A full-service literary agency specializing in Christian literature discusses the potential pitfalls and benefits of self-publishing. The author, Barb Roose, explains the concept of self-publishing, which has been facilitated by Amazon’s CreateSpace since 2007, and warns that it can potentially hinder writers’ pursuit of traditional publishing. However, she also shares insights on how to use self-publishing to one’s advantage. Roose advises authors to keep track of the number of copies sold of their self-published books as traditional publishers and literary agents use this information to determine if an author can be financially successful. Book reviews and solid sales are key indicators of an author’s ability to create a marketable and sellable product. Roose also suggests marketing existing books before launching new ones to build an audience. The author warns against “hiding” self-published books as it may send a negative message to potential publishers.
“Self-Publishing: A Double-Edged Sword?”
