totally different ball game. If I wanted to write a book on ballet, for instance, I'd know exactly how to market it through ballet schools.
Great hub! I'm currently working on a manuscript and I have a family member who has worked in publishing and has offered to edit it. However I always have the niggling worry that it just won't be publishable!
All true! I've self published my own book...for me to sell myself...and it's dam hard work! You need the marketing machine of a publishing house behind you ... or a fantastic internet marketing plan.
Great article. One thing about self-publishing that has me dubious is the free ISBN number issued, for instance, by lulu. If I read the contract right, lulu is then listed as your publisher. I self-published a book for young reader on lulu and I am just into the first steps. I am wondering if I should have just bought my own ISBN and taken my project to a printer! I am one step into a long journey, I think. Anyway, great article. Thanks for all the info.
Yes you're right, Lulu is the publisher. That will only be a big deal if you want to change publishers, otherwise it really doesn't matter.
Interesting read. Can I recommend self published authors look at The Wishing Shelf Awards, www.thewsa.co.uk, the first UK-based Awards.
Many thanks
BBB
Great article with lots of good info. I'm considering self-pubbing my fiction works. Going indie as it were, not because I can't go trad but because I think the market has degenerated quite a bit over the years. I'm still nervous about all the work ahead though. I think nows the time, if ever there was one.
I know several writers that self published and most of them lost a lot of money doing it. You have to pay for everything yourself and you don't have the help of a publisher.
Bookstores seldom stock self published books and they don't sell well on Amazon. I must admit, if I see a book has been self published I'm less likely to buy it especially if I can't see a sample of the writing, which you can't online.
I needed to read all of this information today! I submitted a small manuscript to Tate Publishing a little over a month ago, then put it out of my mind. Yesterday I had an email from them and today an overnighted contract with information detailing a publishing contract. Since I was 17, I posted things on World of Poetry.com (now LuLu). Many of you know how that turned out and all of my works from them have disappeared. can others advise if they had offers from Tate Publishing and what their experience was? And I want to thank so many of you for comments already.
@dallaswriter, sorry to burst your bubble, but Tate Publishing are a subsidy publisher and listed as "not recommended" by Preditors & Editors.
I just looked at Tate's website and they look genuine - but Preditors & Editors are usually accurate and if they say a publisher is a scam, it usually is.
Thank you for this information. I have step away from writing this weekend to do some deep research and what a mess! I see as much good as bad. But I will not be doing anything just to "get published". Thank you so much for your information and for getting back with me. No bubble bursted here. Yes, it was exciting, but so is a new born puppy that reguires lots of attention and eats everything. I can live with or without a published writing:)
Thanks for the nice post
If you self-publish, you're not just the author, you're the editor, and you're the head of marketing and publicity. Most of us don't have all those skills.
Thanks for an enlightening hub! I have 30,000 words on the tarot, but do not feel I know enough to self publish and do all my own marketing. I also use Preditors and Editors, and when I mailed my first round of query letters, most were answered. No was the answer, but I am going to try again, as I'm re-reading my work after a year and still think it's good..P & E is a great site, and they update frequently. I have nothing against E-books, but would prefer to see a "real" book, and use the E-book option. I have to get back to work....
Jean, if you've reread it after a year and still think it's good, that's an excellent sign!
I know what you mean about ebooks, I don't like the idea either. I have been working on self-publishing a non-fiction book using CreateSpace but am finding the formatting such a headache, I've given up for the meantime.
rmr 20 months ago
I've read before that self publishing can hurt your chances with a traditional publisher, but I've never heard the reasoning. What you've said here makes perfect sense.