Should You Self-Publish?
The Age-Old Question — Revisited
The Creator Economy
The creator economy has given us back our individuality and it may be scary to suddenly have so much freedom and autonomy.
Technology has made it easier for many people to pursue writing a novel, but self-publishing can be a risky venture. Optimism can obscure the reality of the low chances of success, and writers may be targeted by advertisements on social media promising easy and successful publishing in exchange for payment.
While self-publishing platforms make it easy to quickly publish a book digitally, the writer may not carefully read the terms and conditions and may struggle to stand out among a sea of competition. Advertising plans offered by the platform can be expensive and may not guarantee increased sales.
It takes a long time to gain traction and success on the internet, which is why it is important to create for the love of it, rather than just for the attention or recognition. In the beginning, it is likely that very few people will be reading, watching, or listening to your work.
You need to give them a reason to pay attention and it may not be enough in the beginning, even if you are a talented and accomplished person. The scale of the internet makes it difficult to stand out and it takes time to find your voice, style, audience, and to figure out how to connect with them.
Document Your Journey
One way to build a successful online presence is to be transparent and “build in public,” meaning you should document your journey and share your process with others.
It is easy to only share major milestones, but it is important to also celebrate small wins and be honest about the struggles and challenges you face. It is helpful to let go of the need for external validation and focus on creating for yourself, at your own pace.
It is important to focus on sustainability rather than trying to accomplish as much as possible in a short amount of time.
Burnout is a common issue.
Consistency
Consistency is key to building a successful online presence. If you are not getting much attention or engagement in the beginning, it is likely that you are simply “early” and it takes time to build a following.
The platform’s main focus is its own success, not the success of the individual writer, who may feel trapped after investing time and money into the publishing process without seeing any return. To build a successful online presence, it is important to create for the love of it and to be transparent and document the journey.
Patience
It takes time to find a voice, style, and audience and it is important to focus on sustainability rather than trying to accomplish as much as possible. It is also helpful to let go of the need for external validation and to celebrate small wins.
So if you have been thinking about self-publishing but are concerned that you won’t get read, be bold and give it a try. You might be surprised by your results. – Dominic DiFranceso
Write For Yourself!
Writing a book that doesn’t make you money might seem like a waste of time, but it can actually be incredibly liberating. When you write for yourself, it doesn’t matter how many people read it. What’s important is that you created something that now exists.
It can become a personal treasure, shared only with those who know and trust you, or those whom you recommend it to. While it’s true that there are many strategies for making money from writing books, the freedom and fulfillment of writing for oneself should not be underestimated.
Conclusion
You should definitely self-publish.
The benefits outweigh the disadvantages.
