Self publishing or traditional?

@joy-caroline I’ve also always wanted to go the traditional route. And right now I still do, although I’m doing a variety of other things. I’ve been working on trying to make an online presence on some web serial platforms, and this summer I also want to experiment with Kindle Direct Publishing. All this, of course, is so that I can hopefully get the attention of traditional publishers in the future.

So basically, trying to use a bunch of other methods as a stepping stone for my end goal.

@joy-caroline

Well, er, I’m not sure yet. Grace and I have been talking about what I should do for I dunno fourish months now. (Is that right?) And though, I’m all sold for the self-publishing route, I’m still waiting for God’s answer on what I should do. And I probably won’t have a decision made until early fall for some reasons that shall remain unknown. 😉 But, not to say I don’t have an idea of what I would like to do. I’ve been pondering this for a while now, and I’m considering being a hybrid author. I wanna get my feet wet (figuratively speaking, of course.) by self-publishing some smaller works to help build up my author following. I’ve got a couple of short stories I’m thinking about and if/when I get What Lay Beyond the Woods completed and many edits, I’ve been highly considering self-publishing it. Since that’d be the only way I’d get it published. But my bigger works (Heir to His Crown mainly) are still going to be in consideration about what I wanna do until I’m certain of God’s path. I honestly think self-publishing is a wonderful route cuz you get to be more in control of your stories, but on the other hand traditional has its perks too. I guess it depends on what you want more. If I do traditionally publish, I’m probably not going to try any of the big names publishing houses, since not writing Christian fiction kinda puts me at a hard place. Since I will NEVER write books with the content secular agents and publishing houses want. So I’ve kinda decided I’m gonna go with an independent publisher, Lord willing. I know the terms are confusing, but that still won’t make me an indie author if I do, it just means I’ll have a smaller publishing company and still have to do a lot of work on my own to get my book’s name out. But the number of copies I sell will never matter as much as the people I touch. If one person’s life is changed by my story it will have not been written in vain. 🙂 That’s just the way I look at things.

So in the end, my best advice is to pray about it because only God knows what is best for your story!!!!!

I plan on hybrid publishing, which means doing a mix of both. This is what my writing instructors and mentors recommend. I’ve heard you can make more money this way and still get the best of both worlds. Hope this helps!

@joy-caroline Well, you know I agree with what @issawriter7 and @godlyfantasy12 said. And my reasons are pretty much the same.

However, the best and truly the only thing you should do is seek the Lord’s will for your life and your writing. Originally, the only route I had in mind was traditional publishing. But after a lot of prayer and research, I was led to self-publishing. Like @kayleigh-idea, I intend to become a hybrid author after a time. Indie-publishing a great option too, since it gives you a lot of the same freedoms (as well as the close-knit community) of self-publishing, allowing you to write for readers and not for a market or number on a spreadsheet. (I intend to start up an indie press one day, so of course I’m an advocate.)

You’re also more liable to find indie presses that cater to certain stories/genres and specifically to Christian (or even Adventist) content.

@devastate-lasting has a really good idea of experimenting with self-pubbing and eventually moving to trad. Not only does this help her as a writer (honing her craft and seeing what sells best), it also helps her a establish a readership so that when she is signed on to trad publisher, she’ll bring readers with her. (Definitely a pro when agents/publishers are considering signing on authors.)

Although I totally understand where @relia is coming from, I wouldn’t make my decision based on the market or feeling as though self-pubbed novels don’t sell as well. Ten years ago, yes, being a self-published author was practically a curse – but today, self-published authors and indie presses are becoming more and more popular. With brick-and-mortar bookstores disappearing and ebooks increasing, self-publishing has the potential to skyrocket ahead of traditional publishing and authors have the potential to become as famous as traditional authors.

Starting out, I could see that my novel was only selling within my community and family – but there are ways around that. Distributing ARCs through sites like BookSprout and BookSirens not only gets you reviews, it expands your readership to those who wouldn’t typically read your book. Giveaways (on social media or especially on Goodreads) really help to expand your readership – because seriously? Who doesn’t like free books? A social media presence also gets the attention of other readers, and linking yourself with traditional authors and other authors in your genre (like through author interviews, collabs, etc.) helps get your name out there. I recommend getting endorsements from popular authors for your book to heighten your credibility – and don’t think that’s a lofty goal. If an author enjoys your book, they’re more than happy to endorse it. (It’s not like it’d cost them anything.)

My debut novel, which originally only sold at family reunions, was the #6 bestseller on Amazon in its genre back in March (for like three days, but still). All because I offered the ebook for free for a week. Sales skyrocketed – and although I didn’t make anything, if the readers enjoyed it, they’ll pay for the next book, they’ll tell their friends, or they’ll leave a review.

Think of authors like Margaret Atwood, EL James, Lisa Genova, and Andy Weir – they all self-published the novels that are now movies, TV shows, and insanely popular. Don’t think it can’t happen.

All that being said (pardon my long reply), self-publishing does take work. You can make it without spending a great deal of money (a budget of $300 works pretty well, although you can do it for free – I recommend having about $500 dollars to put into a novel), but it takes a lot of time and effort. Establishing your brand and author presence months (or even years) before you publish, marketing your novel carefully, and continuing to promote it years after it releases takes work.

There are pros and cons to all four options (trad, self, indie, and hybrid), and not every option is for every person, you know? It all depends on what you want (and of course, what God wants for you). He’ll lead you in the right direction, and He’ll provide. If you’re meant to self-publish, He’ll provide you with the time, resources, and readers. And if you’re meant to traditionally publish, He’ll provide you with agents, editors, and publishers who truly value you and your novel. But in your researching and consideration, keep in mind what you’re looking for and what you desire for your novel.

Personally, I desired the freedom away from contracts, editors, and a restrictive market that either turned my novel into something entirely different or took away my rights. I wanted the ability to write passionate Pentecostal pirate novels without feeling ashamed of my writing or having certain elements removed. I wanted to cater to readers, not a market and select number of critics. I wanted my word baby to be cared for by someone who loves it (me) and not a publisher focused on making money. (Not to mention, I want the ability to edit, update, or rewrite my work whenever I want to.) Therefore, I know that at this time, self-publishing is the best for me.

@joy-caroline Thank you! I feel the same way!

Yes, that’s always been a concern of mine – not just in spiritual terms, but just in general, since some publishers/editors can be ruthless. That’s why I definitely think indie presses have the advantage when it comes to promote particular content that isn’t defiled by outside beliefs or different content, you know? Like how a large publishing house (Harlequin comes to mind) publishes secular, really secular, and Christian fiction under the same name, you know? It’s a great idea to consider working with someone who values you because of your beliefs, not despite them.

Thank you! I’m glad it all helps some! I don’t mind at all! Of course, I would definitely start considering it and praying about it – and I’ll be praying for you too! I’m glad I’ve given you some food for thought! Let me know if you ever have any other questions and when you come to a decision about what you want to do!

@joy-caroline My pleasure!