1. If you want total control over the project.
With self-publishing, you are the author, editor, book designer, publisher, and publicist. Even if you hire others to perform any of these functions, the buck still stops at your desk.
To illustrate the point, some years ago I attended a self-publishing conference in Milwaukee. We were asked if we had self-published a book. Two gentlemen behind me had self-published a guide to bed and breakfast hotels in Virginia. Just having such a book caught everyone’s attention, but the two men said they decided before they even began the project that the book had to be a moneymaker. Everyone in the room understood that all decisions they made about that book were made with profitability in mind.
2. If you have experience in book editing, design, publishing, distribution, and marketing.
You don’t need years of experience to self-publish a quality book. When planning your self-publishing project, see what other books exist on your topic. Study their content, layout, and design. Use these “model” books to guide you in creating your own work. Readers expect books in a particular genre to meet certain guidelines in terms of appearance. Perhaps all the books are trade paperbacks, or perhaps they are hardcovers. Learning this information at the start of your project can help ensure its success.
3. If you have access to experienced book editors, designers, publishers, and distribution networks.
Thanks to advances in technology, it’s never been easier to self-publish a book. At the same time, that’s a problem because while many people are ready to publish, their work reflects a lack of editing, design, and publishing expertise and experience.
Don’t let your book project fall into that category.
There are plenty of places to find professionals with these skills. Shop around, see what’s available, and ask others if they can recommend someone. Often a book’s acknowledgment section will list key individuals that might be in a position to help you with your project.
4. If you have the time that self-publishing requires.
if you have an outline, your materials are organized, and you have a solid documentation plan for producing your manuscript, writing a book can be done fairly quickly. Editing, designing, and publishing the book, however, will take longer. How much longer it will take depends on a number of things—length of manuscript, and time needed to design and publish the book. Whether you’re printing the book, versus simply releasing an e-book, will make a difference, time-wise.
Self-publishing offers you plenty of advantages to create and publish your best work. Consider these points when you decide how you will proceed.