by Ruth Belena

Created on: July 24, 2010

Self-publishing is now more than ever an option for a new writer to get into print or to create an e-book. It is worth considering the effects of self-publishing on a writer's career and the many benefits to be gained from self-publishing, when it is done right, but there are also dangers in self-publishing.

♦ Reasons for a writer to self-publish

Traditional publishers no longer accept unsolicited manuscript submissions from unknown writers. The only way to for a new writer to get noticed is to find an agent willing to submit a manuscript to appropriate print publishers. Self-publishing removes the need for an agent and eliminates the long wait for a book to be accepted.

Rather than buying a printed novel or paying for a non-fiction book, a growing number of readers are searching the Internet for books to purchase for immediate download, to be read on a computer or a small electronic device. Self-publishing services can simultaneously make a print-on-demand version and an electronic versions available for download.  

Writing self help manuals and instructional e-books can be a lucrative occupation for a self-published writer who meets the demands of a particular market, without involving any traditional publishing company.

♦ The positive side of self-publishing

It is possible to become a successful self-published writer using some of the excellent opportunities for promoting and selling self-published books, or e-books, online. This can be achieved through Amazon or eBay, and many writers make effective use of blogging, article marketing and social networking.

By building a brand as an author online, and using all resources available, a writer can become well known, with a list of self-published titles people want to read. A self-published poetry book, for example, can have great value for establishing a reputation as a poet.     

♦ The dangers of self-publishing

Self-publishing can lead to spelling mistakes and grammatical errors appearing in print, and it is not a good idea to publish a book without using the services of an editor or a proofreader. After completing a book, an author may find it difficult to be self-critical and can only see the writing as being perfectly crafted and well expressed. An automatic spellchecker or grammar checker will not identify inappropriate use of words or missing words which alter the meaning. The result of hasty self-publishing can be a very poor quality book, and readers will not appreciate seeing multiple mistakes throughout a text. 

The other danger in self-publishing is in overestimating the market potential for a book. If a genre of fiction is popular right now, that does not mean any new book with a similar plot and the same sort of characters is guaranteed to sell.

A self-published writer needs to work really hard at marketing and has to build a reputation through self-promotion. Traditional publishers have their own marketing departments, or use professional public relations people, to get free publicity, advance promotion, author interviews and book signings, in addition to launching expensive advertising campaigns which a self-publishing writer could ever hope to match.

The negative side of self-publishing can be avoided if a writer is realistic and professional and does not cut out any of the important parts of the writing and publishing process. Providing the quality of writing is sufficiently high, and there is a market for the type of book published, the effects of self-publishing on a writer's career should be positive. 

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