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This article is seriously out of date. Yes I have made significant changes that reflect the significant changes in publishing in the past 2 years. My apologies to the original author but I understand accuracy and currency as being pivotal tenets.
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'''Self-publishing''' is the publication of any book or other media by the author of the work, without the involvement of an established third-party publisher. It is generally entirely done at the expense of the author.
'''Self-publishing''' is the publication of any book or other media by the author of the work, without the involvement of an established third-party publisher. The author is responsible and in control of entire process including design (cover/interior), formats, price, distribution, marketing & PR. The author can do it all themselves or outsource all or part of the process to companies that offer these services such as Lulu, iUniverse, CreateSpace and a multitude of others.


In 2008, for the first time in history, more books were self-published than those published traditionally. In 2009, 76% of all books released were self-published, while publishing houses reduced the number of books they produced.
Although it represents a small percentage of the publishing industry in terms of sales, it has been present in one form or another since the beginning of publishing. In earlier centuries, most publications were self-published, because they were written, printed, and sold by the owner of the printing press.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|title=Publishing|url=http://www.archive.org/stream/encyclopaediabri22chisrich#page/628/mode/1up|page=628}}</ref>


Technological advances have enabled this growth:
Over time, the roles of author and publisher separated until the self-publication of books was considered unusual. In recent years, self-publishing has increased with the increase in digital publishing technology, including [[xerography]], [[desktop publishing]] systems, [[print on demand]], and the [[World Wide Web]]. Cultural phenomena such as the [[DIY punk ethic|punk/DIY]] movement, the proliferation of media channels, and [[blogging]] have contributed to the advancement of self-publishing. Within the [[music industry]], self-publishing recorded music is called '''self-releasing'''.
* [[Print-On-Demand]] technology which can produce a quality product equal to those produced by traditional publishers – in the past, you could easily identify a self-published title because of its quality.
* [[Online retailing]] where dominant players like Amazon.com have enticed readers away from bookstores into an online environment.
* Technological advances with [[ereaders]] and [[tablets]] that enhance readability and allow readers to 'carry' numerous books in a concise, portable product.

The stigma of self-publishing is fast eroding with many best-selling authors choosing to self-publish their work, for example, J.K. Rowling will sell the e-book versions of the [[Harry Potter]] series directly from her new website, [[Pottermore]]. The estates of [[Ian Fleming]], [[Barbara Cartland]] and [[Catherine Cookson]] are also publishing their authors' printed work as [[e-books]] and selling directly to public.


== Business aspects ==
== Business aspects ==


The key distinguishing characteristic of self-publishing is that the author has decided to publish their work independent of a publishing house. Long gone are the days when self-published authors had to spend considerable amounts of money preparing a book for publication, and to purchase bulk copies of their title and find a place to store them. [[Print-On-Demand]] technology means the author, via numerous, accessible global distribution channels like [[Amazon.com]], can have a book printed only when an order has been placed and it is available for purchase world-wide.
The key distinguishing characteristic of self-publishing is the absence of a traditional publisher. Instead, the creator or creators fulfill this role, taking editorial control of the content, arranging for printing, marketing the material, and often distributing it, either directly to consumers or to retailers. Less often, the author prints the material, usually using a [[xerography|xerographic]] process or a [[computer printer]]. In some cases, books are [[print on demand|printed on demand]] with no [[inventory]] kept. This places the bulk of the financial risk for the venture on the creators, with many self-publishers ultimately [[subsidy|subsidizing]] it rather than making money from it.<ref name="SE1">{{cite web|last=Vann |first=Meg |title=Rounding home … |url=http://blog.awmonline.com.au/2009/06/10/rounding-home/ |work=Books and Publishing, Self-Publishing |publisher=Speakeasy Australian Writers Marketplace |location=Queensland, Au |date=2009-06-10 }}</ref>


== Types of self-publishing ==
== Types of self-publishing ==
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{{Main|Vanity press}}
{{Main|Vanity press}}
The term 'vanity publishing' is mostly obsolete today as a company contracting with an author to assist with the production of a book is considered 'self-publishing', not vanity publishing. The author may engage a company that offers services - usually designed as publishing packages including editing, marketing, design etc - and outsource all or part of the process to these companies.
Vanity publishing is generally a pejorative term, referring to a publisher contracting with authors regardless of the quality and marketability of their work. They appeal to the writer's vanity and desire to become a published author, and make the majority of their money from fees rather than from sales. Vanity presses may call themselves [[joint venture]] or [[subsidy]] presses, but generally the author pays all of the cost of publication and undertakes all of the risk.


