Self-publishing, especially on the ebook front, seemed to go through a gold rush a few years ago when ebook readers came out and a bunch of new and little-known writers sold tens of thousands of copies of their books.
If the rush has settled a bit, that doesn’t mean good times are gone. Self-publishing has eased into a more stable environment, less exciting in some ways but closer to the sensibilities of professional writers. Self-published books are gaining in cachet, and becoming a useful piece of any writer’s work efforts, often alongside working with traditional publishers. In recent years I’ve been producing books both ways, traditionally through a large publisher and through publishing books (written by myself and others) in my own company.
This hybrid approach has been embraced by writers with strong commercial profiles. A few months ago I interviewed veteran novelist Lawrence Block about his recent, and extensive, experiences in self-publishing while continuing to work with traditional publishers. Of self-publishing, he said, “I think, in the short run, I probably left some money on the table. But in the long run I think I’ll come out ahead. More to the point, I did it the way I wanted to do it and had fun throughout.”
You’d also hear positive comments about self-publishing from people like J.K. Rowling, Stephen King, Joe Konrath and others. On the website Quora, sci-fi novelist Michael J. Sullivan remarked, “The traditional route has worked out well for me, established creditability and expanded my audience. … But I hate the draconian contracts and the business models of trade. Self offers higher income (per book), complete freedom and a faster time to market.”
We’re also seeing part of a larger trend toward more sales in the self-publishing sector. An analysis from the September Author Earnings Report said “indie self-published books, which made up 36% of all Kindle eBooks purchased in February 2014, now make up 42% of all Kindle eBooks being purchased on Amazon right now.” Raw dollars going to self-publishers have been rising too.
Of course, like many “gold rushes,” over time pickings are not as easy as they look from a distance. As the self-publishing world matures, the bar to profitable entry has been rising, gradually. Expectations of higher quality have been rising too – good news for professional writers – along with the need to develop or expand on related skills. Some of those, like marketing, are skills successful writers have had to develop for many years however they’re published. Others, such as book editing and help with the technical side of publishing, can be learned or contracted for.
Is self-publishing the right replacement for traditional publishing? Some writers have concluded it is. But even if, like me, both worlds have some appeal, you owe it to yourself to see what self-publishing can do for you. There may never be a better time.