When the self-publishing phenomenon began, it was common to hear many writers express skepticism about it. In MFA workshops across the country, professors and writers alike warned against the practice. After all, they said, if you want any respect from your fellow writers, you must publish with a literary house or one of the Big Six (now the Big Five) publishing houses. This peer-shaming tactic worked, and many writers still turn their nose up at the idea of self-publishing their books, hoping instead to receive the “respect” of their literary comrades.
But times have changed. The ubiquity of digital platforms is such that the stigma of publishing one’s own book has faded for those who want to get their stories heard. The fact is, if you want to get your book out into the world so that people can read it, platforms like CreateSpace, through Amazon, and others give you a direct line to readers who want to read your book. And you don’t have to go through the hassle of a literary agent or a cavalcade of editors and marketers turning your book into something that will make them money.
If you’re thinking about self-publishing your book, but aren’t sure if it’s right for you, consider the following points. This list may help you determine whether or not you want to stick with traditional publishing or make it on your own.
- Your story isn’t commercial enough to interest a traditional publisher. It may be too avant garde, or in an experimental format, and generally there’s a one in a million chance that a traditional publisher will take a chance on work like that.
- Your creative independence is too valuable to sacrifice. The devil’s in the details, as the old saying goes, and what may seem expendable to an editor may be the most precious aspect of your book. If you’re not willing to budge on certain parts of your creation, self-publishing is the way to go.
- You’ve been sharing your book idea with enough people in your community (whether your local neighborhood or an online community of like-minded individuals) and they think it’s a great idea. Knowing that your idea appeals to others will give you the confidence to move forward.
- You may discover in those communities that someone out there wants to invest in your book. Having the financial resources to hire quality copyeditors, proofreaders, designers, and self-publishing assistants—like those at Kevin Anderson & Associates—will help you with the entire process, from revision to production. This will increase the quality of your final book tenfold.
- You’re a natural self-promoter. We’re not saying you have to be Donald Trump, but it doesn’t hurt to be proud of your story and want to tell the world about it. Once your book is available on Amazon, anybody in the world can read it at the click of a button. To help with advertising and promotion, consider creating a blog or a website to accompany its release. You may also want to consider paying for Google AdWords so that when people search for books on the topic, your book is more likely to appear in their search results.
At Kevin Anderson & Associates, we can help you with every aspect of publishing your book, from ghostwriting to preparing your book for publication. We can edit, proofread, and even publish the book on your behalf. Working with us, you’ll receive world-class services tailored to your publishing goals. No matter whether you’re self-publishing or not, you want a professional editor to review and polish your manuscript so that your book is error free.
Kevin Anderson & Associates is committed to giving you the independence and flexibility of being your own boss when it comes to developing your book, and the industry-leading professionalism of working with a team of writers, editors, and publishers who want to help you create the best book possible. Kevin Anderson & Associates can help make your book indistinguishable from that of a traditionally published book.
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