Self-Publishing a Book: What are the Pros and Cons?
- Jenna Moreci
- Apr 7
- 7 min read
HelloOoOo everybody!
Today, we're tackling the heated debate. What's better, traditional publishing or self-publishing? People get super wound up over this. They throw tantrums. It's kind of sad.
Fortunately, I'm here to set the record straight. There is no superior option. Both traditional and self-publishing are a major kick in the dick. Today we're learning why that's the case. I am listing the pros and cons of self-publishing your novel. I talked about traditional publishing in my other blog post here. Now, let's talk self-publishing, specifically all the stuff that's awesome, and all the shit that'll make you weep.
I am a hybrid author who started self-published, so all the information I'm presenting is based on extensive research and firsthand experience. Additionally, please keep in mind that just because I chose to self-publish does not mean it's the right decision for you.
And just as there are a number of pros and cons to self-publishing, there are also quite a few misconceptions. Ones that could drastically change your publishing decision, if you don't have all the facts straight. So why don't we tackle these misconceptions first, shall we?
This video is sponsored by Skillshare. As always, all opinions are my own.
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Misconception Number 1: “The Worst Part of Being Self-Published Is That You Have To Market Yourself.”
This is true; the worst part of being self-published is the marketing. It's also the worst part of being traditionally published. Actually, it's the worst part of being a writer in general. I’ve said this a thousand times, but it bears repeating: unless you are famous, it doesn't matter which publishing option you choose; you will be marketing yourself. Publishers reserve a bulk of their marketing power for their most prominent authors. Yes, it's shitty. Yes, it's unfair. But it's also smart business. Marketing costs money, and they're not going to waste it on assets that haven't proven themselves profitable. If you're basing your publishing decision on marketing, maybe don’t, ‘cause you're fucked no matter which option you take.
Misconception Number 2: “Self-Published Books Cannot Be Featured in Stores.”
Wrong again. Self-publishing platforms like IngramSpark give authors the option to have their books available in brick-and-mortar establishments, and many stores offer consignment programs that allow indies to sell their work. However, a lot of self-published authors choose not to have their books featured in stores.
“But why?”
For starters, it's expensive; indie authors retain a much smaller profit if their books are featured in stores, because the store is entitled to a cut. Second, bookstores are a dying breed. A vast majority of readers purchase their books online. At this point, the main reason authors like to have a bookstore presence is for self-affirmation. “Look! My book’s in a store. Pretty cool, right?”
Misconception Number 3: “Self-Publishing Is Better Because You Can Release Novels Much Quicker.”
It's true that you can release a book quickly via self-publishing, but that's not a good thing. There's a reason books take so long to publish. It's because quality takes time. One of the reasons some people look down on self-publishing is that a lot of writers rush their content. They pump out books without enlisting beta readers, without hiring an editor or a proofreader, and it shows.
Just because the option is available to you, doesn't mean you gotta take it. I have the option to drown myself in the bathtub every day, yet here I am alive and breathing. Well, mostly alive, I am a cyborg after all. Writing and publishing quickly is not impressive. It's a red flag. So please, I beg you, take your time. If you decide to rush the process, well, enjoy the reviews.
Now that that's out of the way, let's get to the major pros and cons of self-publishing your novel.
Pro Number 1: Retaining Creative Control
If you're a self-published writer, you're your own fucking boss. You get to write whatever story you wanna write. It doesn't matter if it's marketable or trendy. Do you. You're not contractually obligated to a specific prompt, you don't have anyone dictating your content, and you can write whatever you please.
This is not always the case with traditionally published writers. Yes, a lot of suggestions a publisher makes will be for the benefit of the story. But even more will be for the benefit of their business. If you self-publish, you don't have to worry about compromising your creative integrity, unless you choose to.
Con Number 1: Retaining Financial Control
If you're self-publishing your novel, you have to pay for everything. Everything. Professional editor? Gotta pay for it. Cover art? Pay for that too. Copyright, sensitivity reader, marketing team, proofread, whatever else you need along the way. Whip out your wallet, you're gonna need it.
