This intriguing page-turner was written by Ken Langwell and published by Graham Publishing Group
If you are going to self-publish, do it because it is in your best interest, not because there are no other avenues open to you. Do it because the book you’ve written deserves every ounce of your energy in seeing it into the hands of the reading public.
Those people who criticize self-publishing are the very people who fear it. The stigma that mainstream publishing has tried to cast of self-publishing no longer exists. For one thing, mainstream publishers are now keenly aware of self-published books that are selling well, and very often target those books as potential partners.
Self-publishing no longer suggests a poorly written book. It no longer suggests a place where less talented authors go with their material. On the contrary. Many of the very best books on the market are self-published by men and women who are not only talented writers but savvy business people. You can make more money. You can control your own marketing. You can choose your own book cover. You can decide what is in your best interest. You can reach thousands of readers without the need for a contract with a mainstream publisher who may only see you as a number.
Your goal is to be read. Your goal is to share what you’ve written. Readers don’t distinguish between self-published books, small press releases, or mainstream offerings. They are looking for fabulous stories with memorable characters. Ask anyone who has ever read the likes Hugh Howey and Colleen Hoover. Ask anyone who read The Martian. I would never discourage a writer from submitting his or her book to literary agents or mainstream publishers. If it fits what you’re after, go for it. On the other hand, know what’s best for you. And if the answer is submitting your work to a small press or publishing your books yourself, go for it. Treat it like a business. Treat it with the same respect you do for your writing. Explore all of your options and be proud of the road you choose to go down.