If you’ve thought of moving from traditional publishing to self-publishing, read Diane’s story.
by Diane Bator
I found my previous publisher through an agent I was introduced to by one of the agent’s readers.
We happened to be in a critique group together and I asked her to read my book and give me some feedback. I had no idea who she worked for at the time!
I signed with the late Dawn Dowdle who helped me get two different publishers. The one for my Wild Blue Mystery series was based in Canada, and the one who took my Gilda Wright Mystery series was based in California.
I was thrilled! I was working with not only one traditional publisher, but two!
It Was Thrilling to Work with Two Publishers
Due to having a Canadian author working with a Canadian publisher, Dawn became a bit overwhelmed with the paperwork and stepped aside. From that point on, I worked directly with that publisher.
What a thrill to be working with two publishers, small or not! I envisioned writing many books while they published and sold them. I figured with two series my royalties would climb and I could one day quit my job to write full time.
My eyes were quickly opened!
Traditional Publishing to Self-Publishing—I Was Living the Dream, Except in the Financial Department
When the California publisher culled their list of authors, I was one of the first cut.
I was upset for about ten minutes! Thankfully my Canadian publisher picked up the Gilda Wright Mysteries, then the next two series I wrote.
Over the 10 years I was with them, we published 15 books together. And my royalties seemed stuck at less than $50 for every royalty payment – no matter how much marketing I did.
Even though I was living my dream and looked like a success, I wasn’t making any headway in the financial department.
I even hired a Public Relations group to help me get more publicity.
I’ve done countless podcasts, blogs, interviews, and so on, but that number still never budged. Many times, I thought about giving up, but I LOVE to write. Quitting wasn’t an option.
Traditional Publishing to Self-Publishing—Early Signs My Relationship with a Publisher Wasn’t Working
Definitely the lack of descent royalties was a huge sign.
Was it me? Was it how they operated?
I was struggling with my own self-esteem over my books and avoided reading my reviews for years! Once I did, I was glad for it. There were some amazing things people said about my writing!
One of the warning signs was the lack of commitment when it came to different marketing tactics. Sure, they would put books on sale and we’d sell a lot, but that also affected our royalties.
Another warning sign was that they would change the pricing on our books often. We’d go from selling e-books at $2.99 to $5.99, then $9.99 then back to $6.99. They always seemed to be testing the waters rather than sticking with what worked.
They would also introduce new ways to sell. One of the last ones before I left was to set up a Shopify store. I was the one who spent a month and a half, and thousands of their dollars, to set it up and upload hundreds of books.
Two months later, they decided they didn’t like it and it wouldn’t work. Even though no one knew it was there or even open! I was told they would leave it up until the New Year. In actuality, it was taken down by the end of October.
Another thing that bothered me is that they refused to even consider an author who had already self-published. To me, that was a huge oversight. I’ve read some really great Indie books as well as traditionally published books. Many Indie authors have a great deal to prove, so they make sure their books are amazing!
How I Knew It Was Time to Move On from My Publisher
I knew in September 2023 that it was time to move on after an email argument with the publisher. I was led on to believe I’d be working with them, then later told to go find another job. They’d never promised me anything.
Coupled with the other things I’d observed in my short time working with them directly, it was the right time for me to leave.
I was definitely overwhelmed. I’d depended on them for editing, for cover art, and for uploading my books to markets. Now I’d have to learn all that for myself.
Lucky for me, I knew exactly the right people to get in touch with!
Traditional Publishing to Self-Publishing—Why I Decided to Self-Publish
After 10 years, 15 books, an agent, and two publishers, I was ready to take control of my own destiny for a while.
No more middlemen.
I’m fortunate to have a wide variety of writing friends. Many Indie authors I know, a few who own their own publishing companies, have been in the industry as long as I have or longer. It was a matter of taking a deep breath and asking for help.
The first two people I reached out to were thrilled and we meet once a month via Skype to chat about all things writing and publishing. I’ve known them for many years and they’ve been a huge part of my solo journey from the start.
Another friend was seeking reviewers for her book on self-publishing. Talk about perfect timing! She sent me a pdf copy which I’ve printed and already dog-eared!
A local romance writer had the same agent as I did when we both started out. She’s gone on to become a hybrid author and her books are released both on her own imprint and with a publisher. She’s been a huge support as well and we have many of the same writing/publishing friends.
How I’m Now Building My Self-Publishing Business
I sent my resignation letter to my publisher with the intent of not renewing our contract when it ended at the end of April 2024. Since January was a royalty payout month, she ended it January 31, 2024.
Suddenly, my books were off the market three months earlier than anticipated. Lucky for me, she’d set me up with a business name and account earlier in the year to be a contractor with her!
My next step was to finish a book I’d been working on for years. One that was never seen before that I wanted to use as a guinea pig before my contract ended. When things ended earlier than expected, I sat back and slowed down my process – mostly due to a family emergency that threw off my creativity for a while.
Once I was ready, I went through a list of great writing friends I hoped would help and ended up with 8 Beta readers. Who turned into editors and gave me some great advice. Because of the family stuff, I didn’t do as good an editing job as I’d thought. Out of the 8, I got great feedback from 6, while the other two sent me lovely reviews. Currently, I’m finishing those edits.
