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To Self-Publish, or Not to Self-Publish

Explore the pros and cons of self-publishing vs. traditional publishing, including distribution, lead time, deadlines, marketing, money, control, and future publishing opportunities. Learn about successful traditionally published and self-published authors and the chance of success in both avenues.

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To Self-Publish, or Not to Self-Publish

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  1. To Self-Publish, or Not to Self-Publish Cathy Wiley

  2. My books Published August 2010 Sold over 33,000 copies Other Zapstone books Published October 2011 Sold 400 copies – (e-book only)

  3. Examples of traditionally published authors Nora Roberts JK Rowling George R.R. Martin John Grisham Dan Brown David Weber James Patterson Stephenie Meyer Agatha Christie Danielle Steel

  4. Examples of self-published authors J.A. Konrath Amanda Hocking Victorine Lieske John Locke Selena Kitt Michael Sullivan HP Mallory David Dalglish Bella Andre Michael R. Hicks

  5. Areas to look at when comparing Prestige Distribution Lead time to publish Deadlines Marketing Cost to you Money Control of product What are you good at? Chance of success

  6. Prestige aka: Why, yes, I am an author Traditionally published: Pros: Can say your book was vetted and made it past the gatekeepers Cons: Not really any Self-published: Pros: There are some good indies out there and more and more are getting attention and respect Cons: Here is the rub. Many people don’t have good opinions about self-published books. Belief is that it must not have been good enough to get traditionally published.

  7. Distribution aka: I saw your book at the book store! Traditionally published: Pros: Can get national and international distribution in online stores, brick and mortar stores, and libraries Cons: Does anyone really go in the brick and mortar stores? Returns of books! So much competition on those shelves Self-published: Pros: If you choose a good printer/distributor, you can choose whether or not you can get the book in store. On online stores, just as much ability to get seen. Cons: Youhave to be the one to get the books in those stores Many stores might opt not to carry any independent books

  8. Lead time to publish aka: When can I get the book in my hot little hands Traditionally published: Cons: 1-2 years (or more…or not at all) to find an agent 1-2 years (or more…or not at all) for agent to find publisher 1-2 years for book to be pubished Self-published: Pros: Can get book out as quickly as you want Cons: Can get book out as quickly as you want

  9. Deadlines aka: It’s time to lose sleep Traditionally published: Pros: You have them… there’s a set time you need to be finished Cons: You have them and there’s a set time you need to be finished. Penalties if you miss them. Self-published: Pros: It’s on your own schedule Cons: It’s on your own schedule. 

  10. Marketing Who does it? And are you comfortable doing it? Traditionally published: Pros: Supposedly, they will help with marketing Cons: Not so much anymore. Even the big names expect you to do it yourself. Self-published: Pros: If you are good at this, you can really succeed Cons: It’s hard. It takes up a LOT of time, time that could be spent writing.

  11. Money aka: Who gets it? Traditionally published: Pros: They take care of getting money and distributing it to you Cons: You get a very small cut of any money made by your book Self-published: Pros: Woo-hoo! 70% royalty from many sellers Cons: You have to make the pricing decisions.

  12. Cost to you aka: Time and Money Traditionally published: Pros: Marketing is their money, not yours. Have people (presumably) to do marketing, editing, etc. Cons: Lots of time selling the book to the agent If you do it wrong, can end up paying the wrong press to do publish it Self-published: Pros: You control it Cons: You pay the editor. You put in the editor’s changes. You pay the cover artist. You work with the cover artist. You either format it yourself or pay someone to do so. All the time takes away from writing!

  13. Control of Product aka: Mine, mine, mine! Traditionally published: Pros: None Cons: No control of title or cover No control of marketing Sign away your publishing rights for certain time period Self-published: Pros: Total control Cons: It takes a lot of time to make these decisions and a lot of time second guessing them

  14. Future publishing aka: Why, yes, I’d love to publish with you Traditionally published: Pros: If the book does well, can get future contracts Cons: If your book doesn’t do well, trouble getting contracts with your publisher or any other trad publisher Self-published: Pros: If your book sells well, you can possibly get a trad contract offered. Cons: Some people think self publishing creates a negative image? Does it, don’t know yet?

  15. Chance of success aka: ???? Traditionally published: Pros: Wider distribution supposedly can get your name out there more = more sales Cons: Very few traditionally published books make back their advancement. There’s so much competition Self-published: Pros: Can get books out more quickly, build your audience Cons: There’s so much competition, and bad examples of self-pubbed authors.

  16. Genres Some genres do better than others…

  17. Questions???

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