If you’re researching whether you should self-publish or traditionally publish a book, you’ve probably read or even heard some bad things about self-publishing. Some say that self-publishing does not count. Others say that self-publishing books will never sell. These are self-publishing myths and unfortunately, many people believe them because they do contain some smidgen of truth and, thus, can fool their believers. If heeded, however, self-publishing myths can lead you down the wrong path in your writing career. They can build up illusions about authorship success or even steer you away from pursuing the writing life in the first place. To help you avoid these misconceptions, we will examine five common self-publishing myths, why they don’t hold up, and why you should not harbor them so that you can freely chase your dreams of becoming an author.
Myth #1: Self-publishing Doesn’t Count
Our first one posits that your book is not truly published unless it sits on the shelf of a bookstore. Increasingly, this self-publishing myth is proving untrue as more and more bookstore chains have gone the route of the wooly mammoth.
Myth #2: Self-published Books Never Get Sales
As long as you publish quality work, you can find readership. The high number of self-published authors receiving respectable royalty payments for their work and the many financial advantages of self-publishing over traditional publishing explodes this second self-publishing myth.
According to Scribe Media, independent authors secure 70 percent of the royalties of their work for self-published eBooks and 60 percent for print-on-demand paperbacks. By contrast, traditionally-published authors are paid advanced payments but don’t see royalties until their books surpass the financial value of those advances. Afterward, royalty percentages will depend on the type of contracts authors hold with their publishers while most of the revenue remains with these companies to cover costs.
Royalty percentages range from 7.5 percent to 10 percent with paperbacks and 25 percent for ebooks. Self-published authors are compensated monthly while traditionally-published authors are paid twice a year.
As an indie author, you are free to set and update your own prices and your marketing plans to increase sales beyond the traditionally-published launch period of 12 weeks, which is when the shelf life of a book is on the wane.
Additionally, as an independent author, you can also publish as quickly and as much as you write, releasing more books in a shorter period of time.
You need not adhere to a traditional publisher’s schedule and delay the release of your books for months or years at a time as was done in years past.
Myth #3: Self-published Authors Never Get Traditional Deals
Contrary to this third self-publishing myth, if your independent books sell well, your authorship will get noticed by a traditional publishing house.
Again, mainstream publishers are in the business of making money so they may take an interest to your lucrative work.
Based on your stellar past sales record, they will be open to something new or controversial that you are writing that has not been self-published.
Since many authors who produce in a particular genre or subgenre can write faster than their traditional publishers can catch up with them, the majority of them self-publish on the side.
Thus, as a hybrid author, you can eat your cake and have it too. You can enjoy the best of both worlds. You need not choose between traditional and self-publishing to have a lush and satisfying authoring career.
Myth #4: Self-publishing Is Easy
The fourth self-publishing myth suggests that the entire process involved is a breeze because neither independent publishers and nor the authors they work with hold high standards for their books and take the easy way out at every step.
As a consequence, goes the myth, indie publishers and authors cannot compete with traditional publishers and their writers for hard work and quality. Therefore, their efforts must be a cinch.
None of this even approximates industry reality. The modes of producing and releasing work may differ between traditional publishing and self-publishing. However, the demand for hard work and quality are equal and never wavers for either one.
Additionally, self-published authors must be willing to set aside a budget and shell out dollars to cover the book publishing and production, editing and proofreading, formatting, cover and interior design, ebook publishing, author website and marketing service costs involved.
Some authors may or may not be fully aware of all of the services or scope of effort required and must be instructed. Many lack all of the funds to pay for the services they need, must select and oversee for their books. Some have even been known to crowdfund for these expenses.
No matter the source for financing their publishing dreams, however, authors will see the process through from start to finish because they’ve invested their own money, time and resources.
Beyond funding, choosing and monitoring the various aspects of publishing, self-published authors are just as committed to quality and put in as much hard work into their manuscripts, cover and interior design and marketing as their traditionally-published peers do.
Just like traditionally-published writers, self-published authors are just as apt to improve their writing by studying the work of other writers. They too actively seek out and pursue subjects or ideas that move them rather than wait for inspiration to write. They too don’t rely only on talent to produce but instead form healthy writing habits, apply focus, discipline and drive to their work and keeping learning on the job until they perfect their craft.
The result of all of these activities by self-published authors and their traditionally-published colleagues? Hard-won, flawless and well-packaged writing that does not cut corners or skimp on quality.