Pivoting from Traditional to Self-Publishing

From book idea to publication and beyond.

Book Coach Writes a Book is a biweekly feature of Women Writing in which I offer insights from my experiences as an author, craft ideas, tips, writerly news, and events.

Happy Saturday! In today’s newsletter you’ll learn:

📚 Why I pivoted from traditional to self-publishing

📝 The pros and cons of different publishing models

👉 What you should consider when you’re choosing a publishing route

Like Water for Weary Souls, ARC copy

I made a big decision recently. Instead of traditionally publishing my next historical novel—the original plan—I decided to self-publish. Sounds strange? It probably is, but I’m a little known for making unconventional choices. I guess that makes me a hybrid author now.

To be fair, I self-published my first book in 2015 before it got picked up by a traditional publisher, edited, repackaged, and rereleased in 2017 as Surviving Stutthof. My debut historical novel Sisu’s Winter War was released five years later in 2022 by the same publisher. We’d been in discussion about Like Water for Weary Souls, my next historical novel, for years.

Did I leave traditional publishing because I was unhappy with the results? No. I enjoyed working with the publishing house and the editors, and this route opened doors that would otherwise have been closed to me. Having someone else take the manuscripts and handle them with care, design covers, format text, get ARC reviews, line up interviews, and host launch parties was a luxury.

The truth is, I did miss a few things about self-publishing with the last two books. As a self-published author, I was responsible for all the things: editing, cover design, layout, publicity, distribution, etc. My Aries brain likes a good to-do list and a solid organizational system. On the downside, my independent nature is paired with a lack of patience. I want everything done yesterday. Certainly, traditional publishing taught me how to be more patient, and to keep writing as I waited, but self-publishing lets me go full steam ahead, and I love that.

I not only like being - in control of my work, I also love learning new things. A lot has changed in the land of self-publishing since I ventured there last time, but instead of feeling daunted, I have a sense of confidence that I can figure things out. Maybe not all at once, and maybe not quickly, but it can be done. Figuring out how to navigate self-publishing means I’ll also be able to help guide my clients if this is the route they choose for themselves. I’m learning to use Atticus to format the manuscript (super easy!) and hiring a professional cover designer. I’ve already had a developmental edit (thanks, Kim!) and hired a copy editor (thanks, Ellie!) to ensure all this manuscript is the best it can be.

Will I return to traditional publishing? Absolutely. If the right publisher is interested in one of my books, I would consider a traditional publishing deal again. Never say never, as they say.

I’m very thankful to my traditional publisher who has championed literary work from Northern Ontario authors and will continue to work with them around my first two books. I’m also grateful for the publishing world that allows authors to try different paths, from self-publishing, hybrid publishing, to traditional publishing. There is no right path when it comes to publishing. And, there’s no reason why we can’t explore them all.

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Here are a few things to consider when making a decision about publishing paths:

• Querying traditional publishers is time consuming

• Traditional publishers can take two years or more to publish the book

• Traditional publishers shoulder the financial burden of publishing

• Some presses will provide an advance to authors against future royalties

• Presses vary on the payment schedule for royalties (quarterly, yearly, etc.)

• Hybrid presses take less time to get a book to market

• Authors have more input into decisions such as layout and cover design with hybrids

• Both the hybrid press and author share in the financial layout upfront

• Hybrid presses generally have options at a variety of price points depending on the author’s needs and budget

• Some hybrid presses have options to help with distribution and marketing

• Self-publishers pay upfront for all the services they need, or do everything themselves (but please hire editors!)

• Self-publishers are responsible for figuring out distribution and publicity

• In all three models, authors must market their own work

Ultimately, there is no right or wrong decision, but it’s worthwhile researching your options and making decisions based on available time, financial resources, author goals, the current market for you genre, and a host of other considerations. Whatever you decide, just remember: you can learn anything. You wrote a book, after all, and that’s a major accomplishment.

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📚 Request for ARC Readers

I’m looking for ARC readers for my historical novel Like Water for Weary Souls. Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) readers will receive a free digital copy of the book before the release date. My ask is that if you choose to be an ARC reader, you leave an honest review. Reviews help readers decide if this is a book they may like, and help authors get their books to their audience. Here’s the description of Like Water for Weary Souls.

In Nolin Creek, the water runs deep and the secrets run deeper.

In the harsh landscape of a Depression-era Northern Ontario mining town, Finnish immigrant sisters Hanna and Essi Kivi scrape together a living as domestic workers, sharing a room in a disreputable boarding house owned by a fierce, yet protective madam.

When Hanna's body is discovered in the icy waters of Nolin Creek, the police call it a tragic accident. But Essi knows better. Her sister would never have risked crossing unstable ice—not after they lost their youngest sister Martta to drowning years before.

Haunted by guilt and driven by loyalty, Essi begins to unravel the secrets Hanna kept hidden. As Essi digs deeper into her sister's final days, she discovers that in a town built on desperation and dreams for a better future, everyone has something to hide.

A gripping tale of love, family, sisterhood, and the search for truth.

If you would like to be an ARC reader, please type YES in the comments and I’ll add you to the ARC readers list. Thanks for considering!

Happy writing!