And now for the news!
Some highlights from this month in the world of self-publishing!
Forbes has well and truly been showing up for those amongst its readership who are self-publishing authors lately, and Amy Morin’s recent piece is yet another example of this excellent representation. Morin, whose website describes her as “a psychotherapist turned ‘accidental’ author,” knows the stakes when it comes to building a brand and crafting resources for others, including books. Morin has traditionally published three books domestically to date, but she understands the value to self-published works as well. In fact, her fifth “way” in this article is to publish a book in the manner most suited to your individual circumstance. Writes Morin:
While some people insist a self-published book is the way to go, others say traditional publishing is more profitable. But, publishing isn’t a one-size-fits-all. It depends on your topic.
If you have (a) small niche market, you may need to self-publish. Then, it’s up to you to decide whether to create a $50 manual or a $l.99 eBook.
She also advocates for traditional publication in other circumstances, but it’s heart-warming to see even this traditionally published author showing up for and advocating for self-publishing.
Good e-Reader is another news platform that has routinely showed up for self-publishing authors, and this week’s article by Mercy Pilkington demonstrates their continued support for authors seeking another way. Pilkington opens by describing just how far self-publishing has come, from origins shrouded in stigma and production difficulties to high-quality works offering diverse opportunities for diverse authors. Pilkington’s article is especially concerned with those authors who self-publish with the goal of having their self-published title or future works picked up for traditional publication. She touches on a recent blog post by powerhouse literary agent Anne Tibbets, who warns authors that already-self-published works are not the best candidates for making that transition, and offers this advice to authors wanting to make the leap from self-published to traditional publication:
Tibbets does offer some advice for seeking a traditional publishing deal, but there’s bad news: the advice itself isn’t new. “Write a whole new book that’s completely unrelated to anything you’ve self published, that’s unsold anywhere, unpublished anyplace (even online), and fits into the traditional publishing categories, sub-genres, and word count requirements, and query agents with that novel.”
We might put it another way: If you’ve successfully self-published a book already, the incentive to republish your book traditionally is marginal (you’re already making bank, and a traditional publisher will cut into your profits). Most people who are self-publishing these days are choosing to do so because self-publishing is the only or the best fit for their book anyway. There are plenty of reasons to self-publish, including the narrow selection parameters traditional publishers employ when picking manuscripts which exclude many high-quality works worth reading. And readers know this! One glance at the comments might well indicate that there’s still some negative opinions floating around in the ether, but a second glance will show that there are readers and commenters going to bat for self-publishing, as well:
As in all things, don’t let the haters get you down! Listen to those who know the value to your dreams.
As a self-publishing author, you may find it helpful to stay up-to-date on the trends and news related to the self-publishing industry.This will help you make informed decisions before, during and after the self-publishing process, which will lead to a greater self-publishing experience. To help you stay current on self-publishing topics, simply visit our blog each month to find out the hottest news. If you have other big news to share, please comment below.
Self Publishing Advisor 