Why You SHOULDN’T Self-Publish
Aug 20, 2024
Art by Analise Black
Are you sure self-publishing is right for you? In this episode, Jake Parker, Lee White, and Will Terry discuss why you should think twice before taking this intense path.
Got a Question for the Podcast? Ask it here
JOIN US IN community
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Self-publishing isn’t for the faint of heart. Go in with your eyes wide open and be prepared to hold yourself accountable; manage time, inventory, and shipping; and learn as you go.
- Before you commit to a full-length graphic novel or intensive board game, take a few smaller projects from sketch to sale. You’ll learn how to bring something to market and more importantly, how you handle being your own boss.
- Manage your expectations. We encourage learning by experience, but we also acknowledge that the quality of those first projects probably won’t attract millions of dollars in sales.
- Self-publishing means assuming the risk of a failed project. Don’t put more money into it than you can afford to lose, and mitigate risk by holding down a part- or full-time job while you work towards profitability.
- Know your audience and talk to them directly.
SUMMARY: You should NOT self-publish if:
- Your product isn’t very unique or niche
- You can’t potentially wait years between starting your project and turning a profit
- You aren’t willing to risk not making a profit
- You aren’t willing to be your own boss and hold yourself to deadlines
- Your story or artwork aren’t professional (unless you’re trying to learn on the job, which we encourage, and not expecting huge results)
- You’re not prepared to manage inventory and shipping
- You’re afraid of spreadsheets
- You can’t identify your audience
- You don’t have a plan for where to sell your product
- You’re scared of what people will think
- You’re not okay with not knowing things and making mistakes
- Your project is perfect for traditional publishing (genres like current events, trending social issues, and biographies of popular historical figures thrive in mainstream publishing)
- You don’t have a support group
Whether it succeeds or fails, each project you launch is a stepping stone towards your next idea. Don’t bank so much on the success of one project that you don’t move on to the next one.
Do common things uncommonly well to set yourself apart.
Don’t force every idea to become a cash cow; leave some art just for yourself. You might still make money off of it, but don’t create it for that cause. Focus on the purity of the craft and let other endeavors (artistic or not) pay the bills.
Time spent perfecting your craft is not time wasted, and neither is time spent earning a living. Find the balance and appreciate both pursuits.
Hopefully this empowers you to choose between self-publishing and traditional publishing with your eyes wide open. Despite all of these considerations, we feel that self-publishing is worth our time, and we choose it repeatedly for our personal work.
If you believe you have what it takes to self-publish, we’re here to support you. A new session of Self-Publishing Pro launches this fall and we’d love to see you there! You’ll learn everything you need to plan and execute your project, find production partners, market to your audience, fulfill orders, and more- all with a cheering community of like-minded creatives by your side. Learn more at selfpublishingpro.com.
If you like this episode, please share it, subscribe, and let us know your thoughts or if you learned something new!
