Considering a self publishing company like Reedsy or Lulu for releasing your next book? An increasing number of established and first-time authors are choosing self publishing as their avenue – and there are many good reasons why self publishing can suit their needs better than a contract with a traditional publishing house.
Here are some things that you should know about self publishing companies in 2019 if you’re one of thousands of authors considering it.
Self Publishing is the Author’s Advantage
Self publishing companies put the power in the hands of the author. Companies like Reedsy and Lulu allow you to publish the work when you believe it’s ready, and they put statistics right at your fingertips – getting from book sales to money in your account is also cut down to a few days instead of a few months.
Publishing a book through a self-publishing company can give you the advantage when it comes to sales, promotion and when your book hits the market. This is undeniable power if you also happen to be a good promoter (and if you’re not, learn the skill of promotion now).
Self Publishing Companies Allow for Mainstream Publication
Twenty or thirty years ago, self publication meant that an author had to approach a printing company, and often they had to front the money for the printing first. This resulted in several boxes of copies that the author had to sell themselves while needing to approach and contact bookstores and other retailers.
Today, self publishing is a lot easier thanks to companies like Reedsy. Authors can write, format, proofread and upload their manuscripts directly to the platform, request an ISBN number and sell or promote your manuscript to platforms like Amazon.
On markets like Amazon, it sure saves you the thousands of trips to stores you would have needed to take twenty years ago (and it’s a lot easier too).
Self Published Books Are Strong Competitors
For years, there was this unspoken “war” between published and self published authors. Today, this has faded into the background, and self published books have stuck around for long enough to show that they can be strong competitors for traditional publishing houses.
Fans of an author’s work will continue to read their work no matter who is publishing it. (Would you stop reading Stephen King if, suddenly, he owned his own publishing house or chose Reedsy? If you’re already a fan, most people would not.)
Self published works can compete just as strongly on the charts as everything else. Don’t believe it? Angela’s Ashes, the biography-turned-movie, was self published first.
Self Publishing Companies Work for New and Established Authors
Self publishing companies can suit your needs if you’re an author publishing their first or second manuscript, and they can help you if you’re already an established author.
While some traditional publishing houses will discriminate between the two, self publishing companies won’t. That’s one of the biggest advantages that self publishing companies can offer authors above going with a traditional publishing house, and even many established authors are switching over.
Self Publishing Companies Don’t Require an Agent
A lot of bigger publishing companies don’t consider unagented submissions at all. This cuts first-time (and many already established) writers out of getting their manuscripts published.
If you don’t have an agent, self publishing is the perfect way to get your work out there: And you, as the author, have a lot more control over the final product’s look and promotion.
Self Publishing Companies Dominate the Market
Works published through self publishing companies are grabbing an increasing chunk of the overall market share, and offering traditional publishing houses strong enough competition.