Self-Publishing: Another Publishing Option in the 21st Century

Photo: Claudia Zurc. February 3, 2019

After grueling weeks, months, even years of writing your book, you’re ready to share it with the world. But, where do you go to have it published? Who do you contact? Should you publish the traditional way or self-publish? These and a myriad of other questions regarding the future of your book may keep you up at night.

A great number of new authors would rather get published with big-name houses; however, publishing houses are swamped with manuscripts every day. Let’s face it; they’ll just consider those who merit being published―the next J.K. Rowling or Stephen King― in other words, those who’ll bring readership and big money.

As a new author, you have to ask yourself (and be honest!), am I seeking recognition, am I doing it for the money, or both?

Everyone has different motives for writing, but whatever the reason, you still have to do the legwork.

• Have your book edited by a professional
• Research all publishing houses in your genre
• Edit once again (you don’t want to send a slapdash copy)
• If you get some rejections, do not take it personally; it’s part of the process
• Consider revising your manuscript as it may be lacking some elements that are not appealing to publishers
• If anything fails, go the self-publishing route
• Do not give up!

Being self-published does not mean that you can slack. On the contrary, you have to work twice as hard. You have to be involved from beginning to end. Moreover, you cannot sell yourself short. Self-publishing does not mean you’re less commendable as an author. You can see it as another option to get your book out and in the hands of your audience while waiting to get discovered by a big house. Even better, you can see self-publishing as getting acquainted with the industry while paving the way for your second book.

Note: I wrote this article with the new author in mind. I am aware that established authors already work with a publishing house.

The Million Dollar Question

Finishing your first novel is quite a feat. You announce it to your family, friends, and fellow writers. However, you're so excited you've forgotten the million dollar question: Will my book get published?
A lot of my bloggie friends are writing or just finishing up their first novel, and I applaud them for their diligence and dedication. So, I want to share what an anonymous writer asked the experts  at theWriter's Digest about publishing his/her book.

Q: I have the first five chapters of a novel written, and I think they’re reasonably good. It would be nice, however, to know if I even have a chance at getting the book published once it’s completed. Is there any place I can submit what I’ve written to have it looked over, or should I go ahead and find an agent?—Anonymous

A: Hold off on looking for an agent just yet. Many people begin writing a manuscript and, after they’re a few chapters into it, get excited about what they’ve written so far and feel overjoyed about the healthy direction of the plot. But the challenge of writing a manuscript doesn’t fall in the first 10,000 words, where ideas are easier to find than a Starbucks. The challenge resides in the middle and end of the book. That’s the tough part. That’s where you prove you haven’t lost focus or the excitement you developed in the first five chapters. Dedication is what can separate you from the rest, so finish the manuscript and prove you have something of quality. Then an agent is more likely to listen.

If you want expert advice on the prose you’ve already compiled, you can find critique services on the Internet and listed in the classified ads of your favorite writing resources (I'm sure that plug will garner some "thank yous" from our ad folks). But carefully research the services and people you’re considering—check credentials and references to make sure they’re legitimate. And make sure you know what you're getting for your money. You don't want to have unrealistic expectations, but you also don't you want to set the bar too low. The more information you have going in, the more likely you are to be satisfied with the results.