There remains however, a small number of companies that refer to themselves as a 'publisher' but only offer to publish an author for a fee - these are 'vanity publishers' and should be distinguished from the above companies that offer services to the independent author and do not pretend to be a publisher. These companies make the majority of their income from the fees paid by the author and not from sales as would be the case with traditional publishers. These companies are also known as [joint venture]] or [[subsidy]] presses.
In his guide ''How to Publish Yourself'' author [[Peter Finch (poet)|Peter Finch]] says that such presses are "to be avoided at all costs". Because there is no independent entity making a judgment about their quality, and because many of them are published at a loss, vanity press works are often perceived as deserving skepticism from distributors, retailers, or readers. Some writers knowingly and willingly enter into such deals, placing more importance on getting their work published than on profiting from it.


=== Subsidy publishers ===


== Marketing & Promotion ==
A subsidy publisher distributes books under its own imprint, and is therefore selective in deciding which books to publish. Subsidy publishers, like vanity publishers, take payment from the author to print and bind a book, but contribute a portion of the cost as well as adjunct services such as editing, distribution, warehousing, and some degree of marketing.<ref name=wbw/> Often, the adjunct services provided are minimal. As with commercial publishers, the books are owned by the publisher and remain in the publisher's possession, with authors receiving royalties for any copies that are sold. Most subsidy publishers also keep a portion of the rights from any book that they publish. Generally, authors have little control over production aspects such as cover design.<ref>[http://www.writing-world.com/publish/subsidy.shtml Subsidy Publishing vs. Self-Publishing: What's the Difference?<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


In today's publishing environment, all authors, whether published traditionally or independently, must undertake the marketing and promotion of their book. This includes social networking, blogging, having a website etc. It may also include virtual book tours or blog tours, book signings, book award programs. There are numerous companies today offering a range of promotional services for every budget with varying programs for different genres etc.
=== Self-publish outsourcing ===


While bookstores remain the primary domain of traditional publishers, online retailers such as Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords etc, cater to the self-published author making it easy to upload books, to have them printed on demand, and distributed globally.
Self-publishing means authors undertake the entire cost of publication themselves and handle all editing, layout, formatting, registration, ISBN, art, photography, printing, marketing, distribution, storage, etc. If an author is willing to contract for printing, all rights remain with the author, the completed books are the writer's property, and the writer receives all the proceeds of sales. Such authors put every aspect of the process out to bid rather than accept a preset package of services.<ref name=wbw>Writerbeware.org</ref> As with most other variations of self-publishing, authors cannot qualify for professional status with organisations like the [[Mystery Writers of America|MWA]], [[Romance Writers of America|RWA]], and [[Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America|SFWA]].


Given the ongoing demise of bricks-and-mortar bookstores with the closure of major chains like Borders, Angus & Robertson, Hughes & Hughes and others, it is predicted that within three years, 75% of books will be sold online (50% as ebooks and 25% as printed books). Only 25% of books will be sold in physical bookstores (down from 75% today).
=== Micropublishing ===


