Today, I’d like to focus on the writers who choose to self-publish. Far be it from me to be seen as some sort of expert on the subject, since not only I haven’t published a novel-length work. I’m only investigating options and always keep in mind that someone else may be interested. Because I know some of you may find it useful, or may have something to add or correct, I feel it’s best to provide reference to other people’s views and knowledge who are more experienced than me, and maybe even from some of you. Always keep in mind that everyone’s path to publication is different, so don’t take anyone’s opinion to heart. Research before you do anything.
*Chris leans forward, narrows an eye, and beckons you closer as if in conspiracy – If you’ve self published in the past, that means you’re an expert in the field compared to me, so please share your experiences and wisdom with the rest of us who stumble in the dark, ‘kay?*
A while back I told you about Jane Friedman’s infographic regarding available publishing paths, which obviously included self-publishing.
As it turns out, self-publishing is not all about you, the writer, doing all the work and making all the decisions a publisher should make, like typesetting, formatting etc. There are companies out there who do the job for you. Whether you opt to go for that or not – that’s a totally different decision, one that’s up to you – the following questions found on Ryan Lanz’s blog might prove helpful in making the right choice when it comes to self-publishing companies.
I’ve self-published a few 🙂 The bottom line is, you can do absolutely everything yourself (there are plenty of indies out there willing to help and share their experiences), or you can pay to have any amount of it done for you. The most difficult part is determining who you can trust and who is going to take advantage of you. Some lessons can be very expensive indeed.
It seems that when it comes to hiring others to do some or a great deal of the job required to self publish, word of mouth is probably a safe way to go. Referrals are nice and helpful, but at the end of the day, someone you trust is much better.