To self-publish or not? «

March 14, 2008...1:05 pm

To self-publish or not?

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There are a lot of pros to self-publishing:

my book will be published
I would have more control in the content, design, editing, marketing and promotions
time, I could get the project rolling now instead of having to wait!

There are cons as well:

Money, I would need investment money up front
quality?
negative stereotypes of self-publishing?
I would be out there on my own…

Here are some self-publishers or POD that were recommend to me by Rosalind Joffee of, Keep Working Girlfriend!

Dogear Publishing
Book Locker
Cold Tree Press (the prettiest website in my opinion)
Outskirts Press

It seems like self-publishing is great when you have a business to promote behind the book, for when the book is almost part of a whole marketing package for whatever service you are selling. That’s where I hesitate, I don’t have a business behind DAW, I’ve got stories I want to tell, stories I want to share about living with a chronic illness. I want these stories to reach every woman who feels isolated because of her health and I need to determine the best format to do that, either self-publishing or the more traditional route.

So for the moment, I’m going to wait until I’ve received a yes or no from every health publisher I’ve submitted my proposal to and let this simmer awhile….

Okay, my friend and LM colleague Caroline Grant of Food for Thought says I need to add iUniverse to my list as a potential publisher.

2 Comments

Filed under Publishing, posted by Amy S. Mercer, writing

2 Comments

caroline
March 14, 2008 at 8:18 pm

My dad had a good experience self-publishing with iUniverse… might be worth checking it out!
R.W. Ridley
March 15, 2008 at 11:39 am

I’m self-published, and I work for a POD company. My books are Young Adult novels. They are not a promotional tool for a business unless you count my writing career as a business.

It’s one of the best decisions I have ever made. I could not be happier with the outcome. I waited until my fifth manuscript and a filing cabinet full of rejections before I decided to self-publish. Here are two things you have to consider before jumping into the POD world:

1. Are you a good self-promoter or are you willing to learn how to be a good self-promoter?

2. Can you live with having primarily online distribution of your book? (Note: Bookstore availability does not mean a bookstore will carry your book)

I know some great success stories of authors who went the self-publishing route. I wish you luck with your decision. I’ve been there, and I know how hard it is to pull the trigger.