There are many routes for writers these days. The rise in technology and online opportunities has allowed writers to self publish and distribute their work online. In addition to self-publishing, a writer can sign up with a vanity publisher or be fortunate enough to find a conventional publisher.

With the rise in the popularity of writing, it would seem that finding a publisher to take on your work would be difficult. This is unless you are famous or happen to have the holy grail of a book.

Vanity Publishing

I nearly chose a vanity publisher as it means you get instant access to most retailers, and the lure of having your book in one of the big high street retailers is attractive! However, after some research, I decided against this route. In addition to this, I would have to pay them for the privilege. It just didn’t seem the best option.

Self Publishing 

I chose self-publishing because it made sense. After hours of research and learning what it took, I formulated a plan and became confident in self-publishing. Reedsy was a great help, and I will be forever grateful to this website. It allowed me to typeset my finished work and find professionals to help with cover design, website build, and other assistance.

However, the main benefit of self-publishing is that you remain in control and completely involved from start to finish. Learning every step of the process, and there is a lot to learn! I still hope to get my work in Waterstones and other high street retailers, although still happy to have my work available on Amazon, Apple Books, and Google Play. It won’t be long until the audible version is released.

Publishing House

Even though I have self-published and completed most of the work myself, I will be submitting my work to various publishers moving forward. If a publisher takes you on, you know they have confidence in what you have written. They will invest time and resources into your work as they believe you have something to offer the world. The key is finding a publisher who works in the genre you write about, as most tend to specialise in specific genres.

Summary

Writing a book is just the start. If you can prove to a publisher that people will like your work, then maybe you have more of a chance of them taking you on. So, self-publishing and gaining followers can help convince a potential publisher that your work is liked. Only time will tell if this approach works, although it’s good to know that the books I write can still be made available on numerous platforms through self-publishing. If you have ever wanted to write a book, my advice is to do it!