Inside Publishing: The Basics of Self-Publishing
And Why It Might Be Perfect for You
AI-generated audio has been added for accessibility.
So, you’ve finished writing your book (amazing!), and now you’re ready to get it out into the world. But as you dive into the publishing world, you realize there’s more than one route to seeing your name in print. One of the most popular alternatives to traditional publishing is self-publishing. If you're wondering what self-publishing is all about and why so many authors are choosing this path, this article will break it down for you.
What is Self-Publishing?
Self-publishing is exactly what it sounds like: you, the author, take control of the entire process of publishing your book. Instead of going through a traditional publisher who handles editing, cover design, marketing, and distribution, you’ll oversee everything (or hire people to help). Thanks to the rise of platforms like Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), IngramSpark, and others, it’s easier than ever to self-publish a book and make it available to readers worldwide.
The Basics: How Does Self-Publishing Work?
Here’s a simple step-by-step look at what’s involved in self-publishing:
Write and Edit Your Book: Just like traditional publishing, self-publishing starts with a completed manuscript. Ensuring your book is as polished as possible before moving forward is crucial. You should hire a freelance editor to help refine your story and correct grammar, pacing, and continuity.
Design a Cover: The saying “don’t judge a book by its cover” doesn’t really apply here. Readers absolutely judge books by their covers, so a professional-looking design is crucial. You can design it yourself (if you’re good at that kind of thing), or hire a designer to create one that’s eye-catching and genre-appropriate. A top tip is to check the covers on the bestselling books in your genre. Make sure yours will fit comfortably alongside these as a reader will immediately recognise the type of book you’ve written and will feel comfortable about trying it.
Format Your Book: Before publishing, you’ll need to format your book for different reading devices. Whether you’re releasing it as an eBook, paperback, or both, there are specific formats to follow. Luckily, many self-publishing platforms provide templates, and there are professionals who can help with this too.
Upload Your Book to a Self-Publishing Platform: Platforms like KDP and IngramSpark allow you to upload your manuscript, cover, and other book details. You can set your price, decide where to distribute your book, and even choose whether you want to sell it as an eBook, paperback, or hardcover.
Hit Publish!: Once everything is ready and you’re happy with how it looks, it’s time to hit that publish button! Depending on the platform, your book can be live and available for purchase in a matter of hours or days.
Promote and Market: This is one of the biggest differences between traditional and self-publishing. As a self-published author, marketing falls squarely on your shoulders. Social media, email newsletters, and book promotion sites are all tools you’ll likely want to use to spread the word about your book.
The Advantages of Self-Publishing
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s talk about why so many authors are opting to go the self-publishing route. Here are the key advantages:
1. Creative Control
One of the biggest reasons authors choose to self-publish is because they have complete control over the entire process. Want to write a sci-fi thriller mixed with a bit of romance? Go for it! You decide on everything, from the cover design to the title to the story itself. In traditional publishing, editors and publishers often have the final say in these matters. Self-publishing gives you the freedom to tell your story exactly the way you want.
2. Faster Time to Market
Traditional publishing can take months (or even years) from the time you sign a contract to when your book hits the shelves. With self-publishing, you can get your book out in a matter of days or weeks once it's ready. This is perfect for authors who want to get their work into readers' hands quickly.
3. Higher Royalties
Here’s a big one: money. In traditional publishing, authors typically earn around 10-15% royalties on each book sold. In self-publishing, platforms like KDP offer up to 70% royalties on eBooks (depending on pricing and distribution). While you won’t get an advance, the higher royalties can add up if your book sells well.
4. Access to Global Markets
Self-publishing platforms allow you to reach readers around the world. Your book can be available for purchase in the US, UK, Australia, and beyond with just a few clicks. You don’t need to worry about finding international publishers or navigating complex rights agreements.
5. No Gatekeepers
In traditional publishing, you usually need to secure a literary agent before you can even submit to publishers, and even then, there’s no guarantee of acceptance. Self-publishing removes all those barriers. You don’t need anyone’s permission to publish your book. If you believe in your work and are ready to share it with the world, you can do it.
6. Ability to Update or Change Your Book
If you want to make changes to your book after it’s been published, self-publishing allows you to update it easily. Want to tweak the ending or fix a typo you missed? No problem — just re-upload your updated manuscript. In traditional publishing, this would be a much bigger, slower process.
The Challenges of Self-Publishing
Of course, self-publishing isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. There are some challenges you should be aware of:
Costs: Self-publishing means you’re responsible for all upfront costs. Editing, cover design, formatting, and marketing all come out of your pocket. However, you can keep these costs reasonable by researching affordable freelancers or using DIY tools.
Marketing is on You: In traditional publishing, the publisher often takes care of a significant portion of the marketing. As a self-published author, you’ll need to put in the time and effort to promote your book and build an audience. This can be daunting, but it’s also an exciting opportunity to learn new skills.
Stigma (Less So Nowadays): Self-publishing used to have a stigma of being “vanity publishing” or associated with lower quality. While that perception has shifted significantly in recent years (thanks to many self-published authors achieving incredible success), you may still encounter some bias. But the quality of self-published books is improving all the time — and readers care more about a good story than how it was published.
Is Self-Publishing Right for You?
Self-publishing is a great option if you’re looking for creative freedom, higher royalties, and control over your book’s journey. However, it does come with challenges like managing all aspects of the process and handling your own marketing. Ultimately, it comes down to what’s most important to you as an author.
If you want to maintain full control over your work, get your book to market quickly, and are ready to take on some of the business aspects of publishing, self-publishing could be the perfect route for you!
Whether you go the self-publishing route or try for a traditional deal, what matters most is that you believe in your story and are excited to share it with the world. There’s an audience out there for every book — it’s just a matter of finding the best way to reach them!