Why Preachers Should Consider Independent Publishing

Let me start by saying I believe there is a place for “old school” publishers and traditional publishing companies. Academia, for example, thrives on peer-reviewed articles published in known scholarly journals. And authors receive credibility when prestigious imprints release their books. But academic writing is a world unto itself, a land whose inhabitants talk primarily to each other. Beyond academia, there are scores of legacy publishers that have been around for decades, publishing varieties of books for varieties of audiences.

But in case you haven’t noticed, and with apologies to Bob Dylan, “the times they are a-changin.'” The eBook era and ease of internet access have paved new roads in the publishing landscape. For this reason, disciplined pastors have the potential to write books that will bless their congregations and grow the Kingdom. I want to offer three reasons why preachers should seriously consider independent publishing:

1) You Have Greater Control Over Circulation 

If you publish an eBook, you can build the Kingdom by reaching people worldwide. One of the greatest joys I receive from writing is hearing from people in different parts of the world who have purchased my books or are using my blog. And I can keep my books in circulation by continuing to promote them and discount them. Unfortunately, it seems traditional book publishers do very little to promote books beyond their initial launch.

So, how necessary is a popular imprint emblazoned upon the spine for book circulation? Consider this: Harper Collins is one of the world’s largest “Big 5” English language publishing companies. Last year Harper Collins published 10,000 new titles. Here’s the question: without Googling, name just 3 of those books. See what I mean? We don’t remember the publishers as much as the book titles themselves.

If you want to get your book into circulation, publish it with your imprint and make it available everywhere. You can publish an eBook for free on Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing platform. Like many large corporations, Amazon has issues that often frustrate evangelicals, but as of today, they will platform your book, so why not use their platform? Did you know that Amazon enjoys 70% of the eBook market share? Seven out of every ten eBooks are sold by Amazon! So create your publishing imprint, get your eBook on that platform, and Amazon will sell it all over God’s green earth.

2) You Have Greater Control Over Content

I read a commentary years ago in which the author lamented his publisher’s control over chapter content. Specifically, his editor insisted he not begin each chapter with biblical text because modern readers were largely uninterested in reading lengthy biblical passages. When you are your own publisher, you control all your book’s content. Like the author mentioned above, I like to print the biblical text at the beginning of each chapter if I’m offering an exposition of it. I also don’t care much for lengthy illustrative stories found in many popular books today. Because I am my own editor, what I say goes! I realize publishers do what they do because they believe it enlarges the author’s readership, but publishing independently allows you to stand upon your convictions.

3) You Have Greater Control Over Cost

Unless you’re a popular author, you’re not going to make a lot of money publishing your books. But that’s not primarily why you’re writing them, right? You have greater control over book prices and royalties when you are the publisher. And you will get more books into circulation by offering them at generous prices. You can also purchase author copies of your print books at cost and give them away as the Lord leads.

It also doesn’t cost much to get started, so what are you waiting for? Get to editing those sermon manuscripts and start reformatting them into different kinds of books! And if you offer high-quality content, you might even make a little spending money for your coffee!