Self-publishing and e-book-writing are two of the most popular ways to get your book out there and sell copies. The choice is yours. Self-publishing means you own the rights to your own book.
It’s not a contract with an editor, but rather a way to gain control of your own destiny. With self-publishing, you’re in complete control over what comes out of your creative mind.
You can decide how your book is promoted, how much it costs (including marketing), and whether or not it gets approved by traditional publishers before being released to the public.
On the other hand, e-book-writing is exactly that—a book written using online software that is then published on the web through various websites such as Amazon, Google Play, Apple iBook Store, or Barnes & Noble Nook store.
While self-publishing can be cheaper than e-book publishing at times, it also has its challenges due to different factors such as time constraints, limited space on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, or formatting issues that need to be addressed in the final product before publication.
What is Self-Publishing?
Self-publishing is the publishing of a book by the author alone, without any help from a publishing company. The book can be a book on a topic the author knows something about, or it can be a novel.
The key here is that the book is published by the author, and no one else. The process of self-publishing is similar to that of traditional publishing, and it’s also often referred to as publishing one’s book.
Self-Publishing and E-book-Writing
As mentioned above, self-publishing and e-book-writing are similar in many ways. Both involve the writing of a book (or multiple books) and its publishing.
The primary difference between the two is that e-book-writers typically self-publish their books through Amazon and Google Play, while self-publishers generally publish their books through their own websites.
However, there are distinct differences between the two as well. E-book-writing requires more upfront investment than self-publishing. For example, an e-book-writer must buy production costs for their book, including book design, content, formatting, and marketing.
Additionally, since e-books are usually sold as a whole rather than individually, the upfront cost can quickly add up. On the other hand, self-publishing is cheaper in the short-term, but it involves more effort and money upfront.
There’s no guarantee that a self-published book will be as well-received as an e-book, so make sure to carefully consider your book’s prospects before you begin writing.
Pros of Self-Publishing
The biggest benefit of self-publishing is that it gives an author complete control over the process. You don’t have to rely on an editor to approve your work or marketers to promote your book.
You only need to invest the time you want into writing your book and into promoting it as well. Additionally, you can charge less for your book since there are no upfront costs involved.
The first and foremost benefit of self-publishing is that it gives the author complete control over the book. You don’t have to rely on an editor to approve your work or marketers to promote your book.
You only need to invest the time you want into writing your book and into promoting it as well.
Cons of Self-Publishing
Even though self-publishing offers the author more control over the book, it comes with a price. In order to publish a book yourself, you need to put a lot of time, energy, and money into it.
Unless you’re a published author who’s released numerous books in her career, you may not have the time or the energy to invest in your book to the same degree as an editor or a marketing person would.
Additionally, you may not have the financial or social capital that comes with being a published author to begin with. This all adds up to being less ready to take a hit on your reputation or take on the financial burden that comes with self-publishing, even though it does allow you more control over the process.
Conclusion
In the end, it all comes down to whether or not you believe in self-publishing. If you’ve always wanted to try your hand at publishing a book, or if you’re an aspiring author and want to get your name out there, the process is definitely worth it.
With self-publishing, you’re in complete control over what comes out of your creative mind. You can decide how your book is promoted, how much it costs (including marketing), and whether or not it gets approved by traditional publishers before being released to the public.
On the other hand, e-book-writing is exactly that—a book written using online software that is then published on the web through various websites such as Amazon, Google Play, Apple iBook Store, or Barnes & Noble Nook store.
While self-publishing can be cheaper than e-book publishing at times, it also has its challenges due to different factors such as time constraints, limited space on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, or formatting issues that need to be addressed in the final product before publication.