Publishing is the activity of making information, literature, music, software and other content available to the public for sale or for free. Traditionally, the term refers to the distribution of printed works such as books, newspapers, and magazines.

The self-publishing landscape has changed considerably in the past two decades with new technologies such as the Internet, and the $1 billion markets continuing to change at a rapid pace. Increasingly, there are numerous alternatives to traditional publishing, and self-publishing is becoming the first choice for writers.

As with everything in life, self publishing has pros and cons. Before we look at the steps in publishing, let’s establish these pros and cons. Empower yourself with the knowledge and know what cons you can live with and what pros can enable you achieve your goals.

Pros of Self Publishing

• Speed:

An author finds out right away whether a book is a hit with readers; there is not a six-month or longer delay typical with an established publisher since the usual back-and-forth steps with a publisher are bypassed. It is possible to release a book within a few weeks after it’s finished. Further, it is possible to avoid the lengthy process of trying to find a literary agent to secure a publishing contract.

• Freedom to begin the next book:

An author can self-publish and then begin work on the next project, potentially being more prolific, although this presumes that the first book won’t need any marketing effort.

• A greater share of royalties:

Self-published authors earn four to five times more per unit than if an author works with a traditional publisher. An author can earn 60-70% of the sale price.

• Pitch books straight to the readers:

There is no intermediary censoring what might be shown to the public. The route to readers is more direct. This is further enhanced by the growing and increasingly acceptable social media space to reach readers and fans directly.

Cons of Self Publishing

• High rate of low quality books:

With the growth in activity in the self publishing industry, the book world has become flooded with titles, much of it of low quality, and it is becoming increasingly difficult for self-publishers to differentiate one’s offerings from the stew of average offerings. The quality of self-published works varies considerably.

Solution: As you venture into self publishing, ensure you work with publishing industry experts to produce quality work. This includes editors, proofreaders, designers and printers. Alternatively, you can adopt hybrid publishing where a publishing house manages the publishing process at your cost. Find out more at CLC Kenya Publishing 

• High rate of low sales:

Most self-published books sell very few copies, although there are approximately a dozen books that sell into the millions. A traditional publisher will invest heavily in marketing and distribution – key step in market penetration. Most self published authors tend to skip this step. A book will not sell if the author is not selling.

Solution: Join a writers network or an authors’ group to get continued training, empowerment to market yourself and your book and join group initiatives to advance your book project. Branding the author is very important as readers will buy the author before they buy the book. There are many groups doing an amazing job in this regard. If you a Christian author, you can join CLC Kenya’s Authors Collaboration to get book reviews, training, empowerment and development. Find more at African Christian Authors or contact Jackline Ingasian Lukanu for more details.

Next we will look at Factors to Consider Before Self Publishing.

Training by: Dr. Muthoni Mercy Omukhango