In today’s landscape, an increasing number of authors are steering away from traditional routes and opting for the path of self-publishing. Keep reading to find out all the benefits of the self-publishing route and to understand why an increasing number of authors are choosing this option.
Self-publishing: a dynamic and powerful alternative to traditional publishing
The publishing world has witnessed a transformative shift in recent years, fundamentally changing how authors reach their readers. Today authors no longer rely only on traditional publishing houses. Instead, self-publishing is rewriting the rules of the game, democratising the publishing landscape, granting accessibility and versatility in ways that were not possible before, and giving authors more creative control, higher royalties for their work, and limitless opportunities to reach new markets, regions, and audiences.
The statistics back it up: over 30% of all e-books sold today are self-published works, and studies confidently claim that for 97% of authors, self-publishing is more beneficial than traditional publishing. We give you seven good reasons why self-publishing is probably the best option for you and how we can help you along the journey.
1. Full creative control
Unlike the traditional publishing scene, where there might be other people involved in your content choices, as a self-published author you are able to exercise your creative power in full. Picture yourself as the captain of your own ship. You’re at the helm and it’s up to you to steer the ship in the direction that you want. You can explore the theme of your choice, experiment with different narrative styles, or finally write about that niche topic that you’re so passionate about – the ocean is vast and it is yours to explore!
And while preserving your creative freedom is liberating, it’s also the key to expressing your true voice and connecting with your readers on a personal level. You can explore new genres, or take a fresh spin on an established one. What matters is that you have the power to tell your story exactly as you want to.
2. Fast to market
Traditional publishing can be a long journey. It can take as many as 3 years to see your work published if you choose to follow this route, not to mention the many hurdles that you’ll have to navigate along the way. With self-publishing, most of the schedule is in your own hands. As soon as you’re finished writing and polishing your work, you don’t need to wait in a queue for a publisher to give you the heads-up. You can already go ahead and get your work edited, formatted, and ready for publication in a matter of months, and even weeks. At Canary Editors, we are here to help you in every step of the process, from proofreading to formatting and marketing, delivering top-notch services with a faster turnaround than the traditional route. Find out more about our services and packages.
The faster pace of the self-publishing route is a game-changer. It means your ideas and stories can stay fresh and relevant, and it allows you to respond and adapt your work to current events or trends. Whether you’re an aspiring author eager to see your first work published, or an established writer with a hot new title ready to hit the shelves, self-publishing lets you get to where you need to get to in record time.
3. Higher profits…
We’ve talked about creative freedom and publication speediness, but another critical benefit of self-publishing is higher profits. And everyone likes to be rewarded for their hard work. In the traditional publishing route, there are many stakeholders involved, such as publishers, suppliers and agents, and they all take a cut of the earnings. Self-published authors, on the other hand, are able to enjoy a significantly larger slice of the financial pie.
Let’s have a look at the numbers. In traditional publishing, authors typically receive royalties of about 10 to 15% of a book’s net sales. This means that after all the work they put in, they end up taking home a very modest share. In the self-publishing world, authors manage to keep as much as 70% of the book’s list price as royalties, and sometimes more, which makes the margin for every book sold considerably greater. If you’re interested in maximizing your earnings, then self-publishing is probably the right solution for you.
4. And also pricing flexibility
When you self-publish, freedom comes in many shapes: you’re also free to make all the decisions when it comes to pricing, and you have the right to change your mind, too. No one can stop you from experimenting with different pricing strategies, from a time-limited discount ahead of the holiday season that can potentially boost sales, to targeted promotions when you know you’ll be attending a literary event and want to make your e-book more attractive, and more affordable. You can remain dynamic and adapt to shifts in the market, shifts in the season, and even actions from your competitors.
Besides, no one says that you have to get the pricing right the first time. It may take some trial and error until you find the sweet spot and are able to set the perfect pricing for your e-book, and you shouldn’t feel bad about it. When you self-publish, you gain the agility to do this and much more.
5. Making changes is easier than ever
The world moves fast, but you can move with it. In this digital era, agility and adaptability are of paramount importance, and when it comes to self-publishing, you have the tools to make revisions to your work quickly and effortlessly. Imagine this: the long-awaited day comes, your book is released, and readers’ feedback begins to pour in. In the traditional publishing world, addressing and implementing feedback is not only cumbersome, but it can also take a very long time. In the self-publishing world, it could be done in a matter of minutes.
This is important for many reasons. The capacity to revise your work means that it can remain relevant, fresh, and up-to-date, but it also opens new and exciting opportunities to create meaningful interactions and relationships with your readers as they become part of the creative process. This way, you and your work evolve hand in hand with your audience and their expectations.
6. Data insights
Data is much more than a buzzword: it is our reality. Data can give you the insight you need to shape your next literary success. Self-publishing platforms give authors extremely valuable information regarding their readers: who they are, what they prefer, their reading habits, and much more. We live in a world driven by data, and it is this data that allows you to make the right decisions to make sure that this and every book gains the success that it deserves. Because when you understand your audience better, you can create stories that truly engage them.
With this knowledge, you can shape your literary output and fine-tune your marketing strategies to make sure that they resonate with your audience. Discover more about marketing and how we can help you with it.
7. The world is your oyster
A self-publishing journey can open the doors to a global readership that breaks the barriers of culture and language. Nowadays, there is an increasing number of trustworthy online platforms where you can distribute your e-book across the world, so why not do it? Your potential broader audience is no longer only your home market: it lives also on the other side of the world, from New York to Mumbai, Tokyo, and Buenos Aires. But to successfully market your work abroad, you cannot ignore the language and culture of your potential audiences across the globe, and hence the need to have your work professionally translated and adapted. At Canary Editors, we’re magicians in the art of literary translation and we’ll be happy to help. If you want to know more about translation, read our dedicated guide or have a look at our service.
In our modern, interconnected world where the digital has taken the central stage, self-publishing facilitates reaching global audiences more quickly and efficiently than ever before. This multiplies your potential readers exponentially and sets you free from geographical constraints. Let your book be your bridge to new audiences and make your literary voice resonate across the world.
The self-publishing route is loaded with benefits, ranging from granting you creative control over your work to enjoying higher royalties and accelerating the process from manuscript to publication. And you can start this journey today. Contact us today and we’ll tell you more about our expertise and our promise of top-quality, personalized service that we give to each of our clients. We’re excited to know more about you and your work.
