To Self Publish�Or Not

by Roland Cavanaugh - Date: 2007-04-02 - Word Count: 519 Share This!

Someone once said to me, "Just because you do not go the traditional route to publish your book does not mean that what you have to say is not worth reading." There is a lot of truth in that statement.

Having chosen the route of self-publishing, I have learned some things along the way. This is the first article on things to consider if you are thinking of going it on your own.

What is your goal? For most of us, our dream may be to simply get the message out that we have poured our lives into producing-regardless of how. If that is your goal, then self-publishing may be an ideal way to go about it. Consider the following when making this decision:

Is your book mainly for your family and a few close friends? If so, then it may make more sense to take the matter into your own hands. While we all would like to think that we have the next bestseller, the truth is that those who reach that status are an extremely small part of those who publish a book, whether through traditional means or through self-publishing. But also realize that even if you choose to self publish, you have still done something that very few people will ever do. Many people dream of writing a book, but few do it. Fewer still ever get published, traditionally-or otherwise.

What is your time frame? If you are fortunate enough to get an agent, and then a contract with a traditional publisher, you must be patient after the contract is signed. Most publishers will take from one to two years before the final product actually reaches the public. If you have that time, then go for it. However, if you want your work out there in the shortest amount of time, some self-publishing companies (even PODs or Print on Demand) can turn out the finished product in a few short months.

How much money do you have to put into the project? If you are able to get a traditional publishing house to produce your book, this is not an issue-they pay you. But if you self publish, check the various publishing sites on the internet and determine which one seems to fit the bill. Paying more money does not necessarily mean a better product. Google the publishing company and look for blogs or sites that also list the negatives about each company. Almost every company will have some drawbacks.

What type of genre are you publishing? For Christian books, there are multiple sites to explore. For general publishing, the list gets even longer. It may help to go with a publisher who only publishes books in your genre, but then again, it may not matter.

How much promotion are you willing to do? How much will you pay for it? Again, it comes down to how much time and other resources you want to put into the project. It also helps to know that even a traditionally published book requires a lot of foot work by the author. Remember, while the publisher may help, you are the one who sells the books.

Related Tags: writing, book, write, writer, publishing, publish, self publishing, pod, print on demand

Roland Cavanaugh is on staff at a large church serving as the Pastor of Congregational Care and Sr. Adults. He has self-published a book about his late father, "For As Long As I Can." You can find ordering information at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1597816515/ref=cm_plog_item_link/102-2861005-6918529?

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