When Self Publishing Makes Sense

It's interesting that we have such preconcieved notions about self publishing. The general thought is that if you self publish your writing just isn't "good enough" for a traditional publisher. This may not be the case.

While it is true that publishers serve as a stamp of approval to any giver writer's work--after all their book was chosen above others for publication--it is also true that excellent books are passed up because of the narrowness of their market, the book simply didn't fit into the publisher's particular publishing plan, or the publisher already had other works so similar that they would end up diluting the market and take away from sales of present titles.

I chose to go with a traditional publisher. Why? Because I'm not famous, I don't have 30,000 friends who are clamoring to buy my books, because my publisher has a sales force to work on my behalf, a publicist to assist me in getting the word out, a great art department to give me amazing covers, and an editorial department that worked hand in hand with me to create the best book possible.

But, and here's the drawback, even with a royalty of 20%, which is pretty good in this market, I get less than a dollar for every book sold. So I HAVE to sell 30,000 books to make a halfway decent wage; if you think $30,000 per year is a decent wage in today's market.

On the other hand, if was a speaker with an extensive speaking schedule and reached thousands of potential book buyers per year or if I owned a chain of bookstores, or if I were a famous person from something I'd accomplished in life, I could choose to self publish. Since my husband is president/CEO of one of the largest Christian book manufacturing companies in the nation I have a general idea of what it costs to produce a 320 page paperback book. His company has a division that helps authors and ministries self publish their books; they work through the whole process including editing, cover design, everything but distribution and marketing. Going this route I would only need to sell about 3,000 books to make the same amount of money I'd make with a traditional publisher, plus since I haven't sold the rights to my work I could still sell it to a traditional publisher if it looked like I might break out.

More later,
Traci