Why I decided to self-publish rather than go the traditional publishing route

(HINT: My book is called OVERRIDE! It's not about doing things the way they've always been done. It also examines OTHER WAYS of doing things.)

WHAT IF THERE WAS ANOTHER WAY? is the question I bring to all of my work. It’s also the question I invite clients (and readers) to ask themselves. We all can get stuck in our ways, but when we allow ourselves to shift our mindset, let go of some control (and outdated ideas of how things should be done), and even invite in a sense of play so much can change.

No matter what path you take when publishing a book, there’s never a straight path without twists, turns, curveballs, and probably a bit of wanting to bang your head against the wall. There is no one way and there is no right way. We also live in a constantly changing world.

My first dance with the idea of publishing a book was about a decade ago. I’d put together two proposals for two unrelated books and knew the exact agent I wanted to work with. She was very kind about what I put together, but said she couldn’t take them on (one she really liked but told me it would never sell—funny, I see loads of books these days with that theme now!). That’s where that journey ended.

Looking back, I realized I was too set in my ways thinking—thinking I knew the best publisher for what I wanted to do (it was all based on my external optics with no internal information). I also had no clue that it often can take a dozen tries to find an agent who is the combination of the right fit, right time, and right level of belief in what you’re working on. The timing of the subject also matters.

A couple of years ago a different agent reached out to me after having seen a feature about my work in a mainstream magazine. We went back and forth a couple of times, and a writer friend helped me refine my proposal, but ultimately agent #2 decided not to move forward either.

I was a bit naive to the process at the time (hanging out with writers through

London Writers' Salon

has been eye-opening in more recent years), but also I think subconsciously both of these events didn’t make me eager to knock on doors for more rejection. Heck, getting an agent is no guarantee that a publisher would say yes either! (Or that there’d be a big advance.) I never even considered going an indie route. I had too may assumptions and I believed too much of the judgement others projected that wouldn’t be taken seriously. I just gave up.

As for traditional publishing, we don’t always hear the stories of traditionally published authors told out loud as authors need to put their best foot forward and make sure their book gets into the world, and they often hope there are more to follow. (The best part of befriending fellow authors is that you get to hear the inside scoop!).

Honestly, I hadn’t heard some of the horror stories (that really were more stories of disappointment and underwhelm) when I decided to self-publish. My number one reason for self (or rather independent) publishing was that I felt like this book needed to be in the world sooner rather than later, and I didn’t have the energy to wait a year or more for a book to finally get published. It felt like a bigger gamble to go the traditional publishing route than to go it on my own.

When it came to the book I’d ultimately self publish: OVERRIDE! What if there was another way? A pocket playbook for possibility I didn’t even know I was writing a book when I started. I let it be an organic process, one step at a time. I’ve shared the story on a couple podcasts, but the honest truth was I just felt pulled to write. I took myself to a café most afternoons and that’s what I did.

It was probably about a month into it that it donned on me that I may be writing a book. And perhaps this is why I wasn’t so set on getting a big name publisher—it all caught me off guard. It wasn’t any of the other books I mentioned above, but an entirely different one. I’m still not sure if it’s a book a friend and I started brainstorming a couple years prior, but at least a lot of the ideas in terms of form/format carried over.

That’s where my design background came in handy and it was great I could design my own mock-ups (sample books) along the way, which helped inform the content and direction of my book as I went. The design mattered if I wanted to get my ideas across that felt accessible and actionable (change only happens when we take action, after all). Not every book I write will have the same considerations, but the “creative constraints” helped me shape the book I wanted to create. (More on that in this post.)

My background, skills, and professional experience played a big role in the decision to go the independent publishing route too. I will be the first to admit that having so many skills was both a blessing and a curse. (When you can do it all, you don’t outsource and you think you can figure everything out.)

Different seasons of life have different needs, so it’s not like I’ve completely slammed the door on traditional publishing either. There’s definitely no one-sized-fits-all answer to publishing. What’s cool and exciting is now we have options.

Here’s the breakdown of key factors behind my decision making to self-publish:

1. I didn’t want to go through a million rounds of rejection to get an agent. (See above.)

2. I didn’t have the full clarity on what the book was about. (A traditional route requires a proposal.) I needed to write my way through. Wow, was this healing! It also allowed the manuscript to evolve and I got to savor the process. I knew the only way I could do this was if I was the one making the shots.

3. The book is about doing things differently and finding other ways so it only felt fitting to self-publish. I didn’t know all the other ways when I started. I allowed myself to learn as I went. (Even if you’re traditionally published, I’ve heard of authors who were left in the dark about many parts of the process—there are a lot of unspoken assumptions in this process.)

4. I knew I had a background in graphic design (I have a MA in Publications Design, although ironically I never had to design a book) which would give me more creative control to do it myself. It’d also save me money from having to hire a designer.

5. I felt like I wanted a different format (a smaller book that’s travel-friendly and fits in a pocket). Most business and self-help books I read feel unnecessarily big/thick just to fit the genre’s standards. (Bigger does not make something better! In fact, as I learned it’s actually far more challenging to keep things succinct. So many books I read in self-help and business I feel like need an editor by the last third.)

6. There are way more resources and tools for self-publishing now than in the past, making it more accessible and feasible. (It cost me less to print and ship one sample copy of my book than to buy someone else’s book at the bookstore!)

