BY LIBBY WATERFORD

Self-publishing has become easier and more accepted than ever, but there are still many authors who are uncertain about taking the plunge. After being initially published by a small press, I began self-publishing my steamy contemporary romance novels in 2020. I relish the challenges and the rewards of a DIY approach to publishing, but the path is not for everyone.

How do you know if self-publishing is right for you? See if these reasons to self-publish your book resonate, and remember, there’s no single right way to publish.

1. You don’t want to wait for a yes.
   Traditional publishing is notoriously slow-paced. It could take months to years to get a yes from an agent, and then months to years on top of that to sell your manuscript, if it sells at all. In the meantime, you could have self-published that book, or even several books.
2. You don’t want to give up control.
   Self-published authors have control over every aspect of their books, from the contents to the packaging to the price. If you want to have complete say over your interior design, cover art, blurb, and more, self-publishing makes that possible. It’s a lot of work to be the one making every single decision, but the trade-off is control over the finished product.
3. You want to retain your rights.
   There are many different revenue streams associated with a single title. In addition to eBook, paperback, and hardcover versions, you have audio, foreign translations, TV and film, merchandise, and serial rights. Self-publishing gives you power to put your book into multiple formats at your discretion instead of a publisher buying rights only never to act on them.
4. You’d enjoy being a business owner.
   Self-published authors are entrepreneurs selling a product. If you have experience in business, even if you’ve never owned one before, you can apply your knowledge of marketing, advertising, packaging, and more as an author solopreneur.
5. You just want to hold your book in your hands.
   Maybe you don’t care about building a business or a career, at least not right now. You simply want to see your words in print, and you want to your manuscript to look like a “real” book. Print on demand makes printing small batches of self-published books incredibly easy and relatively inexpensive. You can take a manuscript, format it using free tools, create a cover or hire a cover designer, and have a copy of your book delivered in a week or two. There’s nothing like the feeling of holding a physical copy of your book in your hands for the first time.
   

There are so many more reasons that self-publishing might appeal to you, but one reason to crossself-publishing off your list is if you don’t want to learn. Self-publishing requires educating yourself about everything from metadata to design to taxes to advertising. Beyond learning about craft, you have to embrace the technical and marketing aspects of publishing. If you have no interest in learning about these things, you may want to pursue publishing with a hybrid press or go after that traditional publishing contract. But keep in mind that even traditionally published authors have to do more to support their author careers than simply turning in a manuscript.

For hands-on, up-to-date, and encouraging self-publishing education, consider taking my three-day self-publishing intensive coming up this August 19-21, 2025, 10AM-1PM, in person or online at the Westport Writers’ Workshop.

Libby Waterford is the self-published author of twenty-five contemporary romance novels and novellas under two pen names. She teaches genre fiction, romance, and self-publishing workshops at the Westport Writers’ Workshop.