Is self-publishing better than a traditional publishing deal?
Sometimes, people write books. When they do, it’s usually a good idea to get it published (if they want anyone to read it, that is). The question they must then ask is, should I seek a publishing deal or do it myself?
If you’re one of those people who chose to seek a publishing deal, then this isn’t for you. I don’t know how to do that, because I’ve never done it.
Of course, I did consider a publisher. I did a lot of googling. But, there are several reasons why I chose to self-publish, and why I am pretty sure I’ll keep doing it for as long as I keep writing books. Here they are:
Publishing deals are really hard to get (I’m pretty sure everyone knows that). Especially for kids’ books. Most publishers (all?) only accept submissions for maybe a week or 2 in a 12 month period. And that’s if they even accept them without an agent (and who has an agent? I am not a millionaire). So it kind of felt pointless to even bother.
I couldn’t find a publisher that I found aligned with my values. I’m sure there probably is one out there, but I couldn’t find one. I wanted my books to be printed in the most environmentally friendly way possible, as well as avoiding the ethical dilemmas of not really knowing who was responsible for making my books. Australia has a lot of laws about fair work, so printing here was a priority. Plus, by not printing overseas, I was able to eliminate the environmental impact of shipping a long distance. My books are printed about 45 minutes away from me. They are also printed on recycled paper (100%, including the cover, with no plastic laminate on them), using eco friendly inks (made from vegetables). The printer I use also has some high tech machinery (I don’t understand how it works) that is better for the environment than the standard machinery. They’re also really nice people. As an aside, this is also why I chose not to publish with Amazon KDP.
Traditional publishers have a whole process. I couldn’t tell you what it is, because I’ve never gone through it. But I’m pretty sure they make a lot of decisions about your work, like who is going to illustrate it and when it will be finished (whether it’s really finished or not) and stuff like that. I wanted to make my own choices.
Every book that goes out goes through me. I am able to personalise the way in which a person receives their book. I sign all the books, because, why not. It only takes a second. My name is not that long. I also wrap them in brown paper (very recyclable) and generally include a sticker and a note. It’s like getting a present in the mail.
Well, that’s pretty much why. The biggest reason was the environmental one. Yes, with a publisher, or even Amazon, I could probably sell a lot more books. But I wouldn’t feel good about it. It’s kind of fun to build something from the ground up. If you’re looking into getting a book published, just decide what’s important to you. If you want to self-publish, watch this space. I’ll eventually put up something about how to do that (it’s a pretty big process, initially).