{{Main|Micropublishing}}


== Advantages of self-publishing ==
'''Micropublishing''' is when an individual or group use efficient publishing and [[Content distribution|distribution]] techniques to publish a work intended for a specific [[micromarket]]. Typically, conventional publishers do not consider these works because of their low [[economy of scale]] and [[mass appeal]] and the difficulties that would arise in their [[marketing]]. To make micropublishing more economical, the works are often created, sold, printed, or distributed in eBook formats online by a micropublishing companies.
* Time to market: author's book can be ready for the market in a matter of weeks compared to years with the traditional publishing process. Before an author can approach a publishing house they will need an agent, and this process alone can take months or years. Publishers will then take a further 18-24 months before the title is available.
* Opportunities not missed: If an author has written something that is currently popular, it will still be popular in a matter of weeks (the time it takes to self-publish) but may not be so in a couple of years (when it would reach the bookshelves). This may partially explain why 70-80% of traditionally-published authors fail to earn out their advance.
* Control: the author makes all the decisions regarding the content and design of their book. When an author signs with a publisher, the publisher is in control and is free to make any changes. This may result in elements of the story being changed in a way that is not desirable to the author, and in extreme circumstances, a publisher might make decisions that cause controversy and distress for an author, in particular decisions on the cover.
* Rights: the author retains all rights including foreign-language rights, e-book rights, movie rights, television rights etc.
* Income: authors earn higher royalties per book — 30-70% of the retail price compared to 5-25% for traditionally published authors who will also have to pay an agent 10-20% commission on all sales.
* Payment: publishers tally royalties once or twice a year, whereas authors will receive a monthly cheque for sales made from Amazon.com, The Kindle Store, B&Nm Smashwords etc. The author will also receive weekly sales reports from Amazon.com.
* No Backlist: A publisher can backlist an author's title if sales are inadequate, which means the author's book is no longer available for purchase. The average life span of a book printed by a traditional publisher is approximately 18 months which is not sufficient time, for a debut author particularly, to build a platform and garner a fan base. The life span of a self-published book is indefinite.
* ISBN: Authors can obtain an [[ISBN]], which is an industry standard number that identifies each book and its various formats, easily and for minimum cost. An ISBN is not essential for an e-book, but it is desirable.
* Outsourcing: There are numerous companies today offering a range of services for self-published authors with packages to suit any budget. These packages can include editing, marketing, promotional materials, press releases, video book trailers etc.
* POD: self-published authors no longer have to order large quantities of their book and find a place to store them. Print-on-demand technology means a book will be produced whenever someone buys it, and the quality of the end product is equal to that of a publishing house.


==Disadvantages of self-publishing==
=== Print on Demand (POD) ===


* Cost of creation: The author is responsible for the cost of creating their book. This can be expensive when outsourcing aspects of it including editing and design, or when purchasing a publishing package. The cost of creating an ebook however is minimal at best, and zero if the author creates their own cover.
{{Main|Print on demand}}
* Cost of printing: When an author lists their title with online retailers, the retailer will print a book as and when a reader buys it. This means printing one book at a time, which is more costly than printing thousands of copies at once as a publishing house would do. For example, a 250-page novel would cost approximately US$3.85 per book to print and this is deducted from the retail price along with other production costs to leave the author with their net profit per book. The advantage is that the author controls the price and their profit margin. Care must be taken not to over price a book compared to other titles in the market.
* Physical bookstores: not generally accessible for independent authors, and authors need to offer industry standard terms and conditions, for example, the ability to return unsold books at the author's expense, discount on the [[Recommended Retail Price]] (RRP)(approx 40%) and 90-day payment terms. A distributor will require 10-15% of the RRP. It is therefore significantly more viable to sell books in the online market.
* Marketing/Promotion: The author is responsible for marketing and promoting their book, however this now works both ways—authors published via a publishing house are also expected to promote themselves and their books with blogging and social networking, and very few traditionally published authors receive marketing financial support from their publisher.
* Author advance: This used to be a major negative, but is much less so now with advances to debut authors likely to be US$1,000 to $5,000, and it is only an advance on future sales.


==Self-published best-sellers==
Short run printing is also called Print-on-demand (POD) or Print Quantity Needed (PQN). Many major publishers use POD printing to produce small quantities of older ([[backlist]]) titles, to produce [[galleys]] (mockup versions of soon-to-be-released books sent out to book reviewers and sales reps). Some innovative publishers are now using this technology to print initial orders for a new book until marketplace demand can be ascertained and an [[offset]] print run can be more efficiently sized. Aside from the use of print-on-demand technology by both mainstream publishers and [[small press]]es, some companies have used the techology to create [[subsidy publishers]] and [[vanity press]] operations—these latter groups are often referred to as ''POD publishers''.


