The rise of self-publishing: giving voice to untold stories!

Self-publishing is experiencing a significant surge worldwide, with the number of self-published books increasing every year. This growth can be attributed in part to the rising acceptance of digital formats, which have made self-publishing more accessible and widespread. In India, too, self-publishing is gaining momentum.

Self-publishing offers authors the opportunity to establish themselves in the industry and build a reader base. “Traditional publishers typically specialize in specific genres and select manuscripts that align with their targeted niche. While, self-publishing enable authors to publish books across a diverse range of genres, providing a more flexible approach to publication,” shares Shalini Gupta of Zorba Books.

From a publisher’s perspective, a previously successful self-published title can enhance outreach and reduce downside revenue risk. Furthermore, self-publishing is particularly effective in promoting regional language works, which may not have a large enough market to attract traditional publishers. This autonomy has led to an explosion of literary diversity, enriching the Indian literary canon with voices that were previously marginalized or ignored. Writers can explore niche genres, unconventional narratives, and avant-garde styles, leading to a more vibrant and varied literary scene, catering to a wide spectrum of tastes and interests.

Today, self-publishing platforms offer various marketing initiatives as well. “To ensure broad reach and visibility for books published through our platform, we employ amultifaceted approach that leverages modern marketing techniques and traditional media channels,” says Navsangeet Kaur of White Falcon Publishing. While, Pinaki Ghosh of Power Publishers & Motion Pictures, adds, “Promotional video, book reviews,author interview, Facebook ads are a few promotional services we offer to our authors.”

However, the rise of self-publishing is not without its challenges. The absence of gate keeping means that the market is flooded with books of varying quality. For readers, this abundance can be overwhelming, and the task of sifting through to find high-quality work can be daunting. For authors, standing out in a crowded marketplace requires strategic marketing. “Whether the author considers traditional or self-publishing, the factors that need to be considered are the same: will the book be published with care,will production be of a good quality, will the book be well edited, will the book be available to those who wish to purchase it?” says Leonard Fernandes of Cinnamon Teal Design and Publishing.

This issue is packed a special feature on self-publishing and various literary events happening across the globe.

Happy reading!

Shweta
shweta@allaboutbookpublishing.com