Reasons Not To Self-Publish

I've been thinking a lot about publishing lately and as an author that is probably no surprise to anyone. I've also been doing some editing work for someone self-publishing so I'm learning more about that and though it is without a doubt, a great way to get books out there without the usual barriers, there are some reasons not to use that publishing stream.

1. You are in a hurry

To get a traditional publishing contract, most likely you'll spend a lot of time querying agents to get you the best deals or submitting manuscripts to publishers which I admit can take some time. Some publishers have up to a six-week period before they get back to you and I have been in situations where they never get back to you.

So with the advent of self-publishing services, all you have to do is upload a manuscript and a cover, and hey presto, you have a book. It's convenient and good if you're in a hurry and that's where the problem comes in; you're in a hurry. It may be tempting to just shoot your first draft up on Lulu or KDP after it's finished with no editing but if your book is picked and hasn't been edited people will know and it could bring in low reviews which can be harmful to you in the long run and it may end up wasting money in some instances.

My advice is to take time to make sure your manuscript is up to standard before you self-publish it.

2. Bitter about or afraid of rejection

This is a big one. Maybe there is an author out there who's had one rejection email too many and is going to self-publish their book out of spite because those publishing houses wouldn't know a good book if it hit them in the seller's list, correct? Well, that's an unhealthy attitude to take and it kind of relates to the first point about being in a hurry.

Take some time to cool off from your rejection and figure out your next move, whether it's to go straight into self-publishing or continue query agents or publishers. Who knows, once you get your self-published book out, there may be a traditional publisher that will be willing to offer you a contract as a result of your success in the indie world.

The same thing can be said if you're afraid of getting rejected from the traditional world. Rejection is going to come with anything you do. That self-published book you put your heart and soul into? Someone could give you a one-star rating and lengthy paragraphs on why they hated your book but that doesn't mean you'll stop writing. So if you aim to have your book housed at a publishing house, go for it.

3. Jumping on the bandwagon

The final reason not to self-publish is if you're just doing it because everyone else is. I will gladly sing about the many benefits of self-publishing and there are many successful indie authors who I love but everyone is different and the commitment and work involved in self-publishing may not be for everyone.

So it all boils down to doing your homework and see what works for you.