Why do people self-publish? What’s in it for them, and what advantages do self-publishing authors have over those who publish traditionally?

Self-publishing has grown in popularity exponentially, with authors enjoying greater control over their book-baby than they would normally have if they publish with a traditional publisher.

Platforms such as Amazon KDP allow authors creative control and access to the largest book retailer in the world – and therefore, the largest readership – making self-publishing a sweet prospect for authors who want to handle publishing for themselves.

For starters, when you self publish with Amazon, your book will be available on the world’s biggest online bookstore, with more than 300 million (yes, you read that correctly!) print books sold on the platform every year.

What’s more, the royalties you can earn through self-publishing a book as opposed to treading the more traditional path to publishing, are staggering. When you self publish with Amazon, you stand to keep up to 70% of your royalties (that’s the amount you earn for every book sold). However, with traditional publishers, you’re often looking at 10% royalties.

Authors are often drawn to the prestige of traditional publishing, as well as the upfront payment; although it's rare for authors to get more than a few thousand from a publisher. Usually, it’s the best-sellers who can command high advances because publishers see them as a sure-thing. And don’t forget that you have to pay back that advance through your book sales.

So, when you’re considering whether to go through the lengthy process of finding a publisher for your book, which can be like finding the Holy Grail itself, or self-publishing, it really does pay to think of the longer-term rather than being mesmerised by the idea of receiving an advance for your book.

Finally, publishing a book is a huge triumph. When you’ve self-published a book, the feeling of accomplishment is even greater. It’s a bit like baking a cake and then cutting a huge slice and savouring it, cherry on top and all.

What’s more, you don’t have to go it alone – you can count on Wellness Books to guide you through the journey of self-publishing a book from start to finish, creating a quality book that will showcase your writing talents and your knowhow.

Ready to get started? Self publish with Amazon today – speak to the team to find out how we can help. Contact info@wellnessbooks.co.uk.