The Pros and Cons of Self-Publishing

Remember the days when the only way to get your work published was to submit to a big publishing house and wait for months to see if you got a letter of rejection or acceptance? Well, those days are over, and more and more people are trying their hand at self-publishing. Whereas self-published books were once stigmatized as being less professional or unworthy of the big publishing houses, they are now more accepted, with millions of authors gaining success in the area. So, what exactly are the pros and cons of self-publishing?

PROS

1. You do not have to wait for your book to be accepted by a publishing house. You can self-publish on your own schedule.

2. You have more creative control of the finished product. You do not have to ask anyone’s permission to have your finished product be just as you want it to be.

3. You can market your product anyway you choose. There are many ways to do this. You can start a blog, have your own website to market your book, have a book signing, and self-promote in other ways.

4. You do not have to pay an agent to work as a middle man unless you choose to.

5. There are many options these days to assist you with your publishing efforts, including editing, proofreading, and cover design – often at minimal cost.

CONS

1. The prestige that comes with having your work accepted by a large publishing house is missing, for within the publishing world there is still a bit of stigma surrounding self-publishing. There is also a school of thought that once you are self-published, it is more difficult to be accepted in a publishing house in the future.

2. You will be responsible for the things that might normally fall under the responsibility of an agent or a publishing house.

3. Monetary success is often based on how much work you put into promoting your book. Many people mistakenly believe the work is over once the book is finished. The truth is, the work has only begun if you want to actually sell copies.

4. With more and more people self-publishing, the field is very saturated. This means that there is more competition, and there is less chance of your book being successful.

5. Another con of self-publishing is not being taken seriously by other authors. This can affect you down the road in regard to networking, and it can also affect your sense of self-worth as a writer.

All in all, self-publishing can be a great way to publish that book you have always dreamed of publishing. It is up to you, and much will depend on what your long-range goals are in regard to your writing. The decision is entirely yours.