When I finally completed my book, the next big challenge was deciding how to publish it. I explored all the major options including but not limited to traditional publishing, hybrid publishing, and self-publishing. No doubt, each has its own set of advantages and challenges.
Taking into account my financial situation and daily commitments, I carefully weighed the pros and cons of each path. Traditional publishing offered credibility and professional support but came with limited creative control and lengthy timelines. Hybrid publishing seemed like a middle ground, but the costs were significant. Self-publishing, on the other hand, promised full creative freedom and higher royalties, though it required more effort in marketing and distribution.
After much deliberation, I decided to opt for self-publishing. It wasn’t an easy choice, but it felt like the right one for me at the time. If you’re curious about how this decision turned out keep reading until the end!
There were several challenges I had to face along the way. The first one was to hire someone expert to edit and proofread the book which was a costly endeavour.
After the editing stage, I tried to design the cover by myself. I made one but after further discussion, I dropped the idea to self made it and hired a professional.
The designer, however, made a brilliant design which I wouldn’t be able to create in my entire life. Another box ticked successfully. Now, the next stage was to publish it. I contemplated several platforms and,d after a long and thorough research, I went for Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). The biggest advantage in choosing KDP was that it provided me with a free ISBN.
Now, only publishing and marketing were left. Before publishing, I set royalty and book prices. Because I had no idea whether people would like my book or not, I selected a lower price as compared to what the market prices are. At that time, I exhausted all my energies and couldn’t market my book properly, which I regret to date.
Not all is doom and gloom in self-publishing rather, there are a few advantages as well in opting for self publishing. The biggest of them is the freedom to pace your publishing journey and take as much time as you want. Another significant advantage is that you get to manage all the expenses and all the profit lands in your pocket which I badly needed at that time. If you prioritize maintaining full control over everything, even if it means you have to manage all the things, then go for self-publishing for sure.
You can certainly say that self publishing is not always the best option, especially if you have daily commitments and no financial constraints. And If you are already occupied in your daily life then go for any book publishing service which gives you better options.
