What Is Self-Publishing and Why It Is Important

Publishing a book is the dream of many people. Nowadays, self-publishing has become an exciting option. It can be used by independent authors who opt for this way of getting their literary project and getting started in the publishing sector. But what does this decision entail, and what is the reason for the boom of this model?

Definition of self-publishing

Self-publishing refers to the process by which an author is in charge of putting his or her book on sale. While in the traditional model, a writer assigns their rights to a label, and the label is in charge all the time, here we find a system where more autonomy is gained.

To understand it better, the traditional model is in which a publishing house “signs” an author, buys the exploitation rights of his work, and assures him royalties for each sale of his work. While the book goes ahead, the label decides everything about it: cover, sale price, etc.

In the case of self-publishing, the author assumes more responsibility: he chooses the cover, sets the selling price, and his opinion prevails over that of the publisher. In addition, the royalties received for each sale are higher than in the traditional model. In this chart, we will explain each model.

5 advantages of desktop publishing

You might think that self-publishing is a bad idea in that it starts with “losses” since an initial investment is required from the author. However, several points play in favor of this model:

It serves to take the first step: traditional publishers do not usually trust unknown authors. Therefore, opting for self-publishing can help many independent writers enter the circle, become known, and have a better chance of being published by other publishing houses.

It offers greater control: In a traditional publishing house, the publisher decides everything, and the author’s opinion does not count. However, in self-publishing imprints, the writer gives his or her verdict at all times, from the cover design to the final price at which it will be sold, or the inclusion of illustrations or where they will be incorporated.

The benefits you obtain are greater: The days of students asking you to “do my essay for me free” are over. Now, you are a real writer and can legitimately reap the rewards and dividends of your work. Self-publishing is good because although you are paid in advance (specifically for selling exploitation rights) in the traditional model, you receive less money per copy sold. In this system, the percentage received by the author is 10% of the publisher’s profit, while in the case of self-publishing, this figure rises to 40%.

You will learn from the publishing industry: A traditional publishing house decides everything, so the author is not very involved in publishing. The writer takes the helm in conventional publishing houses, and the publishing house gives him/her several recommendations that will add knowledge to the literary curriculum.

Sales are refined: The author’s greater control allows him to choose his means of distribution and place self-published copies strategically where he knows his audience is. While traditional publishers may use a mass mailing strategy that does not guarantee sales since, in the end, it is a case of “killing flies with cannons.”

Alternatives to self-publishing

We already know about self-publishing and what this publishing model is based on. Now it is time to find out if there are alternatives to evaluate and compare them with this system to see if it is what you are looking for:

Traditional publishing: The system of a lifetime: you send a manuscript to a publisher, and, if you like it, they will make you an offer for the exploitation rights and, after acquiring them, a publishing process will begin in which the author has little to say.

Publishing with Amazon: The eCommerce giant also offers a system to publish your books; you won’t have to invest in this one. How nice it all sounds! But beware, here you will not have the support of a publisher, so you will have to design and layout everything yourself. Nor will you have a spell-checking service, so the final quality may suffer.

Publish in eBook format and upload it to the network: Any office software offers the possibility of exporting it in PDF format to upload it to an online repository from which it can be downloaded and added to the eBook library. This is also an excellent way to make yourself known, but it does not include exciting and essential services such as proofreading, design, and layout.

Famous authors and books that started with self-publishing

Self-publishing promises to be an excellent first step for any independent author. But is it true, and can anyone achieve fame after paying for the publication of their book?

Isaac Asimov: That’s right! The one who is considered to be the best author in the field of science fiction also received rejection from many publishers. The Russian writer had no choice but to resort to self-publishing to make a name for himself… and history shows that he did well.

Jane Austen: History shows us that in the past, women did not have so many possibilities to publish a book because of its misogyny. For this reason, authors like Jane Austen struggled to get their works published. That is why the writer we are talking about not only had to invest to be published.

Virginia Woolf: The British writer went a step further and not only paid for the publication of her book. She created her own publishing house! The author and her husband created Hogarth Press, an imprint that published books such as The Mark on the Wall.