Alt text – Self-publishing services

Image description: a bookshelf containing a wide variety of books

What disappoints the author the most isn't bad reviews but being robbed of their rights as a writer. One of the biggest problems an author faces is the publication of the book; it is the most time-consuming and complicated issue for a writer.

Constant rejections, reduced royalties, consumption of time, losing creative control, and many more are complications when working with a book publishing company.

Self-Publishing is an alternative to Book publishing companies that solves the problems that authors face.

What is Self-publishing?

Self-publishing is the process of publishing a book without any collaboration with any publishing companies. A self-publishing book is self-service, where you look after the entire schedule yourself, which includes editing, proofreading, formatting, cover design, and book marketing.

Unlike traditional publishing or publishing company, where the publishing company bears all the cost of publishing the book, which includes the risks associated with it, self-publishing book cost is handled by the author, and furthermore, the risks come into account of the author.

Self-publishing is a breakthrough from traditional publishing and has a fair share of risks associated with it. However, you can also reap benefits from it. The following are the benefits you can reap and drawbacks you can pay.

Benefits of Self-publishing

Creative control over the book

The thing that disappoints not only an artist but any producer is when their hard work gets tempered; as an author, whenever you write something, it is the manifestation of your own thoughts and creativity. It represents a part of you that is your trademark.

When you self-publish, you have creative control over the editing and formatting of the scenarios and dialogues. Often there is a disagreement with publishers regarding the cover design. It may seem trivial, but a cover design holds extreme importance since it gives you the gist of an entire story rather than only aesthetically pleasing.

Time-saving

Whenever a book is completed, an author gets eager as he wants the readers to see and appreciate his hard work finally. With traditional publishing, this may take time and kill off the curiosity of the mastermind behind the book. Still, with self-publishing services, the process of publication is speeded up as the book can be published within a week or two, contrary to traditional publishing, which takes more than a year. An e-book takes only a few hours to get published. Moreover, a good amount of time is saved from hunting a suitable literary agent for a publishing contract.

Royalty Payments

When working with a traditional publishing company, you earn royalties ranging from 10 to 15 percent, whereas if you self-publish, you can earn from up to 60 to 70 percent of the royalties. Royalties play a major role in motivation for the author to write again.

Building your credibility

It takes authors decades to make a name for themselves to be on the top bookshelf. It consumes a considerable amount of years and money in the process. Self-publishing provides an opportunity for the author to be on the top shelves if the book is worth the read. Self-publishing on e-book publishing allows the book to be available in stores for years after publication.

Drawbacks of Self-publishing

High cost

Self-publishing means that the author has to bear the cost of everything in the process, from writing to editing and layout to distribution. If you are a new writer looking to boost your career, you most probably will not have the financial budget to bear these expenses and might have to wait in the process to bring together enough funds to jumpstart your career by self-funding.

No support from bookstores

Bookstores work in collaboration with publishing companies and receive an agreed and entertained amount of money from these companies to facilitate their books. If you are a self-publisher, it will get extremely difficult for them to publish the book, and an agreed amount of sales percentage will be shared with the bookstores.

No influence

One of the advantages of traditional publishing company have is they have a major influence on the market. Publishing companies have contacts throughout the landscape of distribution and marketing; they have good relations with publicists, bookstores, and marketers who play a huge role in popularizing the book and giving it the spotlight it needs to reach the readers.

Affects the credibility of writing

Since the self-publishers take it upon themselves to look after the entire process of publishing, this takes the writer's mind off the content they intend to produce for the readers. The division of attention takes away the quality of the writing.