Anyone Can Self-Publish, but Should They?
Thanks to the wonderful book-producing technology that has come along in the last couple of decades, we can all sidestep the gatekeepers at traditional publishing companies and publish our own books without permission from anyone.
This is great news that we self-publishers know and love. Our books don’t need anyone’s blessing in order to show up in the world. Websites like Amazon and IngramSpark produce beautiful e-books, paperbacks, and hardcovers, and make them available to anyone who is interested.
The important question, however, isn’t “Can we do it?” It’s “Should we?”
Gatekeepers
Prior to the advent of self-publishing, the gatekeepers (in the form of agents and editors) kept out many books that were not, in their opinion, candidates for finding a market or a fanbase.
The gatekeepers in the traditional-publishing realm, while frustrating, play an important role. They attempt to bring forward the best work they can find. This is difficult to do considering there are only so many hours in a day and only so many editors looking for books to fill their publishing houses' lists.
That means there’s far more “good” work out there than the traditional publishers can handle.
The Easy Way or The Hard Way?
As self-publishers, we face an uphill battle. In the eyes of the public, we have taken the easy way out by opting to self-publish. We know this isn’t true. There’s nothing easy about self-publishing. But those who don’t write or publish assume self-publishers couldn’t obtain an agent because their books weren’t good enough. We didn’t succeed in stunning the agents with our brilliance, and the traditional publishers didn’t duke it out in a bidding war—so how good can our book be?
Not everyone thinks this way, but some (possibly many) do. Because of this, we self-publishers start on the back foot, as they say, at a disadvantage.
Should We, or Shouldn’t We?
Should I self-publish? If you haven’t yet published your first book, this is a question you must ask. You have only one chance to make a first impression, so it’s important. Is the book that you’ve written the one you want to be known for, the one that will start your author career on the right foot?
The answer to that question depends on many other questions that we must consider for ourselves:
Is my writing good enough? We all want to know if we’re “good” writers. Does our writing display something special? Do we have talent? Each reader has their own likes and dislikes, so this is a very subjective question, and we must go about answering it in a flexible, open-minded way. How long have I been writing? How hard have I worked at my craft? Have I made sincere attempts to improve my skills?
Is my story strong? Does it have structure, as in a beginning, middle, and end? Will the pace of the story keep readers reading until the end? Is the concept compelling? Are there any plot holes in the story?
Are the characters engaging? They don’t have to be lovable, but the reader does have to want to follow them from start to finish.
Is there a market for my book? What genre have I written in? Where do I see this book shelved at the bookstore? Have I written to market, or did I just wing it?
Have I taken the book through the editorial process (learn more)? For instance, have I written several revised drafts? Have I cut the excess and finessed what’s left? Have I asked for honest feedback from beta readers? Have I made revisions according to that feedback?
Have I hired professional editors to help in the areas where I need help (for instance, developmental editing or copyediting)? Has the book been thoroughly proofread?
Does my book look professional? As a self-publisher, you’re responsible for page design, cover, and front and back matter. Will your book be mistaken for a traditionally published book? The answer should be yes.
Have early readers seemed pleased? Not everyone will love your book, but at least some readers should be enthusiastic about it.
Have you purchased any professional reviews? Though you will pay these companies to review your book, they will not guarantee a positive review. They will be honest. In addition, some companies that offer reviews will also provide feedback. If you’ve written your first book, this type of review can be very helpful in letting you know whether your book is ready for the public. If not, you still have time to pull it back and give it another revision.
Traditional publishers count on the gatekeepers to weed out the products they feel are not up to par. This can be good or bad. But when it comes to self-publishing, like everything else, we have to take it upon ourselves to play every role, including the one of gatekeeper. We must ask ourselves the tough questions the gatekeepers normally would.
After that, if we feel we can move forward with confidence, then by all means we should.