7. Friends who have traditionally published have had a mixed experience in recent years (and I’m not a celebrity name that’s going to get the royal treatment). Not only are budgets stretched, but so are people. Publishing traditionally is not a guarantee of success.

8. Whether you traditionally publish or self-publish you still have to talk about and promote your book for it to sell. (A friend who traditionally published spent her entire advance on a publicist after seeing her publisher was doing nothing to promote her book.)

9. Writers in general don’t make a ton of money, at least not out of the gate. Yes, big name writers do, but they also get the biggest marketing budgets. Everyone I’ve known who has gotten traditional book deals has still had to keep their day job as they write, and after their books come out. I decided to invest up front for bigger returns in the long run.

10. I knew I had the design skills and online business skills and existing platform to do much of it myself. (This is part of my choice to not only independently publish, but sell “direct.”)

11. I can earn more margins per book by self-publishing, and by selling direct [Lulu vs. Amazon]. This is something I only did because I already have a long, established online platform and community. (I understand now why many authors wait until book 10 to start selling directly—it’s an uphill learning curve getting started. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend my nuanced path for most first-time authors. Setting up an e-commerce shop is another kind of mountain.)

12. When people buy from me directly I am more connected to readers. (I have access to their emails so I can invite them to special events, ask for reviews, and keep them posted about new updates.) It’s a whole ecosystem.

13. I was able to “go global” out of the gate and not stress about international rights and licensing. I know I have an international, well-traveled audience so this made sense for me more than some others.

14. My book is “printed on-demand” [POD] meaning there is less waste and I don’t have to pay for storage. It’s also printed around the world making it more sustainable, and not have to travel huge distances—the cost of shipping can be killer! (One friend who traditionally published had delays in receiving her books because the ship they were on was rerouted because of pirates!!!)

15. There are existing platforms that make distribution easy now (Amazon, IngramSpark). The other perk of these challenges is it makes international taxes easier. (In addition to selling direct, I’m on these platforms and wider distribution networks now. I chose to keep a sustainable pace and rolled them out over time rather than having everything ready on launch day. Yet another reason it helps to be the one in charge of your own book!)

16. I attended the London Book Fair in March (long after my decision to self-publish), and wow, I didn’t realize just how set in its ways the publishing industry was! It can be very challenging to break into, and honestly it needs some serious updating. A lot of folks attend the fair to try to sell international rights and translations too. I will say was wonderful to see tons of representation of indie authors in the Author HQ showing times are changing.

17. I wanted to be able to ENJOY THE PROCESS. I didn’t want insane deadlines and external pressure. This book like many things in life needed to take the time it takes. (Despite my desire to get it out in the world sooner rather than later, it was still an active process over 1.5+ years, and that didn’t include the year pause from an earlier conception.)

18. It is not unheard of for authors who self-publish to get publishing deals. Did you know the wildly popular The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron was originally self-published? Nir Eyal also had a book he self-published that got picked up. It is true that traditional publishing can be easier to get into bookstores if that’s your end game.

19. I had a strong conviction that the world needed this book now (or sooner rather than later). I couldn’t wait a year to get an agent/publisher, and another year to get out into the world. OVERRIDE! is ultimately about asking WHAT IF THERE WAS ANOTHER WAY? so that is definitely the spirit I brought to all of my choices.
    

In the spirit of OVERRIDE! I wasn’t caught up with the idea of success I grew up with. The assumption was to be taken seriously as an author I had to be picked up by a big name publisher. I was willing to take the risk, take a path aligned with my values, and see what happens when I tried something another way, my way. Let me tell you, after this process, I have SO much respect for every author—traditionally published and indie. It is no small feat to put a book into the world. We should celebrate them all!

I embraced the journey of getting my work into the world and grew because of it. Are there downsides, frustrations, and challenges for self-publishing? Of course. But that’s for another day, and another post.

No matter what path you take there will be ups and downs, roadblocks, and frustrations. KEEP GOING anyway!!!! Let go of the idea of instant success and enjoy the process. You will inevitably learn a ton. I’ve fully embraced the journey of the long game over instant gratification. (See OVERRIDE! page 88, chapter: The dopamine of instant gratification.)

The cool thing is no matter how you publish there’s so much we can learn from the other ways—both in terms of what’s working, and what’s not. No matter what publishing track you take, get real comfortable with having to ask for help A LOT! 😜 Publishing takes a village regardless of the route you take. It’s impossible to do it alone.

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You may also enjoy this comprehensive post of “My Favorite Resources for (Self)publishing.” I knew NONE of this going into the process—I learned as I went. It also breaks down why I’m still grateful if you buy my book directly from me rather than the other distribution channels.

BIG FAVOR: If you’ve read OVERRIDE! I’d be grateful if you could leave me a review on Amazon (and/or Goodreads). It’s OK if you didn’t buy it there! Reviews are essential for visibility and getting the word out, especially when it comes to first time authors.

Learn more about OVERRIDE! Connect, one of the creative ways (it even involves banana mapping!!!) and subvert “how things are done” in publishing. I hope to tap into existing communities, both online and offline, to bring change to the world through my little book with big ideas, while bringing value and connection to those you gather with. Please reach out if you have a book group or gathering that might be game for something like this.


Have you self published? Are you thinking about it? Anything in this post surprise you? Share your thoughts in the comments!