Most writers hate this question. They reject the very idea of self-publishing because they think it is the final sign that they have abandoned their dream of becoming a published author.
I’d like to suggest that rather than surrendering your literary ambitions, deciding to self-publish is increasingly becoming an artistic choice; a move towards self-actualisation, that shows just how seriously you are taking your writing.
Times have changed from when self-publishing meant vanity publishing. There are now firms offering specific services on the path to a self-published book and the author chooses what they need from the publishing firm they hire (eg editorial, marketing advice, blurb writing, cover selection, production and distribution).
Print-on-demand means that a very short print run is cost effective, and in some cases this may be all the writer needs – if you are writing the story of your family before you forget it all, or to put your point of view without being interrupted, a limited number of copies may be sufficient.
For others, who continue to cherish the thought of gaining an external investor some day, putting your work in a finished format through self-publishing may allow you to circulate it yourself, gain feedback, subsequently offer it to an external publisher and see it professionally published – it does happen. Meanwhile parking the finished manuscript in a pleasing and permanent form allows you some distance from the project – and the chance to move on with the rest of your life, including your writing.
There is no disgrace in the process – Jane Austen’s first work was self-published, and her investment in the process was considerable – the cost of publication was more than a third of her household’s annual income.
It was revealed recently that in the US last year more titles were self-published than published (240,000: 230,000) – so given that this is no longer a marginal pursuit, perhaps it is time that we too moved on from the rather home-spun name.
This process, in which the product is produced to the author’s specifications, and their involvement can be seen in every stage, from typeface to cover design is, in effect, a bespoke publishing service. In a world where image is all, viewing alternative publishing routes as equally respectable is important if authors are to maintain pride in their craft.
Alison Baverstock
What do you think, would you consider self-publishing? Do you like the name 'bespoke publishing', or do you think that's a form of vanity in itself?
Alison Baverstock is the author of Marketing your book, an author’s guide and is course leader of the MA Publishing at Kingston University.
My 11th book is coming out very soon ...all self-published. It's my 5th novel and I am fortunate enough to consolidate my pension with my writing; speaking and entertaining. What I found is that I could write a novel selling at £7.99 get in touch with an organisation and offer them £1 per book for their coffers which I then raised to £8.99, thus recouping my initial costs. (£1.20 per book profit). All my books have a different perspective from the mentally ill to children and so I target my selling. I'll not become a millionaire but perhaps one day another of my books will be made into a film script and that is why when my first novel was published, it had a remarkable journey via Australia to Los Angeles. I remain hopeful that The story of Miss Martha Douglas might just do the same. Meanwhile my website attracts 35 people per day with every fifth purchasing a book. www.netherholmpublucations.co.uk
Ive done the self publishing thing. I wouldn't touch it again with a ten foot pole. The publisher charged me a lot of money and didn't do anything except build the actual book and send me flyers. No advice, no help, nothing.
I wrote on 24 September that I had succsful self-published my book in printed fomat with Pen Pres Publication of Brighton and that I had then decided to publish it in eBook format with Schiel & Denver, a firm registered in theUK (and the USA). Well, I signed their Contract, paid them £599 and the book was and is displayed on various eBook websites(see my website www.socialkissing.com). - I now have a real problem in that Schiel & Denver are not providing any data as to sales per quarter, although it is clearly stated in the Contract that this would be be done. Emails nd recorded delivery letters go unanwerered. Has anyone any suggestions how I can enforce my Contract with them? Advice would be greatly apppreciated.