Should I Self-Publish?

In the last post, I gave a brief overview of the difference between self-publishing and traditional and some of the pros and cons of each. You may still be unsure though of which route to take for your own project. So let’s dive deep into some of the questions you’ll need to answer in order to make the decision:

What are your goals for the book?

There are lots of different reasons to publish. All are valid, and you’ll have to answer for yourself what they are and which route will serve those best. Here are just a few common answers:

I want to have a career as an author

In today’s publishing landscape there are opportunities for both self and traditionally published authors to build their careers. If you are serious about having a career as a writer, then it’s worth looking into traditional publishing. As things stand, the majority of books are still published by big publishers, and they still have the biggest distribution network and of course clout. If you can break into the traditional market, you have a big platform at your disposal to get you towards your career goals faster than you could probably do on your own. However, if you are reading this in the first place, it’s because you are a scrappy self-starter who is not afraid to dig out your own niche. Self-publishing continues to gain ground, and advances in technology and more services has made it possible for more people to publish books that rival the quality of their traditionally published cousins. You may already have a large platform of people hungry for your work. You know how to build an audience, to market your work, and have a plan in place on how to sell, distribute, and be successful. Let’s not be naive though, publishing is one thing, but making a living off your work is different. Whichever way you publish, don’t expect to make a lot of money. At least, not right away. Of course there are exceptions, but even traditionally published authors make on average:

Most authors also have day jobs. This is not to discourage you, just to be realistic. If you are in it for the long haul, then keep on following that dream, whichever way it leads you! Just also make sure you can pay your bills at the end of the month.

I want to publish for friends and family or for myself

This is an easy one. If your goal is to make a keepsake for yourself or your family, self-publishing is a no-brainer. Even better, if you are not planning on selling or marketing the book widely, you don’t have to worry about all those pesky marketing plans and more business related concerns. A well made book can be a work of art for its own sake.

I want to create a book for a niche market/topic

I’ve seen this advice given to self-publisher’s a lot, and it’s something worth considering. If you are writing a book for a particular audience, then it’s worth looking into self-publishing. The big publishers often look for books that they can market on a large scale. The way you make money with traditional publishing is to sell a large quantity of books. If your book targets a niche audience, publishers may be less inclined to take it on, fearing that it won’t generate enough sales in the wider marketplace. There are some niche and independent publishers, which might be something to look into, but those are limited too. Self-publishing can be a great option for those niche topics, especially if you are already connected to the audience that wants those books. If you know there is a need and your book can fill it, that can be a great way to build a following.

What kind of effort are you willing to put in?

Both options take a lot of work. It depends on what kind of work you are willing to do. If you self-publish, you are going to be taking on the responsibilities not just of an author, but as a publisher. You are effectively your own business. You will need to do the work that traditional publishers have a whole team for. Some self-publishers are skilled and capable of doing all of the aspects including layout and design, while others will need to hire some or all of these tasks. For this reason, many choose to use places like create space, that provide these extra services all in one place. The only problem is that the options may be limited. Create space for instance does not currently offer hardcover printing for picture books.

In traditional publishing, you don’t have to worry as much about the business or manufacturing concerns, but that is only if you are able to get published. The work here, is getting your work accepted by an agent or editor. The market is extremely competitive, and it can take years just to get your foot in the door. Rather than putting your energy into designing your cover, you’ll be sending out maybe hundreds of submissions, doing research on editors and agents, and honing your craft. Much of the work is perseverance. Once you get a publishing deal, you will still be working to promote and market your work, and of course, do it all over again with your next one!

Can you afford to self-publish?

Have a business plan. You need to know the reality of the costs involved in self-publishing. It could take a long time to break even, let alone make a profit.

Here are just a few of the costs associated with self-publishing that you often don’t have to think about with traditional publishing:

• Cost of ISBN’s and Barcodes
• Copyright registration and library of congress number
• Distribution- shipping supplies, postage, fees for using a distribution center or storage in a warehouse.
• Marketing- creating and running ads, hosting a website, fees for book tables at conferences or festivals, etc.
• Illustration and Design- A good illustrator and designer is worth their weight in gold! Don’t be stingy here, it’s the difference between a professional product and an amature one. (I spent almost half of my budget on this area)
• Editing- if you hire someone to edit your work.
• Printing- Definitely the largest or second largest cost in self-publishing is the cost of printing physical copies. E-books are a great option for older children or adult readers, but with picture books, most kids and parents still prefer physical copies.

