So You Want to Be an Author?

Are you one of those people who would like to publish their own novel someday? Or leave an autobiography for your kids or grandkids? Well, you’re not alone. According to a report by Bowker, the official U.S. agency that provides resources to help authors publish, distribute, and promote their books, E-book sales for self-published authors accounted for $874 million in 2022. Another source indicated that 3 million self-published books are published each year. This isn’t a revenue opportunity for the vast majority of us though, since the same report said that self-published authors sell an average of only 5 books!

In other words, you can write the great American novel, but it is highly likely that few will see it, without an extensive (and perhaps expensive) marketing campaign. In truth, that was always the strength of traditional publishing houses—their ability to get a published work into the hands of readers.

If you are realistic about your expectations and your reasons for undertaking self-publishing, it is still a fulfilling venture. The feeling of satisfaction upon unpacking a hard cover book (or opening an E-book) with your name on the front is hard to describe. There are several reliable self-publishing houses that can help you with nearly all aspects of the process, and I’ve worked with a couple of well-known brands, like Kindle Direct Publishing and Book Baby, both of which can access Amazon’s marketplace for distribution. Many other options exist.

Costs of Self-Publishing

Before investigating the self-publishing field, a prospective author may think that the cost of publishing an E-book or a few print books to market is relatively low. Yes, it is, but it is not free. There are expenses related to the creation of your book that you need to expect.

Generally, these publishers require one item to put your words into electronic or ink-based print: A PDF of your children’s book, novel, or nonfiction manuscript that meets their specification requirements. That PDF, for example, may be created as one or two columns of text, include photos or illustrations, with pagination, title page, and all of the other checklist items you find in typical printed books. The key is how you arrive at this point of manuscript submission.

Say you’ve written a 30,000-word manuscript. Now you need a professional to edit the draft, from the perspectives of story structure and basic copyediting. Self-publishing companies may offer editing services for a fee, but the quality of the editing can be inconsistent, depending on the freelance editor they assign.

Next, the pages must be laid out by a graphic artist, to create the PDF. The company may also offer these services, which adds to your cost, depending on both the length of the book and the amount of graphics. I self-published a report recently, with several figures and tables, and worked closely with my graphic artist on the creation, formatting, and layout of a 96-page E-book. It was a gratifying experience, but a bit of an investment.

Finally, you will need proofreading services to help ensure the final quality of the formatted piece. It is wise to employ a professional, as they know exactly what to look for and how to fix the most common (and problematic) issues in the final proof.

I generally advise people interested in self-publishing that they may have to invest $1,500 or more to get their book to the finishing line and onto Amazon’s marketplace. You may end up paying only a few bucks to purchase your printed book, but it is critical to understand your other embedded upfront costs!

At Revisions Communications & Editorial Services, we have helped several authors get their print books and E-books through the self-publishing process. Contact us today for more information.