POD publishers generally do not screen submissions prior to publication, and many are web-based. They accept uploaded digital content as Microsoft Word documents, text files, HTML or RTF files, as printing services for anyone who is willing to pay.<ref name=wbw/> Authors choose from a selection of packages, or design a unique printing package that meets their requirements. For an additional cost, a POD publisher may offer services such as book jacket design with professional art direction; content, line, and copy-editing; indexing; proofreading; and marketing and publicity. Some POD publishers offer publication as e-books in addition to hardcover and paperback. Some POD publishers will offer [[ISBN]] (International Standard Book Numbers) service, which allows a title to be searchable and listed for sale on websites.

Many critics dismiss POD as another type of vanity press. One major difference is that POD publishers have a connection to retail outlets like Amazon and Books in Print that vanity presses generally do not.<ref>Haugland, Ann. "Opening the Gates: Print On-Demand Publishing as Cultural Production." Publishing Research Quarterly 22.3 (Fall 2006): 3-16.</ref>

== Printing and production quality ==

Beyond the quality of writing, editing, and layout lies the quality of the physical product, the book. Books can be judged by print technique, print quality, paper quality, covers, binding, standard book sizes, and distribution.

Many self-published books utilize printing and [[bookbinding]] techniques that are chosen for their suitability for short press runs. They may be printed with a [[xerographic]] process rather than [[offset printing]]. In many cases, the covers might be designed by the author, or the author may hire a [[graphic designer]], or a standard template may be used. Recently, the majority of the self- and subsidy-published books have been [[perfect bound]], although some are hardbound, and some are still saddle-stitched (large metal staples in the fold), comb, or coil bound. Technology has enabled high-quality short-run print jobs to become less expensive, but they are still more expensive per copy.

Because early professional-quality typesetting suites (such as [[LaTeX]]), are available as [[free software]], the typesetting may approach that of traditionally published work, but still falls short of professional Postscript layout using [[Adobe InDesign]], [[Quark Xpress]], and [[RagTime (computer program)|RagTime]]. Layout tools require technical skill, and many self-published works are formatted using a [[word processor]], which can give less appealing results by comparison. The development of relatively low-cost [[desktop publishing]] software has made more powerful tools available to authors.

Very short run, usually xerographic, printing techniques have improved for black and white, non-halftone jobs, but fall short of off-set quality, and visible differences for more complicated work are more obvious. Authors using lower-cost short-run techniques are often focused on content rather than appearance. Some may wish to avoid a polished appearance for reasons that have little to do with cost, such as maintaining an [[anti-establishment]] aesthetic.

Authors who plan to distribute their books through mainstream distributors and bookstores often strive for an overall appearance similar to that from major publishing houses. One of the issues can be standard book sizes. Presses catering to self-publishing may or may not produce, say, paperbacks in an industry standard size. However, as an extra step, such books can be trimmed to size.

Another caveat are returns or '[[remainders]]'. Self-publishers seldom allow for returns through standard [[distribution channel]]s such as [[Ingram]], adding an unforeseen cost of doing business.

Often self-publishers approach these issues using a larger press run, usually offset, hoping larger sales will compensate the cost of professional design, editorial work, and production. Many successful self-publishers such as speakers on a lecture circuit avoid traditional retail outlets, and market directly to their target audience.

== Obstacles ==

Promotion and marketing of self-published books are critical. Authors must undertake book publicity which means developing lists of editors and book reviewers within various media, as well as looking for ways to get coverage "off the book page".

There are several other difficulties faced by self-publishers. Bookstores cannot afford to deal with tens of thousands of authors, or the tiny publishing companies they create to publish their own works. Retail stores tend to buy from the larger publishers, distributors, and wholesalers. But even these aggregators cannot deal with the recent flood of self-publishers. The competition to get into bookstores is extreme. Terms of trade, discounts, and return privileges (especially [[remainders]]) can be financially onerous.