Depending on your goals, self-publishing can cost in the thousands just with printing alone. Fortunately, there are some ways that you can mitigate these costs. You might consider doing a crowdfunding campaign to raise the money (I'll do a post on this later on), or you might choose a print on demand option. You'll may for per book for this option, but you don't have to make a large investment up-front. It's good to have an idea of these things before you start so that you can set a realistic budget and timeline. Remember to also think about cost not just in terms of money, but time.  You are either spending money or time, and in both cases- effort (see above!) So which one are you willing to spend? Would you rather spend your time writing, or are you eager to take on all aspects of the business?

There are very real pros and cons to both traditional and self-publishing, but only you can decide which is best for you and your book. Even if you’ve already decided to self-publish, I encourage you to take a look at the current landscape of traditional publishing. Go to the bookstore and see what kinds of books are out there. Research books that might be similar to yours. Find out what agents and editors are looking for, you may think there isn’t a large market for your book, but you never know! There's nothing wrong with trying out traditional publishing. If nothing else, in the process of doing research and submitting, you are gathering valuable information about your book, the market, and your audience. You may even make some valuable connections or find opportunities you wouldn’t have otherwise.

I hope this helps you make a decision on whether or not to self-publish. If you're ready to jump in, I'll next week about some of the first steps you'll need to take.

Finding Time For What You Love: Guest Post by Author Renee des Lauriers

Check out her book on Amazon!

A good writing buddy is precious. It's the rare combination of a sympathetic ear, a cheerleader, and a friendly but firm kick in the pants. Renee has been that for me and more. The other day I called her up and we chatted about our lives and writing and how we both wish we lived closer together. She was about to get on an airplane when I asked if she would like to do a guest post for my blog. Like a boss, she wrote this on the plane and sent it to me a few hours later. Behold, the life of a published author:

It started on a purple couch with a dream, caffeine and a blank computer screen. It continued with fierce word wars, the pattering taps on keyboard keys with loud coffee slurps and furrowed eyebrows. It was the birth of my first novel. A novel that was more than just a novel. It was the dream that survived from childhood-the dream of a dyslexic girl struggling to prove that she was as smart as everyone else. A girl who had entire landscapes and characters and worlds to share if only she could get them out of her mind and on to the blank page.

How do writers write? How do they do it? I know that I can't speak for everybody but I can certainly say that I wouldn't be able to do it without my writing buddies, Naomi des Lauriers and Laurel Nakai. There is something about hearing their fingers moving across keyboards, a sound as many and plentiful as rain that really lets me know that I need to get moving already.

Now that I am on the other side of America, figuring out what I want from life on the desert sands of Las Vegas, I find myself stuck. So begins my writers block and a settling in to non-writing.

"it's so easy to forget what we are made of and what we can do when we are drowning in life's minutiae."

It's not that dreams die. They just get buried in responsibilities- those everyday things like shopping for food and paying the electric bill so that the power won't get shut off and keeping lint off the carpet. It isn't that those things are more important than passion, it's just that it's so easy to forget what we are made of and what we can do when we are drowning in life's minutiae.


There's something so necessary about having supportive people in your life. I was blessed to have the best sort of friends-the sort who believed in my dreams and supported me in the day to day fight not to give in to trivialities and time wasters, but to instead give to those things that I believe in and want most.

Stuck in the day to day grind, it's easy to forget what writing has added to my life. I shot my first gun so that I could know what it felt like and capture the experience accurately in ink. I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and made Dunkin Donuts employees vaguely uncomfortable all in the name of art. It was all in order to accurately capture the spirit of the zombie apocalypse.

I remember when Hurricane Sandy hit in fall and the power went out, Naomi and I lit up hundreds of candles and started writing through it. I remember writing on line at the bank, on buses, in hot tubs, in food courts at casinos. I wrote on Laurel's couch so often that I sincerely hope that she never sells it as so much of my sweat and passion and coffee spills have seeped into the fabric.I am writing these very words above the clouds on a Spirit airplane.

