The idea of self-publishing in its initial stage was considered a total outlaw in the conventional publishing industry. It was considered to be just an alternative to the existing system. But not anymore! Thanks to a bunch of self-respecting and independent writing enthusiasts, self-publishing is more of a norm now. Like an ever-increasing number of authors, you may as well have a desire to publish and print your own book. Self-publishing validates such desire for self-expression, establishes the trend as a norm and further seeks to dissolve the discomfort around self-publishing. We will tell you why you should publish and print your own book.

Exceller Books has 5 defending rationales to dismiss the feeling of doubt and uneasiness surrounding self-publishing:

Democracy: Democracy in its most basic definition means equality among people by giving some sense of control in every one’s hand. In publishing sector, it means author’s control over content and right to publishing. Self-publishing in all its forms seeks to abolish the one-man-judgment system in the old-school publishing. Self-publishing allows us consider diverse opinion and perspectives. Progress is always a team work.

Knowing Your Pain Area for Improvement: Self-publishing does not tell you “Your writing is not good enough” or “Your subject will not interest the current generation”. Self-publishing helps you create your market by letting you publish your books. Whether it is a success or not, you get to test public reaction on your book and improve. Self-publishing gives you a few chances needed to get your readers interested in your genre. The result can be anything but at least you know where you lack: the content, the subject or the treatment. In order to arrive at this conclusion, you need to first publish your books. This is important part of your success journey. Whether your content is wrong or the audience is not developed enough.

Philosophy of the Time: We are living in an age where people are constantly trying to be independent, self-motivated and self-sufficient. One of the significant characteristics of independent people is they learn through practical experience. This ideology applies to publishing field as well. Self-publishing is not only a publishing mode but also a philosophy. It is learning to do something alone. It generates entrepreneurial spirit: the ability to take control of a whole process. Although, some will argue about self-published authors not being hugely successful (apart from a few), there are hundreds of writers who published using traditional publishing mode and are now buried in time immemorial. So, success is for a few, but experience is for everyone.

Quality vs Quantity: We have always seen that great writers are prolific producers too. One of the reasons is they take many chances. Mozart composed over 600 works. Tagore wrote more than 2000 songs in order to come up with a comparatively fewer number of memorable ones. In order to come up with a few good ones, you need to produce in bulk and let the readers pick the best. Sometimes unpublished write-ups of great poets are discovered posthumously. This says something important about the challenge of the time. Maybe, those manuscripts faced constant editorial rejection or underestimated by the creators and never quite made it to the immediate readers. So, the bottom line is, unleash your writing genius through publishing medium and let the readers be the judge.

Establish Reading Culture: There are many people complaining about the content or lack of content in self-published books. But, there is an alternative point of view also. As there are so many types of writers, there are as many varieties of readers too. We need not only different types but different degrees of writers to cater to those readers. And also because we constantly hear of something being published every now and then, there is still a connection with books in the busy time we go through. This keeps books in fashion. On the flip side, the picture is: Once in a while a mighty tome is released and no one but intellectuals read them and feels out of the world. Self-publishing companies understand that there is a reader in every one of us. So, there should be writers for all sorts of readers.

Finally, if someone feels that they do not want to read certain books, they can block them off. After all, there is no compulsion on reading, right! But, dismissing a development without looking at its future possibilities is quite a limiting belief. Many writers and bloggers feel terrible discomfort at the idea of self-publishing. But, I guess, more terrible is the system that keeps artificial pressure of perfection on creative minds; more discomforting is the system that does not allow authors to fail at their initial attempts. In short, it is complete creative denial. On the other hand, giving authors real experience is important as only by embracing reality, one can rise above the ordinary and discover true poetic genius.

If you find this read inspiring or want to offer a fresh perspective on self-publishing a book, do not hesitate to leave your opinions in the comment box. You can also write to us at publication@excellerbooks.com.