When someone says they are “self-publishing,” it usually refers to publishing a book on their own without an agent or publishing house. An associated term would be “indie author” or “independent author.”
A self-published author will take on as many roles as possible to complete a book including:
- Editor
- Cover Designer
- Marketer/Promotional Team
- Public Relations Coordinator
Some self-published authors will hire other professionals to help produce the book, such as hiring a designer for the cover or perhaps using paid services to assist in editing.
Although being self-published often comes with a great deal more work, the royalties are usually much higher than traditional publishing. In some cases, self-publishing can net up to five times the royalties of traditional publishing. Of course, this is before you account for paid services and products.
A lot of writing tools exist nowadays to help authors publish their books without spending thousands of dollars. Everything from writing apps to cover creators are easily accessible, and most have free versions that work exceptionally well.
Self-Publishing is Not Vanity Publishing
Vanity publishing and self-publishing often get intertwined but are completely separate methods. Vanity publishing is when an author pays a publisher to produce a book. There is no financial risk to them, so they’ll publish virtually anything that comes their way.
Vanity companies can charge thousands of dollars for their services, making it an expensive investment for most writers.
The trade-off is having your book professionally edited, getting a nice cover, and some social marketing services. In some cases, this can all run you between $4,000 and $10,000 in upfront fees. And some vanity publishers will keep the rights or share the rights to your book.
Thanks to platforms like Amazon KDP and Barnes & Noble Press, a self-published author can get started producing books without spending a single dime. I was able to publish my first book without paying for professional services or products.
However, some services might be worth exploring if you have the extra cash on hand.
- 9 Common Writing Pitfalls That Are Holding You Back - May 21, 2025
- Officially Going to Read Between the Stars 2025 in October! - May 19, 2025
- Making a Game for In-Between the Books – Kind Of - May 16, 2025