Can I really publish a book by myself?

There’s an old saying that everyone has a book inside them just waiting to come out. Well, for the budding writers amongst us, that burning desire to see your work come to fruition can be a strong one. What holds many of us back however, is the notion that you need to grab the attention of a publisher in order to see your project progress from a mere idea in your head to printed words on a page.

Well, the good news is that becoming an author of a proper printed book is a lot easier than you probably think!

Just like aspiring musicians who will go ahead and press a record themselves rather than wait for that elusive record deal to magically come to them, many budding writers today are turning to self-publishing.

So what exactly is self-publishing?

Well, it’s getting your book printed and marketed yourself, without relying on a publisher to do it for you. Whilst this may sound like a daunting task to add to the hard graft you’ve already ploughed into writing, modern printing has made book printing more affordable, even in small quantities. Thanks to the accessibility of digital printing to the general public, more and more budding young writers are able to progress to being self-published authors, totally on their own terms!

It’s estimated that currently, 500,000 to 1 million books are published every year. If you add the number of self-published books to the figure, new titles are believed to be more like 4 million! Bear in mind though, that not ALL published books make it as far as physical printed copies. These days, many titles are either e-books or print-on-demand only, meaning that an actual copy only gets made once it is ordered. So, if you’re looking at getting a book physically printed, you’re already ahead of the game in terms of tangibility, and let’s face it, there is nothing more satisfying than the look, the touch, even the smell of a freshly printed, professional looking book, with YOUR name on the cover!

Did you know that professionally printed books, just like the best selling paperbacks you see in newsagents, cost from as little as £1.50 each? OK, so it’s you footing the bill, but thankfully, you DON’T have to see a publisher cream off their cut before giving you what’s left. Proceeds from your book are all yours.

Neat finishing touches, such as adding an ISBN code to your title, again aren’t the sole preserve of publishing or distribution deals. These can be purchased independently, currently costing around £80. Experienced printing companies such TPM (UK) Limited cater specifically for small quantities of bespoke books, providing a service ideal for first time, self-publishing or indie authors.

Tip: Be realistic.

With indie book printing on the rise, there has inevitably been a glut of new titles in the marketplace. Chances are you won’t sell thousands of copies of your first book, so don’t set yourself up for failure. Why not get 50 or 100 printed at first to test the water? Many digital print companies have no minimum quantity on the amount you can order. It’s easy enough to order a reprint, and it won’t leave you with boxes of unsold stock to deal with.

Tip: Get social.

Writing is a notoriously solitary process. However, once the creative process is over, it’s time to connect with as many fellow authors as possible. You can help endorse each other’s work. You'll find plenty of writer's communities on social media platforms. Also, connect with your local book shops and library.

If you’re interested in creative writing, chances are you already love books, and you probably already have an idea of how you’d like your own publication to look in terms of it’s size, number of pages and binding style. We’ll delve into the art of preparing your project for print in another blog. For now though, I hope you’re feeling inspired, knowing that your dream of becoming an author can quite easily become a reality. So, what will your first book be about?