What’s on my iPod: Silversun Pickups “Panic Switch”

Who I’m following on Twitter: @MyBeautyBunny

What I’m reading: Chris Cleave’s “Little Bee”

Here are my top three reasons why self-publishing may be a great opportunity for writers and three reasons why sticking with the traditional publishing route may be best:

To Self-Publish:

Reason #1: You control your book!

From cover to editing to publicity, it’s all about what you want for your book. BookSparks PR author Christine Lemmon has had success self-publishing her novels including the Indie Excellence Award finalist SAND IN MY EYES. Her cover is gorgeous, and her story is beautifully written. Because Christine self-published, she got to be involved in this creative process from start to finish.

Reason #2: You make more money per copy

It isn’t all about the money, but it doesn’t hurt if you can live your dreams and also make a living. Of course, royalty fees vary for each book, but with self-publishing you decide the price and control the income.

Reason #3: You don’t have to follow the trends

Often times, publishers won’t take on a project solely because they don’t feel like the genre will sell in the current marketplace. It may be that there is nothing wrong with the story. This is what drove our author Kathleen Shoop to self-publish her historical fiction THE LAST LETTER. Self-publishing has given her the option to share her amazing novel despite the current marketplace trends for dystopian societies, vampires and ghosts.

Not to Self-Publish:

Reason #1: While it is true you have control, you also front the bill

If you go the traditional publishing route, the publisher will pick up the expenses of an editor, book design and publicity. They will also pay for the printing costs for copies of your book.

Reason #2: Publishers have connections

And they don’t just connections in New York, they have connections all over the world. They also have vast amounts of resources and people with combined experience spanning decades. Connections are a vital part of any industry, but especially publishing. Making connections and establishing relationships in the industry are the keys to success.

Reason #3: That big display at Barnes & Noble

Let me first start off by saying that this reason, which I’m about to describe, is quickly changing. That being said, if you want your hard copies of your book on display in Barnes & Noble stores, you need to go the traditional publishing route with a few exceptions. However, the stigma about self-publishing is quickly changing. You can now sell your book on both Amazon and Barnes & Nobel’s Nook. If you self-publish, start out with these avenues and your book sells enough copies, there is then the opportunity it might be picked up. I think in the next five years we will see a lot more self-published novels in bookstores instead of just online.

If you are interested in self-publishing your book, click here to see BookSparks’ favorite resources for authors.

What are some pros and cons of self-publishing you think also deserve to be added to this list? Do you read self-published books – why or why not?