What’s Wrong With Traditional Book Publishing
As a book publicist, editor, and writer who has been part of the book publishing world for nearly three decades, I have been proud to work with authors and publishers who have traditionally published books. I’ve seen (and experienced) the thrill of seeing a traditional publishing company’s imprint on a book. It’s wonderful when a brand name publisher validates your work by accepting your book and investing in its publication.
However, I’ve also seen too many authors whose experiences with traditional publishing were disappointing. In some cases, they were treated disrespectfully or unfairly by the people whose acceptance had seemed so important. Editorial decisions would be taken out of their hands; inappropriate or unattractive book covers would sabotage sales; phone calls and emails would go unanswered; opportunities to promote a book based on news hooks would be lost; and their books would be taken out of print by publishing company executives who had changed their minds (or who, for one reason or another, had moved in a different direction against the author’s wishes).
The Freedom and Joys of Self-Publishing
Taking back your power and publishing your own book can be liberating as well as a cause for celebration. Self-published authors establish their own brands and control every aspect of the conceptualization, publishing, and marketing process. They are uniquely positioned to leverage every opportunity that could promote book sales and the awareness of their messages. They are free to succeed to the greatest extend that they can.
Nothing feels quite as good as receiving copies of your own self-publishing book. It’s real, and you made it happen. Here’s an example of a book called Getting Past Childhood Bullying that I recently self-published. Unboxing the book I’d created and opening up the cover I’d chosen gave me that thrill! You’ll feel the same way when your book project comes to fruition.
Therefore, I’ve been a self-publishing advocate for a long, long time. That’s why I was tickled to read an article in The Verge by
Barbara provided her advice from someone who has been a traditionally published author as well as a self-published novelist. Her information comes from experience, and I appreciate the fact that nonfiction writers will also find gems of wisdom in the article that targets novelists.
She points out, in the article, that there are tricks to do some things — such as editing and proofreading — yourself. However, Barbara is being polite. Those of us who have self-published our books know that we get too close to our own work to see sentence frags, word drops, and typographic errors. Hiring a professional is mandatory.
Self-Published Books Are Real Books, Too
I’d say that, if you do it correctly, your self-published book can be indistinguishable from a traditionally published book. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to make that happen, either, and it doesn’t require advanced training.
You do, however, have to know what you’re doing. Articles such as Barbara’s can be a great starting point. You might also benefit by working in partnership with a self-publishing coach. I am proud to say that I have coached authors who have self-published books, and I have helped them make their dream of seeing their books in print come true. Let me know if you’d like some direction with your own book publishing project.
Stacey J. Miller
S. J. Miller Communications