Should I self-publish my novel?
So you’ve written a novel. Well done you! Very few people have the drive and persistence to finish a full work of fiction.
Now you’re at the crossroads every writer comes to — should you try your luck with traditional publishing or take the reins and self-publish your book?
Having worked with authors who’ve found success in both camps — and some who’ve switched between the two — I know there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. What works brilliantly for one book or writer might not suit another at all.
So in this post, for any authors still on the fence, I talk through the differences between self-publishing and traditional publishing. I also share the highs, the lows, the pros and the cons of self-publishing your work of fiction.
Self-publishing vs traditional publishing: what's the difference?
Before we explore the reasons you should and shouldn’t self-publish, let’s get to grips with what both self-publishing and traditional publishing involve. How do these processes compare?
How does traditional publishing work?
Pre-internet and pre-Amazon, traditional publishing was the only avenue available to aspiring authors. So how does it work?
If you go down the traditional publishing route, you send your finished manuscript, a book synopsis and any other required information to a literary agent, asking if they’d like to represent you. If you sign with an agent, they then pitch your manuscript to publishers on your behalf.
Alternatively, you can send your novel direct to publishers who accept unagented submissions (usually the smaller ones).
If a publisher decides to take you on, they’ll handle the rest of the publishing process: editing, cover design, typesetting, printing, distribution, marketing and PR. In return, you usually get an advance (a lump sum paid up front) and royalties once the book starts making a profit.
How does self-publishing work?
Self-publishing offers you a direct route to readers.
You don’t need to spend time seeking an agent or a book deal. You simply upload your finished book to a self-publishing platform and — in an instant — your book is out there in the world, available to buy and read.
This may sound simple. But the process is actually pretty involved.
Without the backing of a publisher, you have to edit your book — or get a professional book editor to do it for you. Marketing and sales strategy also falls to you.
In return for this graft, you earn a higher percentage per sale when self-publishing vs traditional publishing — even when you factor in publishing platform costs.
Why you should self-publish your novel
Now we’ve covered the basic mechanics of self-publishing vs traditional publishing, let’s start with the positives — all the reasons to go ahead and self-publish your work of fiction.
You maintain full control
When you self-publish your novel you get total control. Every decision is yours.
You can choose your editor, cover designer, title, interior layout, pricing strategy, promotional approach — even whether to run a money-off deal to get copies of your book flying off those virtual shelves.
You can build a direct relationship with readers, creating your own mailing list and maintaining total control over your brand. This can be game-changing when it comes time to launch your next novel.
When working with a traditional publisher, however, your publisher is the one in the driving seat.
They’ll have established ways of marketing books. Their editors may make changes you don’t agree with. They could choose a cover — and even a title — that doesn’t, to your mind, properly represent the book you’ve written.
This can be really tough to bear when you’ve poured your blood, sweat and tears into a manuscript.
The traditional publishing route is often eye-opening — a way to learn from experienced professionals. But self-publication can be liberating. It gives you the final say over the creative and practical processes involved in releasing a new work of fiction.
You get a higher percentage of profits and royalties
Let’s talk money.
Traditional publishers generally offer writers an advance. This can be a tiny fee or a much bigger sum depending on how confident a publisher feels about your book and its sales potential.
Once your book is on sale and its income exceeds your advance payment, you receive royalties. This is a percentage of every copy sold or a percentage of the publisher’s net profits.
You can also earn income when publishers sell the rights of your book to international publishers, audio publishers or film and TV studios.
Sounds good, right? But remember that publishers take a cut of the money your book makes. You also pay commission to your literary agent. So, if you go down the traditional publishing route, you can expect to keep around 10-15% of your book’s sale price.
Self-published authors typically earn more per book because fewer third parties are taking a cut. We’re talking around 60-75% for every book, which can make a huge difference to your bank balance.
That being said, you need to consider the initial outlay associated with self-publication, which we’ll talk more about in a moment.
It’s a quicker process
The traditional publishing process is slow.
