Before the internet, getting a book published was challenging, and often aspiring writers never saw their dreams of published work realized. However, since the internet, eBooks, and alternative publishing methods have been invented, the publishing world has never been the same.
While traditional publishers will likely never be obsolete, they must be much more competitive to keep up with the thousands of independent writers’ self-publishing. However, many independent authors are still hesitant to self-publish because of the costs.
The cost of self-publishing depends on how much of the process you will do yourself, the content and book length, and the costs associated with the self-publishing company you are using to publish. The average cost to self-publish will fall between $2,000 – $4,000, including marketing, cover design, formatting, and editing.
This cost will be cut if you perform these services yourself. However, for the best quality end product, you should hire a professional editor. Many self-publishing sites have packages that include cover design, formatting, editing, and marketing. These services will make publishing more high-quality. However, using them will drive the costs up. Here is a closer look at these services and their costs.
Editing
It would help if you got a few kinds of technical editing done before publishing, including proofreading, developmental editing, and copy editing. You should have an editorial assessment and make critical changes to publish the best product possible.
Book Cover Design
Unless you are an artist or have skills as a graphic designer, it is suggested that you hire a professional book cover designer. Though there is the saying, “Never judge a book by its cover,” most people will explore a book further for potential purchase because of the book cover design.
The cost of having a professional cover designed can range widely with the cost depending upon the designer’s skill level.
Formatting
Depending on where you are publishing, you will need to format the book and an eBook. Each format is different depending on where you are publishing the book. You can format the book yourself if you know how to do it properly.
Hiring a professional to format your book is an excellent idea because it can be tedious and requires knowledge and skills, so it looks right when the book is published. While formatting can be tricky, there are many videos online that show how to do it.
Marketing
One of the significant disadvantages to self-publishing instead of going through a traditional publisher is that the publisher will heavily market your book. They will also set up book signings or other promotional events and handle all websites and social media associated with you or the book.
Other Costs
Depending on your chosen path, there can be costs associated with delivering and converting your book to an audiobook. You can also pay fees to use a website to publish for you, such as a flat fee or a percentage of your royalties.
In some cases, an author will hire a ghostwriter to help them develop, edit, and publish their book. Some ghostwriters will charge by the hour, while others will charge by the project. While it can be expensive to hire a ghostwriter, it can also help you get your ideas out quickly and professionally if you aren’t a strong writer.
Conclusion
Self-publishing is not for every author. It takes a lot of work and dedication to self-publish a book worthy of competing with traditionally published books. Those books have the entirety of the publishing company behind them on every aspect of the publishing process.
However, since it is difficult to get the attention of a publisher, self-publishing is a viable option. It also allows you to retain all creative control over your work, how it is released, marketed, and the message you want to send.
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