According to Bowker (and its Books In Print® database), 411,422 books were published in 2007. That number includes output from “traditional” publishers, as well as what was termed “a staggering rise” to 134,773 “on-demand” and short-run books.
That’s a good news/bad news trend for authors, especially aspiring authors. The good news is that books are being published. The bad news — inferred from the number of on-demand books being published — is that many authors are perhaps throwing in the towel on getting accepted by a traditional publishing house, and are going the self-publishing route.
Avenues for Self-Publishing
There are two main options for self-publishing: one, vanity-type publishers, including on-demand/digital/short-run publishers (the author pays someone to publish the book); and, two, true self-publishing, where the author takes on the role of publisher and produces the book. The focus of this article will be on true self-publishing.
The Pros and Cons of Self-Publishing
The positive arguments for self-publishing boil down to:
Control: When self-publishing, the atuhor takes on a number of additional roles, such as editor, publisher, designer, promoter, and so on. The author decides everything, from the book’s format (size, binding, etc.), to its cover design, to its interior design, to the book’s price. That’s a pretty powerful argument for self-publishing, in and of itself.
Timing: This is part of control, but deserves a separate mention. Any author who's gone through the arduous process of writing query letters, submissions, finding an agent/publisher, etc. knows how long this can take. Plus, even after acceptance, it can take several years before a book is produced. Self-publishing cuts this process to several months.
The Market/Marketing: The author may know the intended audience (market) better than anyone, including how to reach them.
Money: This will be in the con column as well, due to the cost outlay for self-publishing. But it’s also in the pro column because the author gets to set the book’s price point, which also determines the author's “royalty.” Lesser-known authors who sign traditional publishing contracts typically earn a small percentage of the book’s cover price; with self-publishing, however, that percentage can be as high as 50% in some instances.
Pride and Joy: There’s nothing quite like holding that first book, selling that first copy, getting that first positive review. Without self-publishing, many authors might never get to experience these moments.
The Cons of Self-Publishing
Learning Curve: When self-publishing, an author is essentially going into business, and that involves a somewhat substantial learning curve. In addition to the customary disciplines of business (accounting, finance, legal issues, business entity, etc.), an author must also learn the publishing ropes. The good news is that, with its rise in popularity, there are a number of books and resources available.
Money: It costs money to self-publish. Depending upon the format and number of books, it can be substantial, in the thousands of dollars. And that doesn’t include any other costs, such as cover design, interior layout, etc.
Distribution: Self-published authors should not expect to be found on the shelves of every Borders and B&N in the country. Even if a book passes muster and is accepted by a major wholesaler (Baker & Taylor, Ingram), they only take orders from bookstores. They don’t generate them. In other words, authors still have to generate interest and buzz in order to get bookstores (and readers) to order a book.
The Self-Publishing Stigma: For authors that go the route of vanity press, the stigma is greater. But even owning a publishing house carries with it the stigma of “small” and “lacking in quality.”
This is only a brief introduction, but it should give authors a solid starting point to explore the option of self-publishing a book.
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