Self-published books do not necessarily reveal their origin to the consumer. Many authors create a business or corporation for the purpose of hiding the self-published nature of the book. Subsidy press and vanity press books can be identified via the [[imprint]] or via the ISBN database ''if'' the press is the [[publisher of record]]. Subsidy published books may face additional obstacles on the way to the bookstore shelf beyond those discussed here.

== Motives for self-publishing ==

Authors may have many different reasons to self publish. These could range from not being accepted by traditional publishing companies to desiring full control and artistic freedom:

* Author cannot get published by traditional publishers for one or more reasons<ref name="CB1" />
** Author is unknown
** Topic is obscure
** Topic is controversial
** Topic is only of interest to a small geographic area or a small group of people
** Writing, style, or genre was rejected

* Author desires complete artistic freedom<ref name="CB1" />
** Author does not agree with editorial changes a publisher would make
** Author wants complete control over the book's outcome, database, sales and customers
** Overall low publishing cost
** Author would prefer to publish content independently

* Author publishes for primary or full copyright protection<ref name="CB1" />
** Sometimes for the authors it is necessary to protect a copyright for their books before doing other procedures with publishing and distribution

* Author desires to distribute his/her book among certain group of people (like students) to be available also on-line<ref name="CB1" />
** Sometimes there is a necessity for the book to be available online 24/7 for a certain group of students. For instance, some universities have a rich book collection available online, and it also can correlate with a purpose for copyright and IP protection (for instance, NY university: http://pages.stern.nyu.edu/~adamodar/).

Authors may choose to self-publish because they want control, because they want access to their customer list, or because they love the business of publishing. When working with a publisher, an author gives up a degree of editorial control, and sometimes has little input into the design of the book, its distribution, and its marketing. This has been a substantial motivator in the rise of [[comic book]] self-publishing. In the late 1970s, creators such as [[Dave Sim]] and [[Wendy and Richard Pini]] chose—in spite of offers from publishers—to self-publish because they wanted to retain full ownership and control, and they believed they could do the job more effectively than a publisher. This was facilitated by the development of comic book specialty shops, and the distribution network that serves them, which is more open to small-publisher and self-published material than traditional bookstores have been. Numerous cartoonists have followed their example, and by the late 1990s the majority of comics in terms of titles were self-published. They remain a small percentage of overall sales, however, with sales of a given book often falling short of 1000 copies. A similar movement took place in the music industry during the same period, coming largely out of the [[punk rock]] phenomenon.

Authors in a specialist area may be confident of a certain number of sales but also realize that the maximum number of sales is limited, and wish to maximize their earnings. In this situation, authors may risk a significant amount of their own capital to self-publish. This avoids a publisher taking any part of the proceeds and, if also self-distributed, avoids distribution fees as well. The payoff is a much larger percentage of the sale price being returned as profit. For example, [[Michelle Ferguson-Cohen]] wrote and self-published children's books about parents being deployed in the overseas military, directing her writing at a limited but at the time unserved audience.

===Self-publishing examples===

While fiction remains a poor subject for self-publishing (industry sources report authors sell a ''median'' of six books while others suggest sales ''averages'' approach 150), several subjects can be successfully produced:<ref name="CB1">{{cite web| last= Lundin|first=Leigh |title=Crossfire of the Vanities |url=http://www.criminalbrief.com/?p=6990 |work=Self-Publishing |publisher=Criminal Brief |location=New York |date=2009-05-03 |quote=Vanity publishing is like T-ball: Everyone gets a chance at bat, gets a hit, and takes home a trophy. But don’t expect anyone other than your mom to applaud.}}</ref>

* yearbooks
* how-to manuals
* technical guides
* family histories
* small town guides
* religious tracts
* political treatises
* limited audience novels
* books fallen out of print
* book examples and prototypes

In recent years, [[television writer]] and [[Television producer|producer]] [[J. Michael Straczynski]] has self-published a successful series of books containing his scripts for [[Babylon 5]], his most famous television creation.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2006-06-04-print-on-demand_x.htm "B5' script sales: Future of publishing?"], [[USA Today]], May 6, 2006.</ref>

