Should I traditionally publish or self-publish?
When I started taking myself as an author seriously, I knew without a doubt that I wanted to self-publish. My reasons were:
- I’m pretty strong with grammar and story structure, so I felt confident I wouldn’t need a lot of help to execute my ideas into enjoyable books.
- I have a decent skill for design, so I also felt confident I could make my own book covers to save on cost (though if worst came to worst, I could buy one).
- Mostly though, I wanted the freedom to write whatever I wanted, whether it was highly marketable or not. Lucid and The Altering Machine were just stories I felt strongly about and wanted to get into the world without the hurdle of convincing an agent and publisher they were worth it.
Self-publishing is likely right for you if the points above describe how you feel about yourself and your writing right now. Even if you mostly identify with point three, you can still self-publish if you are willing to spend money on editors and book covers, as there are many established, freelance editors and book cover designers or shops.
A note of caution: self-publishing expenses can add up very fast and (unfortunately) odds are they will not be recouped through sales. Please spend wisely and only put in money where it truly feels worth it or you are seeing promising growth. I’ve seen a lot of people make a killing with self-publishing, but they also had the time/money to do so.
After Lucid and The Altering Machine, I decided that pursuing traditional publishing was then the right move for my author career. Those reasons were:
- I was working long hours at my day job, and along with the demands of life itself, I couldn’t see a day where I could really market myself or my books effectively.
- I started planning a fantasy series that I felt confident would be highly marketable and attractive to an agent/publisher.
- I could always self-publish after gaining a publisher if I had an idea for a book they ultimately chose to pass on.
Traditional publishing is right for you if you want to write books similar to those that already have proven success, and you do not have the time/money/skill to put into self-publishing. Just be prepared for a lot of manuscript rejection before you get a yes, and then a publishing timeline of a year or two afterward.
Also, choosing one path initially does not mean you can’t switch to the other if legitimate reasons arise. Like I explained with my own journey, today’s publishing landscape allows both to be possible if necessary.
So, which is right for you to begin?
