When to Self Publish Your Book

There Are Some Very Good Reasons to Self-publish Your Book

Self-publishing or print on demand (POD) publishing is becoming a very popular topic on the internet. Many people have the dream of becoming a published writer, and self-publishing gives them the satisfaction of holding an actual bound book with their name on it without having to go
 through all the submission and rejection with a traditional publisher.

With traditional publishing routes, the publisher makes sure to get your book onto store shelves and publicizes it well. After all, it is in their interest to do so. They make money off each book that is sold. With self-publishing, however, all of the promotion depends on you. Most self-published books never sell more than five hundred copies.

You Already Have a Fan-Base

If you are an already published writer, and you want to give your fans a little treat, self-publishing might be a great idea for you. You can quickly have any number of books printed that you can offer exclusively to website visitors or members of your fan club.

Having a pre-made fan-base is very helpful to a self-published author, because it is not easy to get people who do not know you to find and purchase your book otherwise.

You Write Very Specific Niche Non-Fiction

Self-publishing and print on demand publishing was made for specific niche non-fiction. You might be hard pressed to find a traditional publisher that will touch "The Effects of Symphonic Orchestral Music on Woodworm," or "Five Hundred Things to Carve Out of Cheese." However, if your niche has an audience, self-publishing a book is a great idea. It is much easier to market a book to a very specific segment of the population who are already interested in your topic.

You are Writing a Personal Memoir or Family History

These kinds of books are great for self-publishing, or especially print on demand books. That is because you would not intend to sell them at all. Having attractively bound books to present to your family at the next reunion is a great way of showing your familial pride. No one would want to publish these books professionally, and you probably would not want them to.

You are an Expert Marketer

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Good article.

Posted on 07/31/2008 at 10:07:43 PM

Good article!

Posted on 03/25/2008 at 7:03:24 PM

Thanks for the encouragement. I've thought of this for years. I guess it's time for me to do something about it. Great article.

Posted on 02/28/2008 at 2:02:10 PM

I've actually known and reviewed successful self-published books. However, most are on topics that have an intrinsic "what is in it for me" factor for the reader (sales, investing, car engine repair for a particular model of car, etc) and the author is a whiz at self-promotion. Without a huge advertising budget behind a writer or some other way of promoting him or her, the odds are high that the book might not get attention. Of course, even a lot of books with those huge ad budgets sink...

Posted on 02/28/2008 at 11:02:15 AM

Nice Article. I laughed to myself when you mentioned 'Your Book is Horrible' as one of the reasons for self-publication. It's nice to think that even if every publishing agent in North America turns you down that you can still attempt to market your 'horrible' book with some self-promotion and that even then, if you fail as an author you can still have a deluxe, leather bound edition of your abysmal tome sitting on your bookshelf between Rowling and King. Either way, now everyone can be in print.

Posted on 02/25/2008 at 11:02:11 AM

Good info, I have been thinking of self publishing a book of children's stories that i made up for my son. Thanks for the info.

Posted on 02/25/2008 at 10:02:41 AM

(Congrats on making front page, Melanie!) This is a great article at pointing out who SHOULD consider self-publishing. As someone who occasionally reads onto tape books by local authors and/or about my state, for the State Library's Books On Tape program, I have to say that to date the self-published fiction I've encountered would never make it past the first page with a publisher's first reader: each has been appallingly badly written, whether you look at grammar, style, or plot, or all three (pleh! it makes my head hurt!). I'm still going the agent-publisher route with novels; but I am working on a book about my grandparents' courtship, including many of their letters, and that will be self-published for the very reasons you describe. I think this is an excellent resource for writers who are ready to publish. 5 stars!

Posted on 02/25/2008 at 8:02:10 AM

There are many self publishing companies that offer marketing packages. For someone who is good at self promotion, this would be a waste, but for someone who is a great writer, but not into marketing, this would be ideal.

Posted on 02/07/2007 at 10:02:00 AM

This is a great article. As I wade through a sea of rejections on my non-fiction manuscript, my agent and I have discussed self-publishing. However, we're not finished trying the traditional publisher route. I did start to do some research on self-publishing companies, and found that they there are differences among them, and some have an agreement with Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble to have the book available. I have also checked self-publishing houses with the Better Business Bureau.

Posted on 01/15/2007 at 9:01:00 AM

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