My Thoughts on Self-Publishing
Advantages:
As a self-published author, you keep all of the rights to your work. Movie rights, TV rights, book rights, etc. You can choose to turn your books into comics, ebooks, whatever and you only have to answer to yourself and of course, your readers. You decide your own schedule, due dates and publishing dates. I try to set up an annual date because the market is very competitive and you have to be able to get the product out to the consumer and be reliable about it. This is how I feel. I still allow myself time to make sure that my books are written to the best of my ability.
The percentage of royalties can be more than what a traditional publisher pays you, but that depends entirely on how much you want your book's retail price to be. I try to make sure that my books are competitive with the e-books and trade paperbacks of all traditional publishers. You really don't want to your trade paperback to cost a potential reader $23.00 plus the extra price for shipping and handling or your e-book to cost $14.99. Most trade paperback range from $10.00 - $15.00 depending on the publisher and/or book retailer, and I've seen e-books range from $15.99 - $0.99. I try to work within that range. You really want to go with a self-publishing company that allows you the publish your books with that price range.
CreateSpace
Authorhouse
IUniverse
Lulu
are the four that I am aware of. You also want to make sure that your books will be available at all online book retailers, not just at the publisher's online site. You don't want to limit the market for your book's exposure.
Another advantage is you write the story you want to write. You don't have a third-party dictating what your vision should be based on their standards. Your imagination, your books, your choice. Creative freedom really is priceless and having it allowing you to be inspirational. You have that freedom from the start of the race and that's a nice feeling.
Being a self-published author may or may not eliminate the middleman being the Literary Agent. If you sell enough books, make enough waves in the literary world, those big time publishers will come to you and because you're a successful self-published author, it might give you a bit of leverage as far as contract negotiations go, if that's what you're looking for. You also don't have to worry about your books going out of print, ever. That's a nice relief.
Disadvantages:
If you're trying to get your manuscript picked up by a large publishing house, which are the ones really in bed with the bookstores, you will have to wait years unless you have a very good Literary Agent willing to be fair and diligent in getting your manuscript on the desk of those big time editors. Since the big publishing house will not look at your manuscript without the proposal of a LA. It may never happen, and it may, it's a toss up.
Through a big publishing house, your books will almost always be put on the shelves of bookstores depending if you're a bankable author. Self-publishers and small publishing houses have to work twice as hard to urge bookstores to stock their books. It's all a business and if you think about it this way, big businesses leave very little room for the "little man" to break through. So it's almost like an up hill struggle.
There are reviewers who won't review your books because they aren't published by Random House or any other large publishing house. Does this mean that your book(s) aren't worthy? No, of course not, it just means that these big time reviewers (Publisher's Weekly, New York Times, etc) cater to big time publishing houses.
For a small publishing house author or SP author, we have to start small and build big. Local newspapers and radio stations are more willing to help promote your books. So this is a big help. Also, with the advancement of the internet and websites like YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, you now have brand new avenues to promote your novels and gain exposure.
SP authors and small publishing houses generally don't have the funds it takes to successfully promote their works. This is the same for traditionally published authors as well. Unless you become a huge name within the industry, you're going to have to come out of pocket for all promotional needs. (bookmarks, posters, business cards, commercials, magazine ads, etc). But as it is for all authors, once you reach that point of success, it's all going to become easier.
There are certain organization that discriminate against self-published authors, such as the HWA (Horror Writers' Association) that will not accept self-published authors even if they become best sellers only because they are self-published and I believe that there is some closed-minded concept that allows people to believe that because a person self-published their work, that they took the easy route about becoming an author.
I'm sorry, but there's nothing easy about self-publishing. You have the entire industry working against you. If anything, it's more of a challenge if you are serious about your work. I know that I am extremely serious about my current books and those I will continue to write. I chose to self-publish, because I wanted creative control, not because I believe that my work wasn't good enough. My belief in my books and in myself is why I joined with an editor so that I can put out quality work in both story and technique. It's also why I plan to go back and re-edit all of my other books. (Desires Unleashed, The Guilty Innocent, The Royal Flush and Hostile Territory)
You have to look at all of these things when preparing to become a public figure, which is an author. Both sides have their pros and cons and you have to weigh them in.
If you're wondering if I regret being a self-published author; the answer is sometimes. I feel frustration when I get turned down for reviews or book signings at certain bookstores. I work hard every day writing novels. I also work a full 8 hour a day job, then I come home and put in an additional 6 - 8 hours of writing. My imagination is always working and always crafting ideas for future novels. I love writing, it's my passion and I'm as serious as a heart-attack about it. So my feelings get hurt from time to time, but another thing is happening to me at the same time. I feel determination against the oppression. It only makes me strive to be the best I can be and then go beyond that. I want to continue to have creative control over my work and control over my own destiny.
That's why it warmed my heart so to see that my readers who have confidence in me and support me took the time to write up a petition and sign it. I love you all for that because it meant so much to me to know that you understand my struggles. I dedicated my books to you, it's because of you why I love to write more and more everyday.
I hope that I've been able to give you all a broader understanding of the literary industry.
Love always,
D.N.
^_^