5 Surprising Facts About Self-Publishing

Knowledge is power, as the old proverb goes. Therefore, I think it’s important that you arm yourself with knowledge before going down the self-publishing path. There are more misconceptions about self-publishing than I care to count, some of them quite dangerous, so having the right knowledge is key… I’ve worked in self-publishing since 2009, publishing two of my own bestselling books and helping thousands of others through publishing services and consultations, and it’s been my experience that seasoned authors (including me) tend to agree with these self-publishing facts. Warning: These facts might surprise you!

1. Self-publishing a high-quality book is NOT fast and easy. My definition of “high-quality” is a book that has been revised by the author, professionally edited and designed. MindStir Media offers editing and design services, as do other self-publishing companies. If you want to go the DIY route, you can try to hire freelancers to handle those tasks. Either way, you’ll find that the self-publishing process takes time, effort and money… If you want to self-publish a low-quality book, on the other hand — avoiding revisions, editing and pro book design — then self-publishing might be fast and easy for you.
2. Self-publishing authors (or authors in general) rarely get rich. Most of us have heard the success stories of millionaire self-publishers like Amanda Hocking, but the truth is that most self-published authors enjoy supplemental income from their books and few are able to quit their day jobs. Probably less than 1% actually make six or seven figures. The last is more of an estimate than a fact.
3. Just because your friends and family love your book doesn’t mean it will become a hit. It’s usually not wise to ask for feedback from friends and family because that feedback will most likely be biased. You really need objective, constructive criticism more than anything else if you want to succeed. A professional editor could certainly help you. Writing groups and even a mentor would be a big help.
4. No, “everyone” will not buy your book! As a self-publishing mentor and coach, I usually discuss with my clients “target audience.” Your book needs to have a clear target audience and you need to know as much about that target audience as possible. To say or think that “everyone will want to buy my book” is completely erroneous and unhelpful.
5. There’s more to becoming a bestselling author than simply producing a high-quality book. You must market your book aggressively. Amazon sells more self-published books than anyone else, but there are millions of books available on Amazon. The competition is fierce. Continuous marketing should help your high-quality book stand out and sell.

I certainly don’t want this article to be interpreted as “reasons to avoid self-publishing.” Self-publishing is a wonderful route to publication, but your expectations need to be realistic. My hope is that these truths will help you set realistic expectations….