Reasons for Self-Publishing

Reasons for Self-Publishing Reasons for Self-Publishing Self-publishing has become a widely accessible option for aspiring authors who havent had success at - or dont want to be bothered with - being acquired by a traditional book publishing company. Publishing your own book can be satisfying, depending on what your goals and expectations are. Here are some common reasons to become an indie author: Fame and Fortune If your goal in writing and publishing your book are fame and fortune, know that even most traditionally-published authors dont experience it. While there is the occasional blow-out bestseller success story, industry experts claim the average self-published book sells only 150-200 copies, and thats mostly to friends and family.But there are other, very valid reasons to self-publish. Keepsake Book or a Remembrance Self-publishing allows you to own a hardcover collection of your personal poetry; to commemorate a family event, or to give your siblings copies of your moms recipe collection. Print-on-demand self-publishing companies like Lulu.com allow you to print as many or as few copies of your books as youd like. You're an Expert in Your Subject Self-publishing is a great option if youre an expert with a platform - a blog with thousands of subscribers, a regular speaking engagement schedule, a radio show or other large following - and an audience who you know is very interested in your topic. For example,  Trisha Torrey self-published using Amazon.coms CreateSpace - Trisha knew her readers would be interested in the subject. A Book as a Fund-Raiser Self-published community books (like Junior League or church cookbooks) have long been used for fundraisers; collected remembrances of Hurricane Katrina were published in a book to benefit the victims. Self-publishing companies like Blurb have models for charitable publishing. You Are Well Versed in Particular Genre Many voracious readers of genre fiction are moving online and turning to ebooks, which is how bestselling paranormal romance author Amanda Hocking and erotic writer E. L. James (Fifty Shades of Grey) got their starts. If you know your genre and audience well and know how to reach your reader (because youre scouring the same places), then self-publishing an ebook might be the way to go. Some companies (like Barnes Nobles NOOK Press) offer a distribution component, which could help build your audience of readers. Can't Find a Publisher There might indeed be a waiting audience for your book. If your aspirations are literary, it behooves you to take a step back and consider any constructive feedback youve been given (family or friend raves dont count). For a fee, find a freelance editorial service that will give you objective feedback. Honor the Book Publishing Process While the self-publishing process can appear to be simple and even - from some DIY services - free of charge if you care about quality, then the process of putting a book out into the world is typically neither easy nor free. Traditional book publishers set a high bar to entry and have gatekeepers like literary agents and acquisitions editors because they know the publishing process is labor- and resource-intensive. Self-publishing is no less of an investment - and it will be entirely your investment with a lot of self-publishing challenges that you may not have thought of. Make sure the content of your book is as worthy of your time, money and energy as it can be.Whether your goals are personal or professional, to reach a large audience or to make Mom smile, it makes sense to take stock of them before you self-publish your book. Then, when you hold your book in your hands, youll be better able to gauge your self-publishing success on your own terms.