Anyone Can Write (and Publish) a Book, but Should They?
*Article from Lexington Line Autumn/Winter 2024 Issue, pages 20-23
Check out the full issue here
From fairy smut to nefarious family secrets, the modern mainstream novel has taken a drastic turn from its predecessors, as more and more readers take to indulge their deepest desires and depravities. With the emergence of fanfic websites like Wattpad and Archive of Our Own (AO3), writers no longer require the backing of a traditional publisher, so everyone seems to want a piece of the fiction pie.
Writers can publish themselves now. But should they?
It's no secret that getting a manuscript picked up by a major publishing house is extremely difficult—in fact, aspiring authors may only have a 1–2% chance, according to research site WordsRated.
With backing from a publisher, writers are able to have practically everything they need for success—particularly money, support, and time.
It all starts with an agent who takes someone's work and pitches it to various publishing houses. If an editor is interested in buying, they draft a contract, and the author receives a cash advance on the projected earnings for the novel. From there, a publication date—usually two years out—is set. The team gets to work, editing, revising and proofreading the text until it’s ready for publishing.
Advances are a big draw for traditional publishing, as they help authors devote themselves to their writing without worrying about their income. The publisher will pay its writers in incremental payments: once when they first sign their contract, and again when their manuscript is completely finished and ready for production, and finally when the book is officially published.
“It's a signal that the publisher is willing to put its money where its mouth is,” author Victoria Strauss says in an article for the writer’s resource website Writers Beware. “To assume the financial risk of publication, and put cash and effort behind the production, distribution, and marketing of the book.”
In a poll of 1,400 authors, Mary Adkins, who is an author and online writing coach, found that the average advance given to first-time writers is $57,000, with Adult Fiction novelists earning upwards of $66,000. These paydays allow first-time writers to profit from their writing regardless of book sales.
Authors are also assigned a whole team of skilled professionals who are dedicated to every step of the publishing process. With the assistance of various editors—developmental editors, line editors, copy editors, and more—and a department of marketers and strategists, writers are able to focus solely on the writing itself rather than the other aspects of creating a book.
While these aspects of traditional publishing may appeal to the novice writer, they carry risks as well.
A book contract brings a loss of numerous liberties, including creative vision.
Most traditionally published authors have very little say over their books. The design, title, cover synopsis, and even an author’s vision for a story are all left to the publisher's whim. Because the rights to the story belong to the publisher, they are able to make any change they see fit, regardless of whether it aligns with the author’s perspective.
Publishers also inflict immense pressure on authors due to their investment. They are expected to meet strict deadlines in a specific time frame and deliver a quality story that earns publishers the projected revenue. If an author fails to deliver any of these elements, they run the risk of legal and financial trouble—losing their contracts and potentially having to return any paid advances. And because most publishers set a publication date up to two years in advance, the timeline from manuscript to release can be long and grueling.
“Even in this digital age, it’s the sales and marketing aspect that requires long lead times,” literary agent Rachelle Gardner says. “This is where all those things you get with a traditional publisher that you don’t get with digital self-pub come into play.”
Self-published authors control their own timeline.
“These days, you can get your book up for sale on Kindle within a matter of days after you finish writing it, so authors have less patience for publisher lead times,” Gardner says.
With the emergence of self-publishing platforms such as Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing, authors are now allowed to take control of their own stories.
“You are truly the director in every aspect of your novel,” says author Tessa Aldridge, who has self-published two novels.
The creative vision that is forfeited in traditional publishing returns to the writers when self-publishing. Without the looming pressure of marketability from publishers, authors can now deliver a story that is more authentic to them and what they want to convey, and on their own timeline.
“As a self-published author, you really get the most say over what you change, what the cover is,” Aldridge notes. “My two novels are the most authentic version of my voice that will ever be out there, versus taking lots of opinions from others.”
Self-publishing also breaks down a lot of barriers previously placed by traditional publishing. It can take years for a manuscript to get picked up by an agent and subsequently sold, and with the industry’s proclivity for gate keeping, many new writers are met with rejection. Self-publishing takes out the middleman for book publication and allows first-time authors to publish what they want, when they want.
Publishing your own book may seem like the better option when compared to traditional means, but there are some setbacks.
While writers do retain creative autonomy over every aspect of their project, this also means that they are left to foot the bill of all upfront costs. Self-published authors are known to make more money than those who are traditionally published—as they are able to retain a higher royalty rate—but most independent authors will spend between $1,000 to $5,000 to create a high-quality book, according to Well-Storied. A self-published writer must shell out thousands of dollars to pay for editors, cover designers, interior formatters and publishers in order to create the same quality of product that a traditional publishing house would distribute.
Without the backing of a publisher writers, are also responsible for curating a reputable publishing team. Freelance editors and cover designers are a growing market nowadays, but finding individuals who meet the needs, time frame, budget, and creative vision of an author can be difficult.
“So much more work than many people realize actually goes into publishing a book, and those that are doing it themselves almost have to turn into a jack of all trades to get it done,” says Alexandra Kleinmann, an avid reader and social media intern for the literary platform Bookstr.
Book production may be an expensive endeavor, but promoting it can present even bigger obstacles. Without the assistance of marketers and strategists, an independent author will need to shoulder the responsibility of getting their book noticed by readers. Thankfully, with the rise of TikTok’s BookTok, many self-published authors are able to tap into their audience through promotional videos.
Though an indie author may be able to produce an authentic and high-quality novel themselves with enough effort and money, there is something that traditional publishing will have over them—reputation.
It’s no secret that there's stigma around self- publishing. Some readers, like Reddit user buteo51, are so averse to them that they refuse to read any self-published books at all.
“I wouldn't touch self-published non-fiction with a ten-foot pole. I wouldn't buy a self-published fiction book without having read a few sample chapters first,” they say in the Reddit thread r/books.
Many authors who dare to publish their own work are often seen as invalid and amateurish.
“I definitely think they don't take it as seriously. There's a stereotype around it not being as good, and I can understand where they're coming from, as there are fewer experts in your corner,” Aldridge says.
Independent authors are still able to create impactful work despite the stigma. Several self-published authors have gained the title of New York Times Bestseller, including the iconic Fifty Shades of Grey series by E.L. James, and create a platform that has granted them access to traditional publishing later on.
“There are so many works that get self-published and then picked up by bigger publishing houses when they become more popular,” Kleinmann says. “The publishing industry today is extremely competitive and many indie authors don’t have the ability to work with big publishers but have great writing that people want to read.”
Whether it's self-published or not, good writing comes from everywhere. Each publishing route comes with its own setbacks and challenges but are ultimately aspires to the same goal: creating literature that not only connects with audiences, but leaves a lasting impact.
“Novels are more so about the story and message, rather than how they were published, and I think that's what matters most,” Aldridge says.