Like millions of people, I published my first Indie novel during the pandemic. I’d been very close to being traditionally published multiple times. But for whatever reason, the literary stars never aligned for me. When my mother passed away and life shut down, I simply got tired of waiting for someone else to give me permission to put my stories out into the world.

When I signed an electronic contract with a hybrid publisher, although I’d been writing for a decade, I had a very limited understanding of the publishing industry. Sure, I’d read books, watched YouTube videos, attended conferences and talks at my local writing chapter, but the nuances of cover designs, Kirkus reviews, and Amazon ads meant nothing to me… at least not in a concrete, selling-books way. Even when a critique group member who’d recently self-published his first novel met me at Starbucks and explained the ins and outs of publishing from his perspective, referring to terms like Author Central, KDP, keywords, and algorithms, I probably only grasped about ten percent of what he was saying.

Knowing this, I selected a hybrid publisher for my first publishing endeavor. I believed they’d guide me through the process, which they did. Sort of. Only through emails. Once I signed the contract and paid for my package, they refused to speak to me on the phone. Okay, the experience was less than stellar. But the reality is, I owe them a lot. If they’d fulfilled their promises, I would never have self-published my second and third novels and grown leaps and bounds as an author.

Deciding whether to publish traditionally, pay a hybrid publisher, or go the self-publishing route is a very personal decision. Most of the time, unless you have a huge platform, an in with the Big Five, or you’re insanely lucky or gifted, your options are limited. You can either work with a hybrid publisher, self-publish, or remain unpublished. A few writers in my critique group seem to have the ‘I’m waiting to be discovered like an ’80s supermodel in a mall’ attitude. Whether their choice not to act is financial, ego-related, or delusional, I can’t say. But if they asked, I would tell them that for me, self-publishing has been an amazing teacher. Below are some benefits I’ve received from uploading my novel and pressing ‘publish.’

1. VALUABLE HONEST FEEDBACK. Even if your family, friends, critique group members, and that editor or agent from that conference all tell you that your book is a winner, you don’t really know if this is true until actual readers review it. Knowing where you stand can be a game-changer. If your readers’ reactions are positive, your confidence soars. All writers need confidence to persevere. Gaining confidence helped me overcome my imposter syndrome. And if readers point out your book’s weaknesses, then you can improve your writing and storytelling before you publish your next novel. Knowledge is power. Knowing where you stand is key.
2. SELF-PUBLISHING HITS HOME THAT WRITING IS A BUSINESS. When you’re sitting in your home office, creating exciting new worlds on your laptop, it’s easy to forget that you’re writing to make money. But if you’re paying for Amazon ads, building websites, hiring cover artists, and promoting yourself on podcasts, you start to see that the business part of your projects matters a lot. Knowing this makes you a better, more professional author. You can’t not think about things like writing for your target audience, genre page counts, and the importance of pacing and editing for readability.
3. IT TEACHES YOU THAT PROGRESS, NOT PERFECTION, IS THE GOAL. One of the reasons I refrained from publishing sooner was because most of the publishing professionals I’d met touted the mantra that writers shouldn’t submit their work unless it was perfect. But what does that even mean? I’ve learned through self-publishing that perfection, just like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.  Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t edit your novel or make changes that beta readers suggest. I’m saying that every book isn’t for every reader.  You do your absolute best to satisfy your readers, and when you write your next book, you try even harder. But there is no perfect book. Even bestsellers get one-star reviews.
4. YOU GET TO TAKE CONTROL BACK. Before the advent of Amazon and the internet, writers had to wait for editors and agents to bless them. But that’s no longer the case. Through self-publishing, we can tell our truths and entertain without gatekeepers. There will, of course, be roadblocks (books that don’t sell, disappointing launches), but they’ll be our roadblocks to swerve around and climb over. We, as self-published authors, get to be the boss. We get to take responsibility for our successes and failures, and that’s a great thing.
5. YOU’RE MOTIVATED TO DO RIGHT BY YOUR BOOK. Prior to publishing my books, truth be told, I wasn’t super motivated to post on social media, write blog articles, or attend networking events. I knew I was supposed to handle all the marketing to get an agent, but without my book — my published baby — my motivation would flare up and wane.  My attempts to post and network were sporadic at best. But publishing my books changed all of that. I felt inspired. I wanted to give my novels the best chance to succeed. Posting and marketing became like self-care for my books. Doing it now feels right and good, and it’s become a habit.
6. SELF-PUBLISHING FLESHES YOU OUT. We, as writers, talk about fleshing out characters, breathing life into them, making them well-rounded, and giving them backstories. But what we don’t realize is that self-publishing can do this for us, too. Once you publish, you’re not simply holed up in a coffee shop or your house writing, you’re promoting your book at festivals and fairs and on podcasts, and you’re talking about your writing journey to fellow writers and readers. Why you wrote your book, who inspired you, the challenges you faced, and what your career and writing goals are for the future. You become a real person, a whole person. You’re forced to grow, stretch, and do things that are out of your comfort zone. Like your protagonist, you change.

I’m not saying that I’ll never use a traditional or hybrid publisher to publish a book in the future. What I am saying is that self-publishing has helped prepare me for whatever future publishing choices I might make. One thing is certain… I no longer thirst for an agent or an editor to guide my writing career. Knowing that I can carve my own path feels pretty awesome!

Are you a self-published author or a writer who is weighing your publishing options? I’d love to hear about your publishing journey. Leave me a comment. Let’s chat!