The Pros and Cons of Self-Publishing: Is It the Right Path for You?
Weigh the pros and cons of self-publishing, exploring creative control, royalties, and global reach, alongside marketing challenges and other considerations.
SELF-PUBLISHING
The Pros and Cons of Self-Publishing: Is It the Right Path for You?
For many writers, finishing a manuscript is just the beginning. The next big decision? How to publish it.
With traditional publishing becoming increasingly competitive and slow-moving, many authors are turning to self-publishing—a path that offers more control but also comes with its own set of challenges.
So, is self-publishing the right choice for you? In this article, we’ll break down the pros and cons of self-publishing so you can make an informed decision about your publishing journey.
The Pros of Self-Publishing
1. Full Creative Control
When you self-publish, you make all the decisions—from the cover design to the final edits, pricing, and marketing strategy.
✅ Want a niche book cover that a traditional publisher might reject? You can make it happen.
✅ Prefer a unique writing style or genre blend? No gatekeepers are stopping you.
This creative freedom allows you to write the book you want to write, without a publisher watering down your vision to fit market trends.
2. Faster Time to Market
Traditional publishing is notoriously slow—it can take one to two years (or longer!) to get your book from acceptance to bookstore shelves.
Self-publishing? You could upload your finished book to Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Draft2Digital, or IngramSpark and have it available for sale within hours or days.
If you’re writing timely content (such as a book on a trending topic), this speed can be a huge advantage.
3. Higher Royalty Rates
Traditional publishers typically pay authors 10-15% royalties per book sold (after agents and publishers take their cut).
With self-publishing, you can keep 35-70% of your royalties, depending on the platform and pricing structure you choose.
✅ Amazon KDP: 35% or 70% royalties, depending on your price and distribution choices.
✅ IngramSpark, Apple Books, Kobo, etc.: Varies, but often much higher than traditional publishing.
Higher royalties mean that even if you sell fewer books than a traditionally published author, you could still make more money per sale.
4. Global Reach
With platforms like Amazon, Apple Books, and Kobo, your book can reach readers in multiple countries instantly. You don’t have to wait for foreign rights deals—your book can be purchased anywhere in the world from day one.
And if you choose print-on-demand services (like KDP Print or IngramSpark), your paperback can be available globally without you needing to print and store inventory.
5. No Rejection Letters
Let’s face it: traditional publishing is tough. Many successful authors, including J.K. Rowling and Stephen King, faced dozens of rejections before landing a deal.
With self-publishing, you don’t need anyone’s permission to publish your book. If you believe in your story, you can put it out there without waiting for approval from literary agents or publishers.
6. You Keep Your Rights
When you sign with a traditional publisher, you often give up some or all rights to your work—meaning they control things like foreign translations, movie adaptations, and audiobook rights.
As a self-published author, you own everything. You can republish, rebrand, create audiobooks, or sell foreign rights on your own terms.
The Cons of Self-Publishing
1. Upfront Costs
With traditional publishing, the publisher covers editing, cover design, formatting, and marketing. In self-publishing, these costs fall on you.
💰 Potential expenses include:
Professional editing ($500-$3,000+)
Cover design ($100-$500+)
Formatting (ebook & print) ($50-$300)
ISBNs (if not using free ones from Amazon/KDP)
Marketing & ads ($100-$1,000+, depending on strategy)
While you can DIY some of these (such as formatting or using AI tools for editing), cutting corners can affect your book’s professionalism and sales.
2. You Handle Everything (Or Hire Help)
Publishing is only half the battle—you also have to market and sell your book.
✅ In traditional publishing, marketing is handled (at least partially) by the publisher.
❌ In self-publishing, YOU are responsible for book promotion, running ads, setting up launch events, getting reviews, and handling author branding.
Without a strong marketing plan, your book may struggle to find readers.
3. Harder to Get into Bookstores & Libraries
Most bookstores prefer working with traditional publishers and distributors like IngramSpark, rather than indie authors who use Amazon’s print-on-demand services.
📚 If you want your book in physical stores or libraries, you’ll need to:
Use IngramSpark instead of Amazon KDP Print (bookstores dislike Amazon’s exclusivity).
Offer bookstore-friendly wholesale discounts.
Personally reach out to local bookstores and library systems.
It’s not impossible, but it takes effort and relationship-building.
4. No Advance Payment
Traditional publishers pay advances (a lump sum before the book is published). Self-publishing doesn’t offer this—you earn as you sell.
If you need income upfront, self-publishing might not be the best immediate option.
5. Quality Control Is On You
Many self-published books suffer from poor editing, bad cover design, or formatting issues—all things that turn readers away.
A traditional publisher has an entire team ensuring a book looks professional. As a self-published author, you must either learn these skills or hire professionals to make your book competitive.
✅ Tip: Look at bestsellers in your genre and compare your book’s cover, formatting, and editing quality to theirs. If yours doesn’t match up, readers will notice.
So… Should You Self-Publish?
Self-Publishing Might Be Right for You If:
✅ You want full control over your book.
✅ You’re okay with learning marketing and business skills.
✅ You’re comfortable investing in editing and design.
✅ You want faster publishing with higher royalties.
✅ You’re ready to experiment and adapt to the market.
Traditional Publishing Might Be Better If:
✅ You want a team handling editing, marketing, and distribution.
✅ You prefer an advance upfront rather than earning as you go.
✅ You don’t want to worry about book formatting and design.
✅ You want bookstore placement without extra effort.
✅ You don’t want to handle marketing yourself.
Final Thoughts: It’s YOUR Choice
There is no right or wrong path—only what fits your goals and career vision as a writer. Some authors even hybrid publish, choosing traditional publishing for some books and self-publishing others.
If you’re considering self-publishing, start by researching successful indie authors in your genre. Learn from their strategies, invest in professional editing and cover design, and create a marketing plan that sets you up for success.
At the end of the day, whether you go indie or traditional, the most important thing is this: Keep writing. Keep learning. Keep growing.