It can take years just to secure an agent. Once signed, your book goes through several rounds of edits before going on to submission to publishers, where it can spend months waiting to be read.
Then, even after you’ve signed your book deal, the publisher can take 12 to 18 months to bring the book to market.
We’re talking years. And that’s after you’ve already put a good chunk of your time into writing that novel in the first place.
Self-publishing, in contrast, is incredibly speedy. Once your story is finished, you can have it online and available to buy within a couple of days.
Your novel is niche
Your story may be original and daring and utterly compelling for a cult audience.
But if it’s unusually long, unconventionally structured or defying of all genres, you’re less likely to find a literary agent or publisher who’s willing to take it on.
Publishing pros look for novels that fit into neatly defined genres and have mainstream commercial appeal. There’s less risk involved and the chance of a greater payoff for them if your book becomes a bestseller.
Publishers look at things from a business perspective. But just because your novel doesn’t have mass appeal doesn’t mean there isn’t a readership ready and waiting for a story just like yours.
If your book has been rejected by literary agents or doesn’t seem to align with publisher wish lists, self-publishing is an excellent way to reach readers without compromising your creative vision.
You’ve really thought about what self-publishing involves
Self-publishing isn’t the easy option. It isn’t a case of clicking “publish” and watching the sales roll in. If you want to self-publish your novel, you need to embrace the role of entrepreneur.
You need to think about editing, proofreading and cover design. You need to develop a marketing, pricing and sales strategy. You also need to stump up cash to facilitate all the above.
In contrast, if you publish the traditional way, your publisher does everything for you — and foots the bill. They’re the business brains. You’re the creative.
If that sounds too clear-cut and boring — and the prospect of blending your creative talent and business savvy excites you — you may find the challenge of self-publishing deeply rewarding.
Why you shouldn't self-publish your novel
Okay, so we’ve covered all the pros of self-publishing your novel. What about the cons? Here are a couple of reasons you should think twice before self-publishing.
All the work is on you
When you self-publish a novel, the work of publishing — and it’s a lot of work — is all on you. You don’t have a team of experts behind you.
You’re responsible for every stage of the publishing process, including the bits you’ve never done before. You need to learn new skills or outsource tasks like formatting, cover design and proofreading.
Marketing is another job on your list. Being comfortable with self-promotion is essential and a large social media following comes in very handy.
If this sounds overwhelming or just not how you want to spend your time, traditional publishing may be a better fit.
It’s a financial risk
It’s true. You can earn more money per book from self-publishing than traditional publishing.
But unlike traditional publishing, which requires no upfront investment, self-publishing costs money, particularly if you want your book to look and read as professionally as those on bookstore shelves.
When self-publishing, you can expect to invest in:
Professional editing
Cover design
Formatting and layout
Marketing and advertising
In my experience, a good cover designer is key. People definitely do judge books by their covers. And I’ve seen so many self-published books with DIY designs. While the words within may be exceptionally put together, the first impression is of an amateurish, low-quality product. And this impacts sales.
I often direct writers to Ryan Cahill’s book covers for inspiration. These professional cover designs are much more likely to draw readers in when they’re browsing for something new to read.
Likewise, hiring a professional fiction editor is also a very wise idea.
As a writer, you’re often too close to your work to spot its flaws — whether that’s structural weaknesses, pacing issues or inconsistencies in character or tone.
An editor brings a fresh perspective, along with a deep understanding of what makes a story shine. They can identify the elements that aren’t working and suggest thoughtful, strategic changes to keep readers hooked from beginning to end.
So what kind of figures are we talking about? It can cost a few thousand pounds to edit, design and market your book effectively. And you have to remember that you may lose that money if your book doesn’t achieve the success you’d hoped for.
If this feels like too much of a risk, the traditional publishing route is a good option. A publisher takes on the financial burden and risk of publishing your novel. They pay for editors, cover designers and a team of marketers, only taking a cut when your book is making sales.