"whatever it is that you love to do, do it."

Writing is an act of creation. It is taking something intangible from the hidden recesses of the mind then ripping it forth into the real world and down upon paper. I know that writing is not for everybody. For others it could be cooking, jogging, photography or gardening. I just hope that for every person out there, whatever it is that you love to do, do it. Do it every day, even if it's just for five minutes. Even if it's just for one. Because having that something adds a spice and a wonder to life that wouldn't be there without that individual take on the world. It makes me not merely exist, but live. So, from far away I'm holding on to my writing buddies and holding on to my dreams one word at a time.

Renee des Lauriers is the author of The Oxygen Factory (Sunbury Press, Inc.) She resides in Las Vegas, where she teaches high school English and raises chinchillas. 

Lessons Rereading Books from my Childhood

On a whim, I started re-reading some of the books I remembered from my childhood. I just finished Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli.

I honestly didn't remember much about the book. I remembered that Maniac was an orphan and homeless, and that he ran...a lot, and I remember the character Mars Bar, but only for his name. That's about it. I remembered almost nothing about the plot. After all these years, what I remember most, is not what happened in the book, but how the book made me feel. I remember sadness and triumph, and that feeling of magic and fulfillment at the last page, when you think, "Yes, this is how the story ends," and yet it doesn't really end, because those feelings stay with you.

It was a joy rereading it as an adult. I could see what fascinated me as a child and also better appreciate and grasp its many redeeming qualities, like the magical realism, the themes of separation and belonging, of race and family, and the subtle but perfect narration.

I was a slow reader as a kid. It wasn't till second grade that my parents and teachers realized I needed glasses because in elementary school they only tested for near-sightedness, and I'm far-sighted. I had trouble looking at a page right in front of me. I would have to close one eye, and use my finger to read the words, because I also had tracking problems (my eyes would skip to the next line before I was finished reading the first.) I remember being frustrated in school, and anxious whenever we had to read something to ourselves in class. I almost never could finish the paragraph or passage within the time the teacher gave us to read it. The pressure of having to read something within a time constraint made me anxious and also embarrassed. I learned how to fake it. I would read the comprehension questions first and then go back and skim through the paragraph just to find the answer. I had to do this, otherwise there was no way I would finish. When we had to read a paragraph in class and then answer questions out loud, I just prayed the teacher wouldn't call on me, as I continued to try and read without her noticing.

But I liked reading for myself. I liked curling up in my room and delving into a story at my own pace. Eventually, armed with my new glasses, I was able to like reading in school too, or at least be able to do it without the anxiety, because the more I read, the faster I got.

All of this is to say, that at seven years old as I squinted to see the chalkboard, I would have never imagined that I would get a degree in English and be working on writing my own books. It's good to look back and see how far we've come. We can't change the past, but we can appreciate it in a new way, just like rereading a childhood book as an adult. It gives me inspiration too,  knowing that even now when I feel stuck or frustrated, I just might not be able to see where I will be ten or twenty years down the road. One day at a time.

Winter's Wrath, a poem inspired by my SAD

Winter’s Wrath

by Laurel Nakai

The darkness came first.

Descended like a curtain, slowly, day by day,

until suddenly

we had to turn our lights on to eat dinner.

We went to bed with slippers,

thinking we could trap the warmth,

ration it for the days ahead.

The winds snapped frigid branches and thoughts

bitter and broken

on the shivering earth.

The winter’s wrath is the impenetrable depression,

and soon we were buried.

A layer of ice lies between

the ground and fresh powder.

There was life here once...

Water soaking into soil

sprouting stems and grass

leaves and petals

hope and apathy.

The ice covers all our happy memories.

Desperate longing for something just out of reach.

I can see them if I brush away the snow--fingers

stinging with cold and spite

I can see them, through

distorted glass

the same place where Spring began

All my shovels are broken

the salt pail empty.

There is no chipping away.

only melting

only waiting

only believing, in the languid thaw.