Where did some self-published authors get the idea they should spend little to no money to publish and market their books? I think that is the underlying tone of a lot of content available online. I admit that when I began the self-publishing journey, I picked that idea up from some people I read and studied who suggested or outright told me I could publish a book for free.
Some writers believe that because they are independently publishing their books, they should get a break on services or get help from other authors and agencies below cost or for free. There are many individuals online offering advice, tips, and strategies for free. But no one should have an expectation that these people will offer hours of help and get nothing in return. That’s pretty unreasonable. Free information is available online for those who search for it.
I spent hours researching about self-publishing books and learned so much! I poured over articles, blogs, and interviews with indie authors who graciously shared their stories. It felt like I had been invited to an exclusive club where presenters would give away all the secrets of successful self-publishing when I came across webinars and online classes on the subject. I received excellent information from these studies. But…
Towards the end of the broadcast, the facilitator would present the switch to the bait. In that case, the other unsuspecting aspiring authors and I would be directed to consider making a substantial purchase of a product that promised to expand what we had just learned for free and move us closer to our dream of self-publication.
Well, some products did, and some didn’t help me reach my goal in my experience. At first, I felt bothered by the talk of money. I mean, we were artists, and our creative goal was for our writing to inspire the masses. But I had to correct myself and admit that money would need to be spent, wisely but for certain.
Sayings about money and success filled my mind. Nothing in life is free. You get what you pay for. And one of my favorites, I pay the cost to be the boss.
Deep down, I knew that people who honed their craft and taught it to others deserved to be compensated for their work. I thought of these collaborations as an energy exchange. Content creators and self-published authors spent a lot of time preparing their products.
There is also something to be said about testing the waters, getting burned, and figuring out what worked best so that others could avoid the emotional and financial drain that often goes along with making big mistakes in self-publishing. I will write another post at a later date about those individuals who make their money from scamming self-published authors.
Self-Published Authors Spend Wisely
So no, you don’t get something for nothing in your pursuit of publishing your book. There are many things to consider. For example, I could have created my own book cover and saved myself some money. But that part about me not being an illustrator or graphic designer undermined that idea.
I found some outstanding information on book cover design online. I took what I learned and hired a cover designer. In all honesty, his initial renderings were not good. They did not support my book’s genre style at all.
But I knew that and understood how to fix the designs because of all I learned from other authorpreneurs and through self-study. I told him exactly what I wanted and why. It was money well spent. Let me know if you agree. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1737230607
You will need to put money into your project. The budget depends entirely on you. Just don’t think self-publishing is an easy or cheap process. It can be. But remember, you get back what you put in. If you would like someone to coach you through the self-publishing process or you need help with specific topics such as book cover design or finding book ideas, contact us at 5D Press. We offer a free consultation and paid services.
Again, there are a lot of authors and coaches online who can provide you with free advice and help to self-publish your book. Tap into those resources, but pay for services that are beyond your scope of expertise and knowledge. Your future readers will thank you by choosing your book because you took that extra step, and it shows.
Remember, you always want to present your best work to your target audience. After all, don’t you want them to buy your book? They can appreciate its artistry, but you’re going to want to be compensated for the time and energy you put into your project. Right? See how that works?