It’s hard to get your book into bookshops
Traditional publishers have long-standing industry relationships and established distribution networks. They can make your book widely available, in big-name bookshops and libraries, up and down the country.
As a self-published author, it’s impossible to achieve the same real-world reach. You may be able to get your book stocked in a couple of local bookshops But the majority of your sales are going to take place online.
This makes it harder to attract the attention of casual browsers and impulse buyers. You also miss out on the aura of quality and credibility that a bookshop gives to the books that sit on its shelves.
You’re feeling burned by traditional publishing
Rejection stings. But if you’re thinking about self-publishing because traditional publishers have knocked you back (perhaps repeatedly), it’s worth taking a breath.
Publishing your own work is emotionally and mentally demanding. You have to promote your book with enthusiasm and keep going even when sales are slow.
Ultimately, you need a thick skin whichever way you choose to publish your book. Online reviewers can be your harshest critics. So you shouldn’t go into self-publication thinking it’s a way to avoid rejection. It’s something that is, unfortunately, built into the book-selling process.
What I’m trying to say is that it helps to approach self-publication from a place of confidence, not frustration. So take a minute, assess whether your book needs any more work and don’t rush a self-published release because you’re fed up with those ‘thanks, but no thanks’ emails.
You think it’s a shortcut to a traditional publishing contract
Some writers self-publish, believing it’s a stepping stone to a traditional book deal. But while this isn’t unheard of, it is very rare.
You can develop a fan base and sell thousands of copies. But a traditional publisher will still be cautious about acquiring a book that has already been released. They’re also unlikely to take on a series if you’ve already self-published the first installment.
Some authors do manage to move between traditional and self-publication. But they’re the anomalies. So only self-publish because you want to — not because you think it’s a shortcut to something bigger and better.
It’s not as prestigious as traditional publishing
People can be a bit sniffy about self-publication. As more writers do it, the stigma around self-publishing is fading. But I’ll be honest. Big names like Penguin Random House and HarperCollins still have an air about them.
There’s something about the prestige of these names — and the validation of knowing professionals in the literary world see something exceptional in your writing — that makes traditional publishing very appealing for aspiring authors.
There’s a sense of exclusivity. And — if you have dreams of literary awards, book reviews in mainstream publications or just your book on bookshop shelves — you’re more likely to realise those dreams with a traditional publishing contract.
But what really matters to you? Prestige and validation? A shot in a million at an award? Or the chance to share your story with readers without having to get past those literary gatekeepers?
So should you self-publish?
Choosing between traditional publishing and self-publishing is a very personal decision.
It depends on what your vision of being a published author entails, the number of hats you’re prepared to wear and how much control you want over the publishing process.
Ultimately, self-publishing frees you from the trials, tribulations and repeated rejection of seeking a traditional publishing deal.
It gives you the freedom to write exactly the kind of story you’ve been imagining and — as long as you’re prepared to put in the legwork with editing, marketing and PR — reap the financial rewards.
Publish your book the traditional way and — once you’ve secured an agent and a publisher — you can sit back while they take care of the business side of book publication.
You can enjoy the prestige of being a traditionally published author and start work on your next novel while your publisher handles sales and marketing.
Whatever you decide, it’s important to start with a strong manuscript.
Keen to publish your book traditionally? Then get an editor’s take on your manuscript before you submit it to agents or publishers. An editor can provide a manuscript assessment, giving you extensive comments on structure, characters, plot, pacing, narrative and point of view.
They can help you get the foundations of your story in order, which means you’re much more likely to pique the interest of an agent or publisher, who will then put your book through further, in-depth edits.
If you want to self-publish your novel, an editor is essential at every step of the editing process — from developmental editing to copyediting to proofreading. With the help of a professional editor, you can make your book as good and as polished as those published via traditional channels.
Want me to critique your manuscript and suggest improvements? Take a look at my fiction editing services and get in touch to discuss your project.
I can help you get your book ready for submission or self-publication, ensuring it captures the hearts and minds of your readers from the very first page.