5 reasons to self publish

5 reasons to self publish

I’m going to give you 5 reasons to self-publish.

If you’re at the beginning of your writing journey, you most likely have dreams of signing to one of the big five publishers.

You visualise your book advertised on huge billboards, on the side of buses and in train stations across the country.

You imagine your book on the table at the front of Waterstones, along with a prominent window display featuring your face and multiple copies of your book.

That’s certainly the dream I always had, and why not?

1. Amazon

But then along came Amazon, which changed the face of publishing forever and will undoubtedly be the leader in any future changes. But for now, they, and several other platforms, offer writers not only the opportunity to get their books on sale but also the chance to build a business.

I’ve thoroughly researched the pros and cons of both traditional and self-publishing so, if you’ve ever thought about indie-publishing your work, here are five reasons to really consider self-publishing: 

  • Authors traditionally published receive less than 15% profit from their book sales. Agents, publishers and Distributers all take their cut from the sale price. Indies get 70%.
  • Authors lose control of the rights to their work for the duration of the contract. That usually includes paper rights, electronic rights, audio rights and all translation rights. If you’re a debut author with no clout, you don’t get a say.
  • Authors have no control over the editorial of their work, nor the cover design. If you don’t like what the publisher chooses, tough luck.
  • Debut authors get no marketing budget. You still have to publicise your novel.
  • If you are already a business owner, you might as well run this business too!

2. Not an Amazon fan? I’ve got you covered.

Amazon is not the only player online. Scott Allen from selfpublishing.com listed some of the best online publishers:

  • Kindle Direct Publishing
  • Barnes & Noble Press
  • Kobo
  • Apple Books
  • Self-Publishing School
  • Reedsy
  • IngramSpark
  • Publish Drive
  • Draft2Digital
  • Smashwords
  • Streetlib

Allen says in his article that no two publishing platforms are the same and he strongly recommends you do your due diligence to discover which one aligns best with your way of working.

Allen also takes you through who the publishers are and what their role is in your business. He flags up some of the common terminology you should get used to and then takes you through each of these twelve publishers.

3. Self-publishing is not vanity publishing

In addition to all these practical reasons, I also had a mindset shift. Independent publishing (another term for self-publishing) is not the same as vanity publishing. Indie authors worth their salt have their books professionally edited and hire someone to create a professional book cover to rival any covers you’ll see in the bookshops.

The days of throwing any old rubbish onto Amazon and hoping it sells have gone. Competition for sales is fierce and, ultimately, if your book isn’t any good, nobody will buy it!

4. Market your books for you, not for a publisher

Unfortunately, the days of leaving all the promotion and publicity in the hands of the publishers marketing team have gone. Even the likes of Stephen King, JK Rowling and Lee Childs have to do their fair share of marketing. Even if you are published by one of the big houses, you’re still expected to do most of the marketing yourself.

Debut authors get a tiny marketing budget. Your publisher might organise a couple of events for you if you’re lucky, but that won’t be enough to sell all the books you’ll need to sell to recoup your advance.

You’ll still need to arrange publicity for yourself. That means going to local bookshops to do readings, Q&As and signings. That also means going to libraries – and I don’t mean the British Library! – and doing readings in cold, pokey rooms.

You’ll also need an online presence. My blog post Do Fiction Writers Need A Platform, outlines just why this is so important and how you can ‌start building your online presence. Ultimately, it’ll be your job to let readers know you and your book exist.

It’ll be up to you to let people know if your book’s on sale or part of a group offer. You’ll need to find podcasters to interview you and you’ll have to approach newspapers or magazines to do a feature on your book and get it reviewed in the local press.

Mark Dawson is the poster boy for self publishing and in the clip below he shares his own experience of being a debut novelist with a traditional publisher.

5. Global Reach

It took me a while to realise this, but when a book is e-published, it’s sitting on a global bookshelf, not just the bookshelf in my local Waterstones. The US is the biggest English-speaking market, and after the US comes India and China. 

As Isadora Felix writes, if she wants to sell in Japan or Mexico, she can. She doesn’t have to print and send stock, wait years for the publisher to agree a contract and she will retain the bulk of the earnings.

Do you need an author website?

As part of my research into the indie publishing world, I’ve discovered that having an author website is a vital part of your author career. Even if you’re unpublished. Read here to find out how to get started.

This is the right time to self publish

What I’m saying is – the world is your oyster!

Be prepared for change

You’ve already seen just how much the publishing industry has changed in the last ten years or so – and it’s still evolving. Audio is a booming market, with millions of us turning to podcasts and audiobooks, something that is only going to continue as AI becomes commonplace.

When Jericho Writers speculated on the likelihood of the future consolidation of the existing traditional publishing houses, they determined it is 100% likely.

This means it will be even more difficult for new writers to break through into traditional publishing. It will be pot luck as to whether you fit what publishers think readers want. It will be a lightning strike to be their debut novelist who hits upon the zeitgeist and has that breakout novel.

