Gone are the days when you need to have an agent and a contract with a publishing house to turn your manuscript into a book. Now, anyone can be an author and sell their books to an audience.
There are several ways to get a book published, one of which is self-publishing. When you self-publish, you do not go through the traditional route. You have the advantage of pushing your book directly to the market as soon as you think it is ready.
If you want to know the advantages of self-publishing vs. traditional publishing, read on.
You are in Control
It takes a lot of people to turn a manuscript into a book. Before it lands on store shelves and in the reader’s hands, many voices have provided their input in every aspect of the book.
As the author, when you publish with a traditional publisher, you will not have absolute control over how your book will appear. The publication will decide on the cover art of the book or ask you to make changes to the title and the story itself.
Self-publishing gives you the last word on everything. You do not have to worry about contrasting visions from different people. Instead, you alone will be responsible for the cover art, title, names of the characters/settings, format, tone, and ending. You have the freedom to make your book exactly how you imagined it.
Publication is Fast
In the traditional route, an author typically waits from six to 18 months before their book is released. There are a lot of processes involved in publishing. First, an author goes back and forth with a proofreader and an editor to improve the text. Then, decisions have to be made regarding the overall look of the book, including cover art. Next, a plan has to be developed in order to market and sell your book to the public. Finally, a release date will be scheduled.
Publishing is a long process. It takes time. But, because you will not go through the traditional route, there is no reason why your book cannot be released as soon as it is done. You release your book when you want to.
You Get Most Royalties
A typical author usually gets about 10% to 15% of the list price of every book sold. The rest goes to the publisher.
If you are self-published, you would not have this problem. You would get a bigger cut of the profit that your book makes. If you sell through Amazon, for example, you receive up to 70% of each sale. Moreover, you are guaranteed payment every month as opposed to twice a year through a traditional publisher.
There are, of course, disadvantages to self-publishing. For some authors, having total control of the production may be a con. Taking on the responsibility to market their own books may also discourage them from self-publishing.
Although it will become harder to see your book in The New York Times’ Best Sellers list, there is a wide and rapidly growing market for self-published books. A lot of authors have gained a following and earn thousands of dollars per month from their self-published work. If you have a good story and you think you can craft a future best-seller, do not wait for a call from an agent or publisher. Publish your own book.
