Self-Publishing: True Grit
Since announcing the impending release of my debut novel, one common question keeps popping up: "who's publishing you?" The answer is simple: I'm publishing me.
Until recent years, publishing was an outrageously expensive and risky endeavor few could afford. More importantly, it drew deep, disapproving frowns from the Publishing Gods. I mean, if a publishing company won't take a risk on you, little author, why in the world would you believe your book is good enough to make it?
Things are changing. Drastically. Digital technology, endless virtual book shelves, and powerful social media platforms are opening doors and establishing new norms. No longer do authors need to give up rights and profit to publishing companies. No longer do authors need to sit by their mailbox or inbox, sadly accepting rejection after rejection from publishers not willing to take a risk on them. They now have choices.
Does that mean traditional publishing is bad? No. They offer financial support, connections, and expertise that few authors could tap into on their own.
For those of you who asked me... no, I didn't send my manuscript to any publishers. I'm an unknown author. Publishers rarely take risks on unknowns. I knew I'd face a steady stream of rejection letters whether my book deserved it or not. I didn't like these odds so I chose another path.
A long path up a steep hill, I'm learning quickly. It means setting up my own publishing company. It means hiring a small army of professionals to produce the best final product. It means creating a marketing and promotion plan to get my book into readers' hands with an amoeba-sized budget. It means tireless research when I'd rather be writing or sleeping. It means a ton of sacrifice, discipline, and priority-setting. It means taking a big risk. It means a lot of things I haven't even discovered yet.
Is it a lot of work? Absolutely. It's not something I would recommend to just anyone. You really have to want it.
Is it worth it?
I guess we'll soon find out :-)
Until recent years, publishing was an outrageously expensive and risky endeavor few could afford. More importantly, it drew deep, disapproving frowns from the Publishing Gods. I mean, if a publishing company won't take a risk on you, little author, why in the world would you believe your book is good enough to make it?
Things are changing. Drastically. Digital technology, endless virtual book shelves, and powerful social media platforms are opening doors and establishing new norms. No longer do authors need to give up rights and profit to publishing companies. No longer do authors need to sit by their mailbox or inbox, sadly accepting rejection after rejection from publishers not willing to take a risk on them. They now have choices.
Does that mean traditional publishing is bad? No. They offer financial support, connections, and expertise that few authors could tap into on their own.
For those of you who asked me... no, I didn't send my manuscript to any publishers. I'm an unknown author. Publishers rarely take risks on unknowns. I knew I'd face a steady stream of rejection letters whether my book deserved it or not. I didn't like these odds so I chose another path.
A long path up a steep hill, I'm learning quickly. It means setting up my own publishing company. It means hiring a small army of professionals to produce the best final product. It means creating a marketing and promotion plan to get my book into readers' hands with an amoeba-sized budget. It means tireless research when I'd rather be writing or sleeping. It means a ton of sacrifice, discipline, and priority-setting. It means taking a big risk. It means a lot of things I haven't even discovered yet.
Is it a lot of work? Absolutely. It's not something I would recommend to just anyone. You really have to want it.
Is it worth it?
I guess we'll soon find out :-)
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