Self-publishing has become increasingly popular as writers take control of their work and bring their stories to life. But there are many long-standing myths that make the process unclear for those looking to break into the industry. In this article, we will debunk some common myths and set you on a path to potential success.
Myth 1: You can't market your book until it is launched.
Ummm…says who? This is absolutely incorrect. In reality, you should start marketing your book as soon as you start writing it or 18 to 12 months before it launches depending on your writing schedule and launch plan. This myth is one that can really harm your book sales. Have you heard of book launch flops? Well, one of the common causes of this is actually not creating enough buzz before the launch. By the time your book is published, you should already have a loyal fan base waiting to read it. I mean, how else will they know to buy it?
Myth 2: There isn't much prestige with self-publishing.
This simply is not true. Self-publishing has come a long way in recent years, and many successful and respected authors have chosen to self-publish their books even when having a book deal from a traditional publisher. In fact, most people do not know if you self-published a book or not unless they really understand the publishing industry. The key is to produce a high-quality book that is well-written, edited, and designed.
Myth 3: You can't make any money from self-publishing.
Nope. While it is true that not every self-published author becomes a millionaire, and it may take a few books before you see the results that you want but that is the case with a book published by a traditional publisher, many writers have made a significant income from self-publishing. In terms of royalties, authors can earn as much as 35% for print books up to around 70% for ebooks, depending on the work they put in. The money (literally) is in treating self-publishing as a business and investing time and resources into marketing and promoting your book. A good book, if it finds its audience, is bound to sell.
Myth 4: You can't reach a large audience.
Wrong. Self-publishing offers a ton of opportunities to reach a wide audience. You can sell your book on your website or major online retailers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo, and even distribute it to bookstores and libraries through print-on-demand services. Look for places both online and brick-and-mortar where you target shops that align with your audience and work to gain placement there. You are an author, be creative and think outside the box. You can also market your book to readers all over the world through social media, email marketing, and other digital channels. 300 million self-published books are sold each year. What are you doing to reach them?
Myth 5: You have to keep all the inventory yourself.
This is not true anymore. With print-on-demand technology, you can print and ship books as they are ordered. So you don't have to worry about storage or shipping costs, meaning you can focus on writing and marketing your book. Several platforms such as Amazon offer these services, making it easy for writers to produce and sell their books without any upfront costs or inventory management.
Myth 6: It's free to publish a book on your own.
It is true that you can technically publish a book for free on certain self-publishing platforms such as Amazon, however, it's important to invest in professional editing, cover design, and marketing if you want your book to be successful. This is because they don’t edit or design covers that are aligned with your target audience and their marketing options are limited to their platform. While there is a cost associated with these items, they really are essential if you want to produce a high-quality book that readers will enjoy. Remember your book is still competing for your audience’s attention with books published by traditional publishers that are marketing these types of investments.
As you can see, there may be some truth to the myths surrounding writing and publishing a book. However, just like with any good legend, there's usually a hidden gem within the details that can help you achieve your goal. Don't let myths hold you back from achieving your dream of becoming a published author. Get started on marketing your book today. Please note I am not anti-traditional publishing. I love the industry. I am, however, pro-creating your own tables and not forgoing your dreams because someone else told you no. Sometimes you have to prove why they need you.
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