What is Self-publishing?

I have gotten a few questions about how to publish, so over the next few weeks, I’m going to be explaining the different routes you can take. 

Today, I’m talking about self-publishing!

Self-publishing is the author doing all the marketing, branding, writing, editing, and formatting. He has all the creative freedom yet must cover all the costs. You could hire a professional marketer, but it’s still on you to spearhead the whole thing. 

Once the author has the book finished (written, edited etc.), he would go to a publishing platform or publishing house (Like Amazon, Kobo, or Blurb) and market his book. 

From my research, self-publishing takes the most work but gives the author the most profit. The author has to spend their time and money on the book itself, marketing, and creating their own brand. But! He has the final say in the book cover, plot, and price. 

If the author published with a publishing house (Penguin/Random House, Hachette Book Group, Harper Collins), the house would have a large slice of profit, and they get the author’s creative rights to not only the cover, but even the plot! (I will write more on this next week). 

Self-publishing benefits are: the author has the final say on everything and makes more profit. But the cons are: the author must do literally everything.