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Let's talk about self-publishing.

As you might guess, I participate in a lot of discussions about writing, and, if a writer is bemoaning their lack of success, at some point someone will invariably suggest they self-publish.

I haven't self-published much, for a few reasons. The main one is that I've had enough luck and experience now in my career that I can make more money as a traditionally published writer ("traditionally published", in case you aren't wasting tons of time on writing discussions, means that I work with publishers who buy my work, pay me an advance, and then publish my work).

I hear you saying, "That's great for you...but what about those of us just starting out?"

So, let's talk about the pros and cons of self-publishing. Let me assure you right now that I'm not out to discourage anyone from self-publishing, but to think about doing it well and for the right reasons.

First, here are five reasons to self-publish that I believe are bad (and yes, I've heard all of these, repeatedly):

You haven't been able to sell your work to traditional publishers. First off, how long have you been trying? Have you been trying for years...or only months? Do you know how many rejections most writers rack up before that first acceptance comes? Have you sought out the help of other writers to figure out why your work isn't selling? Lastly: if publishers don't want to buy your work, why do you think readers will?
You don't like the wait times for responses from traditional publishers. Hey, guess what: NOBODY DOES. But it's part of the game. And here's a little bit of insider information: it isn't just the response to your submission that's going to take forever - there's also the contract, the editing, and the marketing. Get used to waiting - it's part of the writer's life.
Your work's too edgy for traditional publishers. Oh, sure, right. Oh, wait...wasn't William S. Burroughs traditionally published? Do you actually think you're edgier than him?
You want to retain control of your work. Sorry, but when you say this, what I hear this: I'm an egomaniac and my work is so brilliant that no mere editor could possibly make it better.
You don't want to give up any of your earned money to a publisher. Uhhh...a traditional publisher is paying you money up front. That publisher believes in you enough to gamble that your work will sell enough copies to warrant that advance. You do not have to return that money if the book flops; but if the book does well, you'll get even more money, in the form of royalties.

Now, let's look at five real reasons to consider self-publishing:

You just want to put out a book for your friends and family. That's awesome. It's a wonderful gift for people you care about.
You've already published other things, and you want to create a nice little giveaway for your readers. Hey, I do this all the time so of course I think it's a great idea!
You just got back your rights on a book that's already been traditionally published. If your book has already been published, but then stopped selling after a few years and the rights have been returned to you (or the contracted time expired, or the publisher went of business), why not self-publish? It's unlikely that another publisher will buy the book as a reprint, and you can keep the book in print and earn some extra coin by putting it out yourself.
You really can't wait on response times. Maybe you're an older writer who wants to have some books out before you can't write them anymore, or maybe you're about to lose someone who you know would love to see your finished book; in those situations, self-publishing can be a viable alternative.
You are a freaking GENIUS at marketing. Here's the thing about self-publishing: I believe it's entirely possible to make a living - and a darned decent one - as an indie author, as long as you are willing to study the marketplace and approach it on its terms, not yours. Can you turn out a new book every 3-4 months? Are you willing to spend 80% of your time on marketing rather than writing? Are you willing to spend money on good editors and artists? If you can answer "yes" to these three questions, then you can probably make a fine income self-publishing, and make a lot of readers happy.

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