There are over 200,000 new books published in the UK alone every year—that’s roughly 500 books launched every day. It is no wonder that publishers are wary about taking on new and untried authors, or publishing books on very niche subjects: they know that they are competing very hard for attention.
What can potential authors do to give themselves a better chance of publication?
One option is self-publishing. This has really taken off in recent years, particularly with the advent of Amazon’s Kindle Direct route. Electronic books (or eBooks) mean that self-publishing authors no longer have to spend large amounts of money on initial print runs, but can instead issue electronic books or print on demand. Many platforms even support the design of books. This has opened up self-publishing to a huge range of people who could never have afforded to print books. However, self-publishing also has drawbacks, and is certainly not an easy option. Here is our primer to help you decide whether self-publishing is the route for you.
The pros and cons of self-publishing
The first, and probably most important benefit of self-publishing is that you are in control. Nobody is gatekeeping your work. This is particularly important for authors from minority groups, who are less likely to be published via traditional routes. You also have full control over the editorial process, so you get to make decisions about what stays and what goes.
The margins are higher in self-publishing, because the publisher does not take a cut so you get to keep more of the value of each book sold. However, the flip side is that you are responsible for all the costs. This will include editing, design and distribution. More importantly, you will need to find your own editor, because even self-published books are better for professional editing. You can find freelance editors relatively easily via sites like Fiverr. However, for a non-fiction book, you may be best finding an editor with some knowledge of your subject area. This will not be cheap—but a good editor is well worth the price.
You will also need to pay for typesetting and the design of the book’s cover, as well as any internal artwork. Again, you can find designers and typesetters via freelance websites. However, you need to be aware that not everyone on those sites is necessarily the best in their field, and a word-of-mouth recommendation may be better.
Finally, self-publishing authors need to consider distribution and marketing. Some publishing platforms contribute considerably more to this process. For example, IngramSpark is a self-publishing platform for both print and electronic books that also acts as a global distributor. This means that bookshops can order direct, which they generally prefer to using Amazon. IngramSpark also provides print-on-demand services, so there is no initial print-run to fund, and its printed materials are apparently good quality.
Resources to help with self-publishing
There are some resources that can significantly help with self-publishing. Here is our pick of the most useful:
IngramSpark is not only a reliable self-publishing platform, it also offers advice and guides for authors. Its Guide to How to Self-Publish a Book will take you through the process step-by-step, with various additional advice and resources along the way, such as on the cost of self-publishing. It also has a blog with useful articles, such as this one on the costs of self-publishing, and what you’ll need to consider. These resources are free to use, making this a very helpful starting point for any potential self-publishing author.
Jericho Writers is a membership organisation offering advice and help for writers. Membership gives you access to a community of writers, and resources to help you find an agent or publisher, understand self-publishing and more. Without membership, you can buy editorial services, such as a manuscript critique, feedback on potential submissions to agents, and developmental editing of your manuscript. The company also offers a range of paid-for courses and mentoring provision on how to self-publish, self-editing, and other similar issues.
The long view
Self-publishing is not for everyone. However, if you want to be in control of the publishing process, and have time to find and work with freelance editors and designers, it could be the right route for you. This is especially true if you work in a niche area, and have not previously published anything. If you’re not sure, IngramSpark’s resources are a good starting point.