Traditional Publishing to Self-Publishing—I’m Publishing Wide to Gain More Exposure
Not in a position to spend a great deal of money, I crafted my own book cover and sought out advice on which direction to go with it. I think I’ve finally got one I’M happy with and would be proud to use on my book!
My next step, once edits are done this week, is getting set up on publishing platforms. I’m already on a few but need to put in more information so I can upload my book when it’s ready.
I’ve decided to publish wide – not just on KDP – because that will give me more exposure. My books have already been sold around the world, so I’m eager to get back into those markets.
I also need to finish the entire cover and format the book to upload it.
Then there’s the marketing part!
Advice for Writers Looking to Traditionally Publish
For me, traditional publishing was my dream. Some days, it still is! It was a great way to get exposure in the industry.
I’ve definitely learned a great deal about my craft, my books, and met a lot of amazing people along the way. I’m not going to bash the industry, because there are some great traditional publishers out there. You just need to do your homework.
Be careful while querying and check out the types and quality of books the publisher produces. Find out things like:
- How many books do they put out per year? Some are very limited.
- Do they have qualified editors and publishers?
- What are their credentials?
- What percentage do they pay in royalties?
- How long have they been around?
- What is the turnaround time once your book is turned in until it appears in print/e-book?
- What are their expectations of their authors?
- Do they ask for money upfront? (RUN!!! Some people have great experiences but also a garage full of books even years later!)
- Are they actually a traditional publisher or an indie publisher? (Check to see how many books the owner/person in charge has written and published!)
Keep in mind some of the big authors out there couldn’t get an agent or publisher and ended up self-publishing. Nicholas Sparks is a great example. Several big authors have been walking away from their publishers lately as well. Having control of content, marketing, and cover art, is a big reason.
Traditional Publishing to Self-Publishing—How I’m Approaching Book Marketing So Far
I have a list as long as my arm but starting small!
I’ve started a newsletter that goes out sporadically. Lately, it’s been cover art, book blurbs, that sort of thing. Anything to keep readers in the loop!
I’ll be sharing all over social media and my blog.
Eventually, I’ll do some ads. That’s a lot of research in itself!
I do work with a PR guy. I started out by sharing his authors and books on my blog and slowly it developed into a business venture.
He’s already starting to get me some interviews and blogs and recently got me a chance to do a magazine article, which was cool. He loved it so much, he’s going to see if he can get it in other magazines and so on!
I’ll be seeking book reviews and sharing those as well via social media, my blog, and newsletter.
Occasionally, a group of us do local markets and events. Once I have physical books again, I’ll be looking into those over the summer.
I also attend conferences and will be at two this year for sure. Possibly three.
Advice for Other Authors: Don’t Give Up!
Make writer friends. Talk to other writers. Find people like me who are happy to share your books with the world and spread the news.
Set up local book launches if possible, offer free books for reviews, and do online launches using everyone you know to spread the word.
Most of all, don’t give up!! If I was less determined, I could’ve given up at least once a year. If you love to write, write. If you want your books in the hands of readers, build a thick skin and be resilient!
Note: Learn more about Diane at her previous post here on Writing and Wellness.
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About Diane:
Diane Bator is a mystery, romance, and fantasy writer who started relaunching her many books under her own Escape With a Writer Publishing. She is also the host of Escape With a Writer, a blog to promote fellow authors of all genres.
Diane is a member of many writing groups such as Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and Crime Writers of Canada. She is represented by Creative Edge Publicity.
For more information on Diane and her work, please see her website, blog, and Amazon author page, and connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, and Substack.
Written in Stone: “What happens at Grandma’s house, stays at Grandma’s house.”
The problem is A. J. (Alison Jane) Cadell can’t remember Grandma or her house.
Dreaming of becoming a best-selling romance novelist, Alison is invited to Beech Grove, British Columbia to be a Writer-in-Residence and reside at Thistlewood Manor for a month. When a resident of the manor is found dead, Alison is drawn into a mystery involving a grandmother she doesn’t remember, a father she thought was long dead, and a handsome firefighter who could be the link to solving the mystery.
Will someone be after her next?
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This was a wonderful, heartfelt article! Your experience is not so different from those of us who have been in the self-publishing trenches all along. I’ve been self-publishing for 5 years, and I humbly offer two pieces of advice: (1) Get a real, professional, experienced editor, someone who has Big 5 experience in your genre. Yes, you might pay a few thousand dollars, but if you do nothing else, it is the best thing you can do for your book (try the-efa.org). (2) Find an experienced illustrator for your cover. Sure, we can do it ourselves, but chances are most of us aren’t graphic design professionals experienced in book design. You can spot a “selfie’s” cover a mile away. Also, there are huge limitations to using stock art when it comes to marketing. Again, yes, you will pay, but in the long run, you’ll have a book that Random House would be proud of. I wish you every blessing and success on this new chapter of your author’s journey!
Excellent advice! There are many professional, experienced editors out there who do not have Big 5 experience. All writers need to be careful for those who put out an “editor” shingle and do little more than use spell check! Same goes for using small publishers. Not all use quality editors.
GREAT article full of useful info! Thank you so much for posting!
Thank you for reading and commenting! Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you.
You are very welcome!