The Pros and Cons of Independent Publishing

In today’s world of technology, independent publishing is easier than ever. Almost so easy, a dog could do it.

Let’s take a quick look at the basics involved.

First let’s define a few terms.

Traditional publishing: a publishing company contracts with you to publish your book. They pay all costs of production and pay you varying royalty rates that average around 10 percent.

Self publishing: you hire and pay upfront a company to create your book cover and interior book file. They generally also distribute the book to various platforms.

Independent publishing: you are “the company.”

Be aware that self-publish and independently publish are often used synonymously. In all these models, you are responsible for the majority of the marketing of your book.

So, being an independent publisher means little ol’ you are 100 percent responsible for all aspects of getting your book published. That doesn’t mean you have to do all the work involved, but it does mean you find and hire the people needed for tasks you can’t do.

Pros of Independent Publishing

• You have complete control
• You get 100 percent of the royalties
• No time constraints in getting it on the “bookshelf” aside from your own

Cons

• You pay all costs
• You create your book cover and interior file or hire the work done
• Can be time consuming

For all things there is a trade-off.

It can take a year or more to land a contract with a traditional publisher. You must send out a book proposal to these companies and are regularly searching for potential publishers until you hook one.

Additionally, the big names in the industry require submission through an agent, and landing an agent can take just as much work and time as gaining a publisher.

With self-publishing companies, there are a lot of scammers out there. You must perform due diligence to ensure you are hiring a reputable company. And you need the money upfront. Some may offer payment plans.

Know Thyself

Know your limitations and comfort level. This can help you determine what is the better publishing option for you.

• Are you comfortable with teaching yourself how to create an interior book layout in MS Word, Scrivener, or any other program?
• Do you have the time to create what’s needed?
• Do you have the budget to hire a designer for your book cover or the knowledge to create your own?
• Do you have physical limitations that impact your ability to do the work?
• Do you have the self-discipline it will take to get it done?
• Do you have the temperament to handle the details?

I tend to encourage writers to go the independent route, but there is no right or wrong to this issue. It’s all in what you can handle.

DIY Resources I Recommend

Shelley Hitz at TrainingAuthors.com or her Christian Book Academy (affiliate link).

TheBookDesigner.com uses the term self-publish, and specializes in teaching how to publish your own books. This page offers resources and if you scroll down you’ll find 10 Things You Need to Know About Self-Publishing, available for free. They also offer templates that make creating your book interior and cover a snap.

None of the above sites offer help with the actual craft of writing or editing, but instead, help with the production, marketing, and distribution side of publishing.

For easy reference and future use, download my Publishing Basics chart that outlines the basics of traditional, self and independent publishing. Visit my services page for more information on the editing and book design services I offer.

Do you have questions about this process? Leave them in the comments below.