Five Reasons to Independently Publish Your Next Book

For generations, the only publishing option available to would-be authors, was the traditional method of publishing, where you submitted your manuscript to one of the big publishers and hoped for the best. Modern technology has changed that paradigm. Now, anyone with a computer and an internet connection can successfully publish a a course in miracles, in a plethora of formats. And most surprisingly of all, especially for those who grew up linking publishing success with the big publishing houses, is the fact that bestsellers don’t have to originate in New York or London anymore.

Interesting facts about the ever-changing world of publishing:

o Independently published authors are selling millions of volumes each year – proving that creative thought can originate outside the walls of the BIG publishing houses.
o Books by independently published authors have earned their own recognition award: Independent Publisher Book Award.
o The success of electronically published books (ebooks), with millions in annual sales, have proven it is no longer necessary to print your book traditionally.

During the rise of independent publishers, the traditional publishing houses did everything they could to convince the world that their select few authors were the only people capable of telling (writing) a good story, or creating quality books. How arrogant! Certainly, we honor them for giving us some great reads through the centuries, but thanks to independent publishers, we are beginning to realize how limited the offerings were with the BIG houses.

Independent publishers have brought a breath of fresh air to the publishing world. Thanks to independent and niche publishers, the book world, which had been declining for years, is now rising like a phoenix from the ashes. A brief examination of sales data from the independent publishers, reveals what the problem was: the BIG houses were suffocating readers with their restrictive book categories and cookie-cutter ideas. (Visit my website to read my blog: How to Write a Bestseller – An Unexpected Plan That Might Surprise You)

Independent publishing has helped explode the book market. Books that were formerly rejected by the BIG houses, for the simple reason that their topic didn’t fit neatly into the existing categories, or traditional molds are selling millions of copies annually. And guess who wins? Every reader who loves great books, and every author who has a great story to tell, that’s who! Isn’t it good to breath again?

The top five reasons you should independently publish your own book:

1. Creating quality books independently has never been easier. Thanks to technological advances in computers, and the expansion of the internet, almost anyone can publish professional-quality books on their own. You no longer need to pay someone huge money to help you publish your book. Do some research, and you’ll find many ways to publish your book inexpensively. First-time publishers need to check out Lulu.com. It’s a great place to start. They provide easy-to-use templates, and offer simple instructions to guide you through the process. Once you learn how the process works, you can find less-expensive options available, but the learning curve increases with most of them. That’s why I recommend starting with Lulu, especially if you are printing only a few books to start.

2. Why waste your time and energy trying to convince some stuffed shirt in New York that you have a great story to tell, only to be rejected again and again? By publishing independently, you can devote your time and energy marketing your book directly to readers, instead of trying to catch the attention of an editor. For most authors, the experience will be much more rewarding in every way. (Visit my website to read upcoming article, Ten Easy Steps to Publish Your Book Independently)

3. You’ll make more money publishing your book independently. Yes, you read that right. Most authors, especially first-time authors, never make much money with their book. In fact, many authors never make more than the author’s advance. Compounding that problem, is the short shelf life of a traditionally published book. Considering your book will only have a few months to start earning well, or be pulled off the shelf, you can see how the possibility of future earnings you’re your traditionally published book becomes almost non-existent. Such is not the case with independently published authors. I know several independently published authors who are still making sizeable incomes from their books, decades later. Note: consider joining the thousands of authors who sell millions of copies ever year, electronically. eBook sales are skyrocketing. If you enjoy writing short stories, or novella-style books, this may be the niche for you.

4. You retain all intellectual copyrights to your manuscripts – not the BIG publishing houses. (A word to the wise: never sign away your copyrights to any printer, agent or independent publisher. Read the fine print, or have a lawyer look over the contract). Think about it: you created the work, so why sign away your rights to a publisher or agent? If you do, you’ll be sorry for that decision later, because your copyright means money to you. Sign it away, and you’ll get nothing for your creative efforts. Retain your copyrights, however, and the potential for creating personal wealth from your work, will forever reside in your hands.