When I decided to publish my first book back in 2010. I faced so many challenges as a beginner. Self-publishing or traditional publishing, Each route offers unique benefits and challenges.
Let me share my insights to help you make an informed choice.
Traditional Publishing
In the beginning for my book , I went with traditional publishing. Here’s what I experienced:
A team of professionals helped with editing, design, and marketing.
My book had a better chance of appearing in physical bookstores and libraries.In a result, my book has got the place in the book stall of a larger book fair. I did nothing for them.
Being published by a known publisher enhanced my credibility as an author.
I had the contract to get around 10-15% of the book’s sales.
The process was slow, taking years from acceptance, proofreading to publication.
The publisher made many of the final decisions regarding my book.
Self-Publishing
For my second book, I chose to self-publish. Here’s what I found:
I had the final say on everything, from the content to the cover design.
I have the full share of the profits, often up to 80% or more.
I could publish my book as soon as it was ready, avoiding lengthy approval processes.
I spend money on services like cover design, editing and marketing.
Promoting the book fell entirely on my shoulders, which was demanding and time-consuming.
That was back in around 2010. That time KDP was not so well known and popular on the global market. As (KDP) started in November 2007.
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
After publishing some of my books with a grand hustle I came to know & decided to use Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).
Here’s why it could be a good choice for both beginners and professionals:
KDP prints books on order, reducing first costs and doesn’t require the investment before selling.
The platform is user-friendly, making it easy for anyone to publish their book.
By this authors can reach readers all over the world, giving them access to a large, international audience.
Authors can earn up to 70% in royalties for their eBooks.
You retain control over your book’s content and pricing, with the ability to make changes as needed.
Now the time for choosing your book publishing platform. It depends on your personal goal, like what you want to get as an outcome. Then you can decide to pick self publishing or traditional publishing. Amazon KDP could also be a good option.
If you prefer complete control and are ready to handle all aspects of publishing, self-publishing or using KDP might be the best option. On the other hand, if you value professional support and wider distribution, traditional publishing could be the right choice.
Both methods have their importance and can lead to success. Reflect on your priorities and resources to determine the best approach for your book. Ultimately, the most important thing is to share your story with the world.
But you have to choose first, what do you want?
Money or popularity.
In the beginning, you can’t seek both.
You need to choose only one as a beginner.
Happy publishing!