Business professor [[Philip M. Parker]] has patented a method to automatically produce a set of similar books from a template that is then filled with data from database and internet searches. He self-publishes these books and prints them on demand. In January 2008, he was listed as the author of 85,000 books at [[Amazon.com]].<ref>Marc Abrahams. [http://education.guardian.co.uk/egweekly/story/0,,2248179,00.html Speed Writing], ''The Guardian'', 29 January 2008.</ref><ref name=abrahams2>Marc Abrahams. [http://education.guardian.co.uk/egweekly/story/0,,2252153,00.html Automatic Writing], ''The Guardian'', 5 February 2008.</ref>

== John Milton on self-publishing ==

The first{{Citation needed|date=April 2008}} systematic defense of one’s right to publish, John Milton’s self-published<ref>”Milton, a Biography” by William Parker, Oxford University Press, 1968, page 273: contrary to the publishing law, ''Areopagitica'' was unlicensed, unregistered and had no printer’s or publisher’s name</ref> ''[[Areopagitica]]'' of 1644, identified three areas of tension — political, business, and academic — that render self-publishing highly controversial.

Survival of an ideology-based state hinges on its tight control of ideas, which is impossible to bring about if self-publishing is allowed: “it is of greatest concernment in the Church and Commonwealth, to have a vigilant eye how books demean themselves as well as men … I know they are as lively, and as vigorously productive, as those fabulous Dragons teeth; and being sown up and down, may chance to spring up armed men.”

Business-wise, a viable option of self-publishing undermines the entire business model used by publishers, “publicans that have the tunaging and the poundaging (i.e., taxing) of all free spoken truth,” in which publisher wedges himself between the author and the public, and uses his position as marketplace’s gatekeeper to take most of the profits generated by sales of a book.

And finally, self-publishing flies in the face of the notion of professionalism, which acknowledges only the credentialed authorities in a given subject-matter as permissible contributors to the public debate and public instruction. As to the non-professionals, “What need they torture their heads with that which others have taken so strictly, and so unalterably into their own purveying”?

==Self-published best-sellers==
{{Ref improve section|date=May 2008}}
{{Ref improve section|date=May 2008}}
Self-published works that find large audiences are extremely rare, and are usually the result of self-promotion. However, many works now considered classic were originally self-published, including the original writings of [[William Blake]], [[Virginia Woolf]], [[Walt Whitman]], [[William Morris]], and [[James Joyce]].
Self-published works that find large audiences are extremely rare, and are usually the result of self-promotion. However, many works now considered classic were originally self-published, including the original writings of [[William Blake]], [[Virginia Woolf]], [[Walt Whitman]], [[William Morris]], and [[James Joyce]].

Revision as of 10:16, 31 October 2011

Self-publishing is the publication of any book or other media by the author of the work, without the involvement of an established third-party publisher. The author is responsible and in control of entire process including design (cover/interior), formats, price, distribution, marketing & PR. The author can do it all themselves or outsource all or part of the process to companies that offer these services such as Lulu, iUniverse, CreateSpace and a multitude of others.

In 2008, for the first time in history, more books were self-published than those published traditionally. In 2009, 76% of all books released were self-published, while publishing houses reduced the number of books they produced.

Technological advances have enabled this growth:

  • Print-On-Demand technology which can produce a quality product equal to those produced by traditional publishers – in the past, you could easily identify a self-published title because of its quality.
  • Online retailing where dominant players like Amazon.com have enticed readers away from bookstores into an online environment.
  • Technological advances with ereaders and tablets that enhance readability and allow readers to 'carry' numerous books in a concise, portable product.

The stigma of self-publishing is fast eroding with many best-selling authors choosing to self-publish their work, for example, J.K. Rowling will sell the e-book versions of the Harry Potter series directly from her new website, Pottermore. The estates of Ian Fleming, Barbara Cartland and Catherine Cookson are also publishing their authors' printed work as e-books and selling directly to public.

Business aspects

The key distinguishing characteristic of self-publishing is that the author has decided to publish their work independent of a publishing house. Long gone are the days when self-published authors had to spend considerable amounts of money preparing a book for publication, and to purchase bulk copies of their title and find a place to store them. Print-On-Demand technology means the author, via numerous, accessible global distribution channels like Amazon.com, can have a book printed only when an order has been placed and it is available for purchase world-wide.

