Should I self publish my book?

Over the past fifteen years, the book publishing industry has gone through some rather significant changes. I doubt anyone in 1992 would think that the internet, Amazon and digital printing would make such an impact on publishing as we know it today.

Back then, to get your book published, you basically had two options: hope and pray for a contract with a large mainline publisher or go to Kinko's and get a few copies printed and bound with a plastic comb.

The idea of self publishing was unheard of 20 years ago.  But, again, due to the miracle of modern technology, there are several companies that offer this service. Amazon shows around 158,000 books published in 1988 in its database. Compare that to over 613,000 books published in 2008 (and we still have two months to go!). It's obvious from the numbers that publishing a book became easier in the last few decades, as more people are doing it. But the question you should ask yourself is should you self publish your next book?

Just as the name implies, self publishing means you publish the book yourself. Different companies offer different tools to help you along the way, but the main idea behind self publishing is that you do the work. From editing to cover design to distribution to marketing, you're the one that makes it happen for your book—whether you have experience in those areas or not.

At Tate Publishing, we're a mainline traditional publisher trying to create a balance between giving the author control and creating a marketable book. Our authors communicate directly with the people working on their book with the main goals in mind of serving the author and serving the book. Nothing moves to the next stage without the author's approval.  But sometimes serving an author means telling them their idea for a cover could limit sales or that a certain section of the text is confusing and could turn off readers. Just like the story of the emperor's new clothes (where the emperor basically paraded down the street naked because everyone was afraid to tell the emperor the truth), don't you want experts in the industry giving you advice that could significantly increase your chances of a successful book?

Your local Home Depot might offer weekend classes in how to build a deck or how to lay tile in the kitchen, as the idea of saving a bit of money by doing it yourself is enticing. However, I've yet to see a class at Home Depot on how to build a house or how to install central heat and air. Why? Because some things are important enough to bring in the experts.

With Amazon cataloging over 613,000 titles for the year, it makes sense to pull from every resource you can find. If you just want to print a few copies of your book for friends and family, then self publishing might be a good option for you. But if you really believe in your book and want to give it the best chance for success, I would recommend a publisher that has a history of experience you can tap into without losing control in the process.