Jericho Writers also speculate that the majority of traditionally published authors will look for hybrid book deals. This isn’t surprising when you learn the average author earns only £10,000 a year. That sum isn’t enough to live on and is one of the reasons why so many authors have a day job and only write in their spare time!

Opportunity knocks

We are so lucky to be writing in the digital age. As an indie author you get to decide the length of your book, its title, the cover design and pricing. You even decide the markets in which you sell. 

You are the boss. You have control.

You’ll be a true Authorpreneur and will build a sustainable income for you and your family. That is something you could not even have dreamed of 30 years ago.

You need curiosity instead of passion to write a novel

You need curiosity instead of passion to write a novel

Are you passionate about your writing? Is it something you have dreamed of doing full time all your adult life? What would you give to be able to jack in the day job and write for a living? If it is, then you need curiosity instead of passion.

Youth gets in the way

As a young person I lacked the discipline to take my time and write 80,000 words. But my writing passion has found its second wind and I have structured my life in such a way that I write every day. It’s been a dream of mine since I was a child, but like so many others I got sidetracked by life!

Work, socialising, travel, children. They all distracted me for more than a couple of decades. I’ve now come back to writing in a big way. Not only do I have the maturity to sit still for long enough to write a chapter, but I now have something to write about!

Big Magic

headshot of Elizabeth Gilbert

Elizabeth Gilbert is one of my favourite writers, on writing. Like so many others I found Big Magic to be utterly inspirational. In it she talks about how she found the source of her fiction novel, The Signature Of All Things.

For Gilbert, passion is all-consuming but ultimately wears away. Curiosity, however, just keeps on growing and can lead you in paths you never envisioned.

You might start off wanting to write a short story, but curiosity will compel you to find out if you can write a novella.

You write the novella then you want the challenge of writing a full length novel.

Perhaps you’re curious about Chinese concubines. You do some historical research and that leads to your next novel. You’re curious about how a young widow might rebuild her life, you write about that to find out.

Be curious in all aspects of your life

Don’t feel that because you’ve done the same job for the last ten years, that’s where you belong. If you’re curious about learning a new skill, go for it. You have nothing to lose.

A friend talked to me about a book by Robert Kiyosaki and it sounded interesting. She was so enthusiastic that she got me curious.

Curiosity made me buy it and read it. Curiosity made me investigate how people follow their instincts to become a dancer, a public speaker, a personal trainer or even a property investor. Curious, I wondered if could I do that? I did, and I could!

Finding a new way

Joanna Penn smiling at camera

Despite a lifelong passion to see my book published by Penguin and on the shelves of the Penguin bookshop, Penguin became Penguin Random House and their bookshops closed. Things change and evolve.

Curiosity also led me towards independent publishing. Having had the dream for so long to see my books displayed beautifully in a bookshop, I was dismissive of self-publishing. But when I came across Joanna Penn’s The Creative Penn and her belief in independent publishing, curiosity propelled me to find out more. Then a little bit more, and then some more until the idea evolved that I would like to try this.

I like being my own boss, so why can’t I be my own boss with my own books? Obviously I’m at the beginning of this journey, but I’m curious (and excited) to see where it will take me.

Living ideas

Another belief belonging to Elizabeth Gilbert is the concept of ‘living’ ideas, which fly around the universe looking for a suitable host.

Once they’ve found the right host, ideas stick around and grow and flourish. However, if the host ignores the idea, the idea will move on. Gilbert describes it as a scavenger hunt for ideas that when put together form a creation.

It may be a fanciful notion, but it’s a beautiful one and we all need a little bit of magic in our lives.

What are you curious about? And does that curiosity keep you going even when your passion for your latest book hits a slump? It’s certainly an interesting idea.

Blog post featured image with woman looking at screen

Final Thoughts

Writing is a journey that often begins with passion but is sustained by curiosity and creativity. It’s easy to get sidetracked by life’s demands, but the good news is that it’s never too late to reignite your writing dreams.

Whether you’re just starting out or returning to writing after a long hiatus, remember that curiosity can be your greatest ally. It’s what will keep you exploring new ideas, pushing your boundaries, and discovering stories you never knew you had within you.

As you move forward on your writing journey, don’t be afraid to follow where your curiosity leads. Whether it’s diving into historical research, experimenting with different genres, or exploring the world of independent publishing, each step fueled by curiosity brings you closer to your goal of becoming a full-time writer.

And when passion wanes, as it sometimes does, let curiosity be the spark that keeps you going. After all, writing isn’t just about getting words on the page—it’s about the adventure of discovery, the thrill of creation, and the joy of bringing your unique voice to life. Embrace the magic of living ideas, and who knows where your writing journey will take you next?

If you’re ready to take the next step, don’t forget to sign up for my mini-course, 3 Easy Steps to writing your novel. Let’s embark on this creative journey together, guided by curiosity and supported by the discipline to make your writing dreams a reality.