Publishing Books 101:Self-Publishing? How Is it an Alternative To Publish Say A Small Personal Story This Way?

Self-Publishing and Traditional publishing seem to be a great divide in the writing world. Mention the words "self-publishing" to say ten or fifteen aspiring authors and there will never be a answer that any of these writers will agree upon. Ask them why and for the most part, they can't really define it, the more they feel that self-publishing is the way to go the more they will dismiss the traditional publishing industry. And vice versa.

In a more personal experience, I've done a self-published book, not through Xlibris or I Universe or AuthorHouse or any of the "bigger name self-publishers" (please note that these are considered for the most part vanity presses). It wasn't on demand publishing either. It was through a small printing press, I got the book bound and published and copyrighted, and for a small fee received 200 hundred books for my work. It didn't cost me much in either time or money.

I edited it, and marketed it and of course did the inventory of it, and then sold them, for a return on investment and a bit more. Nothing to much really but I am pleased with the result. I make mention of this personal story simply because I believe that research and a marketing plan are needed before planning to go the traditional publishing route or the self-publishing route.

Traditional publishing has its benefits and its drawbacks, as an emergent writer, it takes longer and there is less marketing given to the books that are published by the major publishing houses. There are alternatives even then. Small and medium sized publishing houses can do the job, but will print out less or will only print out paperbacks, however this is an option. In this case the time tends to outweigh what you get in terms of money. (by this I mean advances)

Again, If you long to sell a lot of books, edit edit edit edit. Cut or add fix it and make it pristine, the same goes for the query letter, the one page ticket to having an overworked editor read your work or not. Never ever ever think that a traditional publishers instructions about how to send something isn't for you. It is.

Do your research as well, read through the Writer's Market, and know thy book. Even if you are accepted you are still the main person selling this book. Period.

Do a marketing plan. Fiction is something that needs a marketing plan. Also non-fiction but it needs a bit more.

What about if the book is for a niche market or the file with the rejections is growing and you need a timely published book?

Self-publishing is an option.

I don't recommend the vanity presses: Author House, I Universe, and Xlibris. Not because I haven't had dealings with them, but because if you want books, they don't have a custom packages. I also found that they are their to sell the largest packages. In some cases these larger packages cost more money and mostly are marketing add ones which you can learn to do yourself. This isn't good for a writer who needs books and not marketing. ( Some cases the packages are upwards of 13,000 dollars, go and see their sites to confirm. xlibris.com iuniverse.com authorhouse.com)

I'm not saying that they are bad, just simply they get on the border of a vanity press, the sales that are offered, if you are one email lists, the constant emails are a big harder to handle. Because they are representative of their company and they need your money. Your are your book's best seller, and marker extraordinary.

Follow the marketing plan you write up.

The better ones are Lulu or CreateSpace or even Lighting Source and small local printers. They do give enough books that allow the writer to recoup the money they spent if not make a profit. The local printers will also spend the time to explain what is needed to print a book. I know many local publishers in my area and they all agree that self-publishing is something that needs thought and care. here is a comment from one of them:

"Ask yourself how much time you have to spend marketing, selling, inventorying, and the like to sell this book, ask yourself how much time you need to break even. If time is at a premium, then self-publishing is not an alternative. Have a marketing plan of your own. Then write the book, and begin to look around."

Good advice. Self-publishing is a viable alternative to some books, but not for others. It is great for some authors and not for others. It can be fun and exciting or it can be depressing. It depends on what as a writer the goal is for the book.

Never forget the law of averages. Use your head, if self-publishing is good for you do the research yourself, and don't get something that you can't get a return of the investment. Yes there are cases in both traditional and self-publishing where authors became a success but think of averages, and your time.

The law of averages is this of all self-published books on average 41 books are sold beyond the authors network. In other words marketing is a big thing and something that takes a lot of time with often limited results.

Never say no to either, but also know your own abilities, and then both are alternatives. There have been success stories with traditional publishing and with self-publishing, learn the whole story before beginning.

It is very possible to make money with a self-published book, but you must be willing to work hard at it, and not simply think that you will be the "one."  The reason most do not sell many books is that they do not spend time looking at thereasons why people will buy their books to begin with (in other words spend money on their books.)

The more you know the more power in this business you will have and the more likely you will make more than the law of averages states since you will have a business plan and know where and how to get people to read your self-published book.

To your publishing success.