Types of self-publishing

Vanity publishing

Main article: Vanity press

The term 'vanity publishing' is mostly obsolete today as a company contracting with an author to assist with the production of a book is considered 'self-publishing', not vanity publishing. The author may engage a company that offers services - usually designed as publishing packages including editing, marketing, design etc - and outsource all or part of the process to these companies.

There remains however, a small number of companies that refer to themselves as a 'publisher' but only offer to publish an author for a fee - these are 'vanity publishers' and should be distinguished from the above companies that offer services to the independent author and do not pretend to be a publisher. These companies make the majority of their income from the fees paid by the author and not from sales as would be the case with traditional publishers. These companies are also known as [joint venture]] or subsidy presses.


Marketing & Promotion

In today's publishing environment, all authors, whether published traditionally or independently, must undertake the marketing and promotion of their book. This includes social networking, blogging, having a website etc. It may also include virtual book tours or blog tours, book signings, book award programs. There are numerous companies today offering a range of promotional services for every budget with varying programs for different genres etc.

While bookstores remain the primary domain of traditional publishers, online retailers such as Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords etc, cater to the self-published author making it easy to upload books, to have them printed on demand, and distributed globally.

Given the ongoing demise of bricks-and-mortar bookstores with the closure of major chains like Borders, Angus & Robertson, Hughes & Hughes and others, it is predicted that within three years, 75% of books will be sold online (50% as ebooks and 25% as printed books). Only 25% of books will be sold in physical bookstores (down from 75% today).


Advantages of self-publishing

  • Time to market: author's book can be ready for the market in a matter of weeks compared to years with the traditional publishing process. Before an author can approach a publishing house they will need an agent, and this process alone can take months or years. Publishers will then take a further 18-24 months before the title is available.
  • Opportunities not missed: If an author has written something that is currently popular, it will still be popular in a matter of weeks (the time it takes to self-publish) but may not be so in a couple of years (when it would reach the bookshelves). This may partially explain why 70-80% of traditionally-published authors fail to earn out their advance.
  • Control: the author makes all the decisions regarding the content and design of their book. When an author signs with a publisher, the publisher is in control and is free to make any changes. This may result in elements of the story being changed in a way that is not desirable to the author, and in extreme circumstances, a publisher might make decisions that cause controversy and distress for an author, in particular decisions on the cover.
  • Rights: the author retains all rights including foreign-language rights, e-book rights, movie rights, television rights etc.
  • Income: authors earn higher royalties per book — 30-70% of the retail price compared to 5-25% for traditionally published authors who will also have to pay an agent 10-20% commission on all sales.
  • Payment: publishers tally royalties once or twice a year, whereas authors will receive a monthly cheque for sales made from Amazon.com, The Kindle Store, B&Nm Smashwords etc. The author will also receive weekly sales reports from Amazon.com.
  • No Backlist: A publisher can backlist an author's title if sales are inadequate, which means the author's book is no longer available for purchase. The average life span of a book printed by a traditional publisher is approximately 18 months which is not sufficient time, for a debut author particularly, to build a platform and garner a fan base. The life span of a self-published book is indefinite.
  • ISBN: Authors can obtain an ISBN, which is an industry standard number that identifies each book and its various formats, easily and for minimum cost. An ISBN is not essential for an e-book, but it is desirable.
  • Outsourcing: There are numerous companies today offering a range of services for self-published authors with packages to suit any budget. These packages can include editing, marketing, promotional materials, press releases, video book trailers etc.
  • POD: self-published authors no longer have to order large quantities of their book and find a place to store them. Print-on-demand technology means a book will be produced whenever someone buys it, and the quality of the end product is equal to that of a publishing house.

