AtlasBooks Distribution Blog

Self-publishing has been around for ages and, while its results can vary from author to author, there can be no denying that it is a useful tool for the aspiring novelist. However, there are many great authors that may never have their work read by the masses due to a strange stigma against self-publishing. For the talented (yet egotistical) authors, their work will either be published by Penguin or Bantam, or not at all.

What such authors have in talent and knowledge of craft, they lack in modesty, patience, and – frankly – smarts. Writers who opt to self-publish are guaranteed to have their works read by a wider audience, especially in the digital age in which we now live.

SELF-PUBLISHING IN THE WORLD OF PRINT

It used to be that authors looking to self-publish had to face some pretty heavy fees in order to get their works into the people’s hands. They had to pay a subsidized publishing company to print, bind, and ship their books – not to stores, but to the authors’ homes or offices, wherever they could store them. It then fell upon the author to do the legwork required in getting his/her book into the stores and the hands of potential readers. Suffice it to say, self-publishing used to be quite the investment.

However, the hefty price tags often paid off. In fact, some of the world’s finest authors got their start through self-publishing. A scant few examples include:

• Mark Twain
• Virginia Woolf
• Walt Whitman
• Beatrix Potter
• John Grisham
• and Gertrude Stein

As you can see, modern self-published authors find themselves in very accomplished company. Thanks to digital self-publishing, not only can modern authors walk in the shadows of such literary giants, but they have the potential to eclipse those shadows with their own.

SELF-PUBLISHING IN THE DIGITAL AGE

The system of authors paying whatever they could afford to get their work self-published carried on into recent years – as recent as ten years ago! But, along came a simple invention that would forever change the self-publishing landscape: The eReader.

Whether in the form of a Kindle, a Nook, or an iPad, readers of the 21^st century have opted to do all of their reading via such portable libraries. Given the features of these wonderful machines (adjustable font-sizes, adjustable light settings, and the ability to store nearly countless books in one place), it’s no wonder eReaders have taken the literary world by storm. But, what does this mean for you, the aspiring self-published author?

EXPLORING YOUR OPTIONS

As of this writing, the largest producer of self-published eBooks is Amazon.com. The popular web-marketplace used to be simply that, but within the last decade (give or take a year) Amazon spear-headed the acquisition of digital literature. At first the works were that of known authors, but as time moved on the company offered unknown authors to upload their own books for the purpose of selling them. Along came the Kindle, and Amazon created a specific store that served the same purpose, yet reached more readers.

While Amazon may provide a greater potential yield, it is only one of a few outlets for self-publishers to consider. There are many avenues to be explored by authors when it comes to digital distribution.

When deciding which company you are going to trust to digitally publish and distribute your novel, you want to make sure to opt for the company that fits both your needs, as well as your wants. One company might charge your desired amount, but in doing so they may offer lesser service. In fact, some companies may not be able to offer the width of distribution you might be hoping for.

The best way to get the most for your money (however plentiful or limited) is to always remember the Golden Rule of Consumerism: Research every option, and go with the avenue that works best for you.

STAY OPTIMISTIC, YET REMAIN REALISTIC

Every author who opts to self-publish is not guaranteed the kinds of success as Twain, Stein, or Whitman. Even in this digital age of Kindles and affordable online printing (in which it is easier and more affordable than ever to take advantage of self-publishing), joining the ranks of well-known and successful authors is still a game of chance. Author Kurt Vonnegut once quipped that he knew several authors who deserved to be published never were, and knew just as many authors who didn’t deserve to be published that were. Such is the life of the aspiring author.

The key is to remember why you’re writing. Is it to become famous? For some writers, yes; however, for the majority of aspiring authors the end game is to see their work published. To know that people are reading one’s work – even if only a few hundred – is the highest accolade an author can receive.

With digital self-publishing, finding your audience has never been more attainable.

Jordan Siron is a freelance writer/blogger living in Orlando, FL. He is currently working on his own novel, which he plans to self-publish in the near future (so save the date you read this).