Self-Publishing Your Book? Here's Some Tips

Many people have written something they feel is good and even publishable. The publishing industry is hard to enter and most of the time such writing is rejected. It’s easy to get discouraged and wonder if it’s worth the trouble. Yet they feel what they wrote has a message they want to share with others.

If this is you, then one viable alternative is to self-publish your work. Here are a few good reasons to consider this method of getting your writing published. First, perhaps the publishers are looking for subjects you find offensive. Maybe you want to stick with more discrete themes or language. Perhaps too you are anxious to get something into print even if your writing style isn’t as professional as they want.

Working with a self-publishing firm means you cover some or all of the cost of printing your work. This can be done in a variety of ways. Typically, the writer promises to invest a given amount of money, depending on the size of the writing, in exchange for a given number of books. In such a case, the writer is then in charge of his own marketing. Better firms work with the writer to improve the content and help them get the books sold.

The relationship between the publishing company and the author varies. Some share the cost of printing and then in profits. Others dump the full cost on you and then, of course, you get the full profits once it is printed. Be careful that you are working with a reputable firm. Many unbelievable offers are really scams. For example, do they demand that you pay in advance? If they do, you are in danger of ending up with less money and no publication.

One advantage of self-publishing is to avoid the editor’s scalpel. Also, you can still spread your message with a minimum of cost. Third, for you to invest several hundred dollars in the work means you have to believe in what you wrote. Fourth, some good books were first self-published and then, as they became more public, a publisher is willing to invest in it.

The disadvantages of self-publishing are also important to consider. First, though you have no editor to change your content, you also may not have someone to help you improve it. The work of an editor is usually positive.

Second, with no major publisher involved, you will not have the needed exposure to get your work published. Unless you know a lot of people, you may have difficulty even getting your investment back. Third, self-publishing is more money out of your own pocket. You could lose financially and this demands that you believe in what you wrote.

If you are only interested in sharing your work with a few, why not try this idea. Print a copy of your work just as you want it to appear. Programs like Clickbook allow you to format it for stapling, comb binding, or as a larger work. Take this copy to a local printer and hire them to make the number of copy sheets you need.