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Why Self-Publish?

Photo by Valeria Palesska on Pexels.com

I have never self-published. I have published three books, with the fourth in production at a small, independent publisher, Shanti Arts. It’s called Dread and Splendor: Paintings and Poems for a New Earth. It’s a collaboration with the Norwegian artist, Irene Christensen, and will be out in early 2026. So why am I blogging about self-publishing? I know many people who have done it happily and thought I would pass along what I’ve learned.

There seem to be two types of self-publishing: assisted self-publishing and self-publishing. For both types, you pay the publisher to publish the book and whatever else you want done. I know people who have done both and the companies they used. You can go to a self-publisher with a few pages to be reproduced with a cover or a full-scale book with book cover and internal design.

Assisted self-publishing includes a certain amount of marketing services, in addition to the actual publishing of the book. I know two of these companies that friends used with success:

■Xlibris – www.Xlibris.com publishing and marketing support. I know a writer who published a book with this company that was reasonable in cost, but she didn’t use their marketing services. She liked the book that was produced, but didn’t want to purchase additional marketing.

■Levellers Press owns both Collective Copies, a service that will print what you give them, or Off the Common Books, a form of assisted self publishing, where you pay them to publish your book and they offer website sales and carry the book in their bookstore in Florence, MA. https://www.levellerspress.com/. This publisher also attends Independent Book Conferences and may carry your book there.

Self-publishing is simply paying a publisher to publish your book. They may have marketing people you can pay to assist, or they may direct you to someone else for marketing services. All needs to be paid for by you:

.https://www.selfpubmadesimple.com/author-accelerator The publishing company is run by a writer called April Cox. A friend had success with publishing a book with them. This publisher also has people who will do everything from book and book cover designs to social media promotion.

■The Impress Group of Northampton, MA  https://jamesmcdonaldbooks.com/. I know an author who had a book published, with good results at a good price, by this company. She did not get or use any other services from this company besides publishing the book.

There are many publishers who will help you self-publish, but before you do contract to self-publish with a publisher, get a specific price for specific services in writing. I know someone who did not do this and wound up spending $10,000 on a book she wasn’t happy with. Whatever way you choose to publish your carefully crafted words and/or images, it’s a joy to have a finished book.

Follow me here once a month as I blog about the writing/publishing process. I will blog next month about the progress of my new book, Dread and Splendor:Paintings and Poems for a New Earth.

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How to Write a Query Letter to a Publisher

Māori. Oil, 40” x 40”

Many writers ask me about how to approach a publisher and get them interested in reading my manuscript. I’ve published three books. A good query letter is invaluable in soliciting interest from a publisher. With a novel, it is simpler to give a plot summary, character analysis, etc. But with a poetry manuscript, it’s harder to describe. You have to provide the theme. A good query letter is on the short side and to the point. It has one purpose, to entice the publisher into looking at your manuscript.

To start, look at what the publisher publishes and maybe getting some sample titles. If you like the books, and what the publisher did with them, then you and the publisher are probably a good fit. You might also have friends who had a good experience publishing with someone. If so, you could use this in your opening. As a writer, you have books you love. Get those books and look up the publisher.

Next, read the publisher’s guidelines carefully and follow them. Some publishers want sample pages; some want the whole manuscript;and some just want your letter outlining exactly what it is you want to send. Make sure you know the standards of each publisher and how to meet those standards. When you write your query, incorporate what you like about the publisher’s line of books. Was it one title that drew you in? Is that title relevant to your manuscript?

Start with your favorite publisher first, then wait a few weeks for the response. If it’s a no, and every writer gets a no at least once in a while, go onto your second favorite publisher. Start accumulating a list of publishers, in order of your preference, and keep at it. Persistence is key.

Your previous publishing record is important in your query. The publisher wants to know other people have published you. List book credits, journals and/or anthologies. This proves that you have an audience. Also, if you have won any awards, this is the place to list them. Endorsements from other poets and writers in the field are helpful. If you know someone who has published well, ask them to read your manuscript and write a blurb for you. Include this in your query letter.

This letter is an introduction and framework for your manuscript. It should prepare and excite the publisher to ask for and read your manuscript. Connecting threads could be more valuable to your presentation than just summarizing your manuscript. There must be something about this work that inspired you to do it. Share that enthusiasm with the publisher. Get to the heart of the project and show the publisher why it’s important and why you did it.

I am working on a collection of eco-poetry inspired by the paintings of the Norwegian artist, Irene Christensen. The paintings are on the theme of women at the heart of the environmental movement. One of her paintings is pictured above, Māori. This poem and painting of the same name was published in Starry Starry Kite, which was part of my query letter. So far, Dread and Splendor: Paintings and Poems for a New Earth is out for consideration with two publishers. We await their response.

I will be continuing the journey of this manuscript on Thursdays . Follow me here.