Disadvantages of self-publishing

  • Cost of creation: The author is responsible for the cost of creating their book. This can be expensive when outsourcing aspects of it including editing and design, or when purchasing a publishing package. The cost of creating an ebook however is minimal at best, and zero if the author creates their own cover.
  • Cost of printing: When an author lists their title with online retailers, the retailer will print a book as and when a reader buys it. This means printing one book at a time, which is more costly than printing thousands of copies at once as a publishing house would do. For example, a 250-page novel would cost approximately US$3.85 per book to print and this is deducted from the retail price along with other production costs to leave the author with their net profit per book. The advantage is that the author controls the price and their profit margin. Care must be taken not to over price a book compared to other titles in the market.
  • Physical bookstores: not generally accessible for independent authors, and authors need to offer industry standard terms and conditions, for example, the ability to return unsold books at the author's expense, discount on the Recommended Retail Price (RRP)(approx 40%) and 90-day payment terms. A distributor will require 10-15% of the RRP. It is therefore significantly more viable to sell books in the online market.
  • Marketing/Promotion: The author is responsible for marketing and promoting their book, however this now works both ways—authors published via a publishing house are also expected to promote themselves and their books with blogging and social networking, and very few traditionally published authors receive marketing financial support from their publisher.
  • Author advance: This used to be a major negative, but is much less so now with advances to debut authors likely to be US$1,000 to $5,000, and it is only an advance on future sales.

Self-published best-sellers

Self-published works that find large audiences are extremely rare, and are usually the result of self-promotion. However, many works now considered classic were originally self-published, including the original writings of William Blake, Virginia Woolf, Walt Whitman, William Morris, and James Joyce.

Title Author Notes
What Color is Your Parachute? Bolles, Richard Nelson
Chicken Soup for the Soul Canfield, Jack and Hansen, Mark Victor
Golden Handcuffs Courtney, Polly [1]


The Christmas Box Evans, Richard Paul
Spartacus Fast, Howard During the McCarthy era when he was rejected by previous large scale publishers
Invisible Life Harris, E. Lynn
Eragon Paolini, Christopher [2] (The book was later published by Knopf)
In Search of Excellence Peters, Tom
Elfquest Pini, Wendy and Richard [3]
The Celestine Prophecy Redfield, James
Contest Reilly, Matthew
The Joy of Cooking Rombauer, Irma S.
No Time for Work Ryan, George [4]
A Choice, Not An Echo Schlafly, Phyllis [5]
Shadowmancer Taylor, G. P. Later published by Faber & Faber
The Visual Display of Quantitative Information Tufte, Edward
Poems in Prose Wilde, Oscar

Other well-known self-publishers include: Stephen Crane, E. E. Cummings, Deepak Chopra, Benjamin Franklin, Zane Grey, Pat Ingoldsby, Rudyard Kipling, D. H. Lawrence, Thomas Paine, Edgar Allan Poe, Ezra Pound, Carl Sandburg, George Bernard Shaw, Upton Sinclair, Gertrude Stein, Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman and Mark Twain.

Self-publishing in music and in other media

See also: Release (music)

Musical performers often self-publish, or "self-release" their recordings without having access to record label resources. While some acts who enjoy local or small scale popularity have started their own labels in order to release their music through stores, others simply sell the music directly to customers, for example, making it available to those at their live concerts. In the years since the Internet became prominent as a medium for publicizing and distributing music, many musical acts have sold their recordings directly over the Internet without a label, either through their own websites or from third party websites. In some cases the sale takes the form of a physical CD or LP that is shipped to customers, while more sales today are beginning to take the form of downloads. Several musicians who first found prominence recording for record labels have recently attracted wide attention for self-releasing records online, among them Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails and Brian Eno.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Brown, Helen (2010-01-08). "Unleash your inner novelist". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved September 16, 2011. Polly Courtney [...] made money self-publishing her novel, Golden Handcuffs, in 2006. [...] Courtney now has a three-book deal with HarperCollins [...]
  2. ^ Saichek, Wiley (September 2003). "Christopher Paolini interview". Teenreads.com. Retrieved 2009-01-31.
  3. ^ Elfquest.com
  4. ^ [1]
  5. ^ Lane, Frederick S. (2006). The Decency Wars: The Campaign to Cleanse American Culture. Amherst, New York: Prometheus Books. p. 99. ISBN 1591024277.
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