On Self-Publishing
It’s an exciting time to be a writer. Authors have more options than ever before, with the rise of e-books, self-publishing through Amazon, and Print On Demand technology. The publishing industry is changing drastically, which is probably why I’m often asked the question Will you self-publish your book?
If you ask me this at a social event, I’ll probably shrug my shoulders and say, “No, not right now,” and leave it at that.
But there’s more to it. Three main reasons, in fact, why self-publishing isn’t for me:
1. My dream is to traditionally publish a book. To someday walk into a bookstore and find my book on the shelf. To have a Library of Congress Cataloguing number. To have not only written a book (which is a feat, in and of itself), but a stinkin’ good one. Which brings me to the next point…
2. I haven’t written a book yet that I feel is good enough to invest in. And if I don’t feel like it’s good enough for me to invest, why should I expect someone else to? My goal is to write a book that I’m so proud of that I would invest in it. At that time, perhaps I’ll consider self-publishing, but I’ll likely still try the traditional route first because…
3. As a reader, I appreciate the gatekeepers of traditional publishing. Most of the books I pick up to read I find via Publisher’s Weekly, various bestseller lists, or word of mouth. And these often aren’t self-published works. If I wouldn’t subjectively pick up my own self-published book to read, why should I expect others to? (Note: I predict someday the gatekeeping process of traditional publishing will change, focusing more on author platforms and successful self-published novels, but that’s whole other blog post…)
These are just my opinions, bound to change over time. There are certainly pros to self-publishing: the author has more control (heck, even F. Scott Fitzgerald didn’t get to pick his own cover art), timelines are shorter, and you can tweak your manuscript based on feedback. What’s important is that every writer researches and comes to their own conclusion.
What I’m reading: Peril at End House by Agatha Christie
What I’m listening to: Air – Talkie Walkie
Kate, I love you’re thoughtful post. I think for a long time, I felt exactly the way you do. Even though I did self-publish a book (out of sheer desperation 🙂 back in 2008, my thoughts on self-publishing have changed quite a bit over the years. Even more so now that I’ve started working at literary agency (surprisingly enough.) I think your best reason for wanting that traditional publisher is the first one–because it’s your dream to do so. I look forward to reading the post you write when that happens!!
Thanks for the encouraging words, Rebecca!! So glad you enjoyed the post 🙂