Self publishing vs. Traditional

[Crystal Kelly]

From experience what are the advantages of self publishing vs. Traditional publishing and would love to hear personal success stories

[Crystal Kelly]

Wow thanks so much a lot to consider. Your comment definitely made a large impact on my decision. Thanks so much :)

[Meredith Ann Rutter]

My experience has been more in publishing than in writing. I left publishing in 2009 and have been working on my writing since then. In 2011 I self-published a family memoir (http://yoursinbooks.com/book-the-cleveland-rutters), choosing that route because the book truly was directed to family and a few close friends. Even though it was highly recommended by the Midwest Book Review, the book's main audience will be my family. I used Lulu.com, and think that's going to work fine for my purposes. When it comes to the novel I'm writing, however, I want the quality and the push that can be provided by an established publisher. At least, I'm going to start with going after that. It's easy to get lost in marketing, and even though I'll need to provide marketing activity either way, I'd rather have someone else providing the direction for it. It's a way of keeping myself focused on writing the next book even as I'll need to do blog tours, etc.

[Christine Amsden]

You do make a good point. There are certain books with a narrow focus or limited audience that would be best self-published. This includes family histories, but may also include books on unique hobbies or the like.

[Crystal Kelly]

Thank you so much for your insight. It seems the best way from all the advice I've gotten is definitely traditional as being a first time author putting out a novel. Thanks!!!

[Kathryn]

I love the creative control that I get with self-publishing, but simply do not have the same money or resources to market my novel as a traditional publisher. It's like to get one, you have to sacrifice the other. Sigh.

[jeff ashcroft]

but the achievement of writing and self publishing! You can hold your head up high ans tell others "I'm a writer"

[Paula McBride]

I had my first royalty payment from overseas today!
It came as a cheque and I had to physically put it in the bank, which made it feel all the more real!
My UK payments just go straight in, and that's okay, but this felt good.
I cannot believe I've got six ebooks published now.
In January I sold hundreds, so if there's anyone out there who is umming and arring over getting their own ebooks published, I'd say go-for-it. What have you got to lose?
Mine have been on Amazon for around 4 months and it's relatively easy to put them on.

Good luck
Paula
www.tothewillowgarden.co.uk

[jeff ashcroft]

good luck keep on writing! I've only been on Amazon for a month and sold just udner 500. Not a huge amount but made me feel so good inside!

jeff

[Crystal Kelly]

Thanks for you advice :)

[G. J. Lau]

I went the self-publishing route and don't regret it. Part of my reasoning was the realistic acceptance of the fact that unknown authors are unlikely to catch anyone's attention in the publishing world. More relevant was my own eagerness to get my book "out there." After spending a year writing a novel, I didn't feel like spending another year trying to get an agent or a publisher.

I now have five books, all in e-book format and three in paperback. I've made more than enough to cover my expenses, so it's all good with the chief accountant of the family. More to the point, if I hadn't self-published that first one, I doubt the other four would exist. Seeing people buy that first book gave me the confidence to go ahead and write other books. As I master the technical aspects of self-publishing, I can spend more time developing whatever writing skills I may possess.

Would I like to be published by a regular publisher? Yes ... maybe. As others have noted, you have complete control when you self-publish. This far into it, I'm not sure if I would want to yield that control over my writing to an editor. And I say that having been an editor for 20 years in an earlier life. What's the old joke? Doctors make the worst patients. I suspect the same is true of editors.

Visit my author page at http://www.amazon.com/G.-J.-Lau/e/B004MBK2PG/.

[Crystal Kelly]

Thanks so much I'm heading over to your page now :)

[David M Karder]

I spent nearly a year pitching my MS. In June I submitted to Solstice Publishing, I am used to the many rejections and non-answers. This particular non-answer turned into a contract offer. All I can say is get thick skin and keep on keepin' on. Last weekend the cover art was submitted for my approval, oh, what a feeling. From the Ashes, my first Novel will be coming soon from Solstice publishing.

A guest Author on my blog, Don Porter contributes to this very topic:

The Challenges of Publishing

My blog SlantedK

Have a Great Day, Thank You.