Think of being an indie author as being an entrepreneur. You're in the business of creating, marketing, and selling books. And in order to create quality books that people will want to buy, you need to invest in them. The easiest way to deal with this con is one, to budget, and two, to get a day job like most writers do, especially if they're not making money off their work.
Pro Number 2: Higher Royalties
Royalty rates vary, but depending on the platform, a lot of self-published authors retain 60% to 70% of their profits for ebooks. However, based on my research back when I made the video this blog post is transcribed from, a lot of big publishers only award their authors 25% of their ebook profits. And that blows.
You might have noticed I'm talking about ebooks, and that's because hardback and paperback novels make dick profit no matter which publishing option you choose. Physical books are extremely expensive to produce. Which means royalty rates are really low, like 15%. However, if you self-publish, you get to price the book yourself, which means the royalty rate is at least in your control. But ebooks are the big seller right now; they're affordable and thus popular. So that 70% versus 25% figure is pretty fucking important.
Con Number 2: No Guarantees
If you're not familiar, an advance is one big automatic paycheck that typically accounts for the first two years of a novel's life. Traditionally published authors get one of these, and self-published authors are shit out of luck. Now it's difficult to pinpoint an average advance amount because the number varies; however, the most common numbers that I've seen floating around are $10,000 to $20,000.
This is shit money considering all the effort that goes into writing a book, but it's also guaranteed shit money, something self-published authors do not get. That means if a traditionally published author doesn't sell, what the fuck ever! They still get their paycheck. If a self-published author doesn't sell, oh well! Sucks to be them. It's also important to note that most small publishing houses do not offer advances. So if you sign with one of them, consider yourself in the same boat as self-published authors.
Pro Number 3: Complete Business Responsibility
You get to pick the release date, you get to choose your cover artist, and you get to choose your editor. Have a great idea for a book trailer? Fantastic, make it happen. Wanna sell signed copies of your novel? You can totally do that.
Did you know there are certain times of the year that are considered dead months for releasing media? January, I'm looking at you. Self-published authors don't have to worry about someone purposely releasing their novel at a terrible time because they get to make that decision themselves. They don't have to ask permission to share excerpts. They don't have to request copies of their own novel. Nothing ever has to happen that they don't approve of. This is your book, baby, and you make the rules.
Con Number 3: Complete Business Responsibility
Sometimes it's nice to have someone to bounce ideas off of, or someone to help make important decisions, especially if you have no idea what you're doing. When do I copyright my novel? What is the standard font size for an adult novel? What about a young adult novel? Which day of the week do releases typically fall on? Why can't I breathe? Is this normal? Should I call a doctor? It's a very, very sharp pain.
Being an entrepreneur is stressful. And as we already covered, if you're self-publishing, that's what you are. You need to be prepared to make these sorts of decisions if you want your platform to be successful, and sometimes it's really overwhelming.
So that's all I've got for you today!
Those are the pros, cons, and misconceptions of self-publishing. I’m a hybrid author now, but when I started, I chose to self-publish my novel. That doesn't mean it's the correct decision for you. Take an honest look at the pros and cons of both publishing options and choose the path that is right for you based on your skills and needs as an author. I covered the pros and cons of traditional publishing a while ago in this video, and I talk all about my hybrid author experience in a more recent video right here.
A huge thank you to Skillshare for sponsoring this video. It's because of people like them that I’m able to grow my platform, which means more writing advice for you guys, more giveaways, more books—the works. If you wanna brush up on your business and marketing skills in order to prepare for whichever publishing path you choose, I highly recommend Skillshare. I myself have a class all about growing your author platform, and there are a ton of other amazing classes featuring a wealth of information.
And Skillshare is making it even easier to join in on the action; they are offering two months of Skillshare Premium for FREE to the first 500 people who click the activation link right here. This is a super great deal. It's two months' worth of access to thousands of classes. And it's completely free, you don't have to pay a dime. Go ahead and click the link. It's only available to 500 people; do it now! Ahh!
*This post is sponsored by Skillshare. As always, all opinions are my own.
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