Should you self-publish? This is a big debate among aspiring authors, and there is no one right answer. Today I’m sharing my take on the three main publishing options you have to get a book into the world:
Self-publishing (including direct-to-ebook or audiobook) where you hire your own team of specialists along the way.
Hybrid where you partner with an established publisher, while fronting the costs as an author (for the team they assemble and either print-on-demand or funding a larger print run), and
Traditional publishing with one of the “Big Five” publishing houses, where they give you an advance, and you get the cache of making it through the “gatekeeper” gauntlet.
🌟6 Key Considerations:
Cash Flow
Your Business Model
Quality
Speed
Team & Process
Platform size, connections, and “know that I tried”
📝Permission: Take one small next step towards publishing your book. Remember, you are a messenger. When you get overwhelmed, return to asking, “What is in the highest good for all involved? How can I move forward with ease and joy?”
✅Do (or Delegate) This Next: Check out the Author Toolkit, then draft a one-page query email highlighting the answers to: why me, why now, why this book, and your platform stats.
📘Books Mentioned:
Free Time: Lose The Busywork, Love Your Business
Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One
Life After College
Published.: The Proven Path From Blank Page To 10,000 Copies Sold by Chandler Bolt
Write Useful Books: A Modern Approach to Designing and Refining Recommendable Nonfiction by Rob Fitzpatrick
Write a Must-Read: Craft a Book That Changes Lives—Including Your Own by A.J. Harper
🔗Resources Mentioned:
Free Time’s Author Toolkit
Article: New York Times’ How to Get Published—One Book’s Journey
Related Podcasts: Self Publishing School, The Creative Penn Podcast
Publishers: Page Two, Running Press Publishing, Portfolio Publishing, Ideapress Publishing, Amazon CreateSpace
Audiobook Publishing: ACX, Findaway Voices
🎧Related Podcast Episodes:
103: How to Land a Literary Agent and Publisher with David Moldawer (Part One)
105: “Don’t write the wrong book!” with David Moldawer (Part Two)
077: Happy Launch Day! Antonio Neves Guest Hosts (Part 1)
079: Behind the Launch with Antonio Neves (Part 2)
096: Book Sales Stats—One Month Post-Launch 🎉
028: When the Financial Tides Recede
045: Behind the Free Time Brand with Adam Chaloeicheep
158: How to Decide on a Book (or Big Idea) Topic—10 Filters
070: Rough Drafts vs. The Writers Room
035: The Long Game with Dorie Clark
💻 Access Free Time episode transcripts on Podscribe »
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