My journey to self-publishing my first psychological thriller novel, The Long Shadow on the Stage, has not been an easy one, as I’m sure most writers, self-published or not, would agree. My self-publishing journey isn’t over yet, but I plan on documenting as much as I can about my writing process, editing process, and the bumpy road to self-publishing. If any part of my process can help other writers, I will feel like it was worth it!
Self-publishing was not my original plan. When I was younger and dreamed of someday becoming a published author, I didn’t know self-publishing existed and besides that, it was extremely different than it is today. As technology has advanced, self-publishing has become a more viable option for many writers. The immense expense of traditionally publishing, the possibility of being repeatedly rejected from agents and publishing companies, the lower percentage of royalties, trusting someone else to market and sell your novel, and the fear of never realizing my dream and becoming a published author, are just a few of the reasons why I eventually realized contacting publishing companies was not the right choice for me.
On the other hand, the reasons I decided to self-publish are not only about receiving a higher percentage of royalties, saving money, or other monetary reasons, but also about keeping the rights to my novel and being able to choose how it is marketed. I’m not the type of person who likes to relinquish control, particularly regarding things I care about, particularly my novel. But, more than that, before resolutely deciding self-publishing is my best option, I was worried if I traditionally published that I wouldn’t be able to have any say in what happened to my novel. I realized that more than anything else I care about the end result: having a published novel that I am proud of. I didn’t want someone else to change the title I’m so fond of and have an emotional attachment to, or the characters I love (even the ones that may seem unlikeable at first), or the way tiny instances of my life and relationships are woven throughout the novel. The overall essence of The Long Shadow on the Stage is irrefutably mine.
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