Lots of us have big plans for our work when it comes to publishing. Some of us want the attention of hoards of crazy fans, a cult following or our book in the window of one of the last remaining bookstores. The rest are self-pu
blishers who just want to share it quickly in their own style and let the chips fall where they may.
Self-publishing has grown as a popular approach for sharing one’s work, and although the fruits of their labor might resemble more of a handful than a bushel, there are plenty of perks to this self-starter mode of publication. But is it enough to outweigh the cons? Read on and decide for yourself.
No Deadline
It’s the least favorite word in any creative’s dictionary. No matter how ahead of the timeline you are, the deadline always stares back at you like a time bomb waiting to ruin your train of thought. Self-publishing removes that illusion of a finish date, which allows the creative to focus on the work when he needs to, not forcing the work, letting it arrive as inspired spurts of good ideas.
Not having a deadline also allows time to get some constructive feedback and revise. When you’re too close to a project, it’s easy to be stubborn and hold onto needless aspects of your work. Getting feedback bestows an opportunity to step back and be mildly objective, which forces the work to progressively improve. Your first draft is never your final draft, not unless you’re Bukowski.
Creative Freedom
Unleashing your inner control freak allows you to make every detail just as you like without the pest of an editor or publisher – like that of a suspicious, frumpy teacher who hovers above to see if you’re cheating – telling you it needs more this, less that or fewer decapitated characters in this potential children’s book.
There’s no worry of having to pander to what anybody else wants, anything that obstructs your creative vision; it’s just you and your work. Because when you succumb to the demand of external forces – what you think others want instead of what you think people need to see – it loses its luster, and then your focus becomes more about finishing the damn thing than enjoying its charm.
First Timer Failure
It’s great to have creative freedom and no restrictive deadlines, but there comes a point when that becomes counterproductive. Creative freedom is only good if there’s a voice of reason – yourself or someone who’s experienced in the field – to call you out when your work is lacking or overcooked.
Not having a deadline does give creative space to allow good work to come through as it wishes, but too much space gives a creative person too much time to second-guess their work, add things that don’t need to be added and cloud their vision. Sometimes it’s just best to have the experienced eyes of a publisher who can tell very quickly if the work is ready or still needs some polishing.
Faster Release
In a self-publishing situation, once the book is the finished, it’s ready for consumption. A publisher, or multiple publishers, will take their time on deciding if your work is right for them, if it’s right but needs more work or if you just plum suck. Even a simple “no” could take weeks to get from a publisher’s desk. Self-publishing allows you to share instantly, which in day and age, seems appropriate. From there, you can gauge people’s reactions. Is it catching on? Do I need the help of a publisher to actually reach the crowd I’m trying to share this with?
Instant gratification feels good at first, but ultimately there is a bigger picture to look at. You don’t want to blow your load during the previews when the film is four hours long, no?
Reach
Speaking of reach, you probably don’t have one much further than you can piss after (chugging a trenta Starbucks), at least if you’re new to the publishing world. Outside of Facebook friends and Twitter followers you’ve never met, your work won’t see the light of too many days in this way if you don’t have the right tools for the job.
A publisher, on the other hand, has a far better reach, not to mention locations to sell the work out of. If you think your work is good enough, important enough to share with the world, don’t sell yourself short by being im
pulsive, greedy or just plum silly; take the time to find a publisher who would best serve your work and take it one step at a time to getting where you need to be.
Branding Yourself as You Envision
You write a book that you stand proud of, then your publisher asks for another and another and before you know it, bam, you’re James Patterson. Although self-published authors do have a tendency to be seen as unsuccessful, as someone who couldn’t book it, so to speak, there’s something to be said about not becoming “that guy.”
If you want to be in control of how your work is viewed, the image you create around your work, self-publishing is a way to go. With no sales pitch you wouldn’t stand by or book reading at a place you’d never be caught dead in, let your creative compass point you in the right direction. Blogs, local shops and any number of Internet outlets allow you to personalize your work, give it the vibe you think it deserves. A publishing company is in it for one thing, money, and if your style doesn’t rake in the Benjamins, they’ll change you into an alter boy if they think the robe would fit you better.
And, Of Course, Money, Money, Money …
We probably could have left out everything before and cut to the chase, but when it comes to money, it really depends on how good you are on your own. Self-published authors take a larger cut of the profits, excluding productive and shipping, but publishers, although less than willing to make you rich until you’ve proved your worth, still have that reach to get your work into the hands of more people. So you have to ask yourself, would you rather pull a hypothetical 30 percent from selling to your five closest friends (all relatives), or would you be better off taking a small cut from the “Twilight”-size fan club of one of those last remaining bookstores?
That’s my two cents on the process of publishing. Each person will have different reasons for choosing one or the other, but it’s worth considering self-publishing if you honestly think it’s your cup of tea. But, there are always a few publishers out there looking for the next James Patterson. Just remember, don’t mess with the bull if you don’t want the horns.
