This is a writing blog. But why write if you’re not going to publish? The answer is self-evident; diaries, journals, love letters, ransom notes, grocery lists, and threats. But the kind of writing I’ve been blogging about is publishable. The open question always is, how can I get this thing published? Is it good enough to attract an agent? If I get an agent, will they attract a publisher? If a publisher wants it, will they publish it, or will it sell? Who does the marketing? Will the NY Times list it? Yada, yada, yada.
In 2023, major North American publishers released over 10,000 new titles, which is a smaller number compared to self-published titles. It is estimated that between 500,000 to 1 million of these new titles are published through traditional publishers, while at least 1.7 million self-published titles are produced each year.[1] The obvious reason for the huge surge in self-published books is authors at every level of experience, talent, and readability is a statement of the confidence new and big name authors have in independently controlling their own journeys to bestseller lists, albeit maybe not the NY Times bestseller list.
In, 2023, the audiobook segment generated a stunning $5.4 billion, with the U.S. alone contributing $1.8 billion. There are no “traditional” audiobook publishers. That’s because to be traditional, you have to be old, venerable, and stodgy. Audiobooks are a real hoot.
To understand the current reality, it helps to look back twelve years. In 2010, four million books were published in the U.S. One million were published by traditional publishers. Even that far back, self-publishing was outselling traditional publishing four to one. But those number relate to the number of titles sold, not the number of copies sold. Big difference.
ISBN registrations are an important issue in the self-publishing world. Of the 1.7 million titles sold many did not have ISBN numbers. But in 2020, the U.S. had 39,876,731 lifetime registrations. That said, the BIG 5 traditional publishers dominate the market in revenue terms from book sales, number of titles released. They publish between 10% and 20% of new titles released yearly.
For decades self-publishing was looked down on because publishing by a traditional publisher was the goal for almost every aspiring author. The negative take on self-publishing has its own LinkedIn profile. It speaks ill of self-publishing by publishing “Five Reasons You Shouldn’t Self-Publish. Thankfully, the following authors did self-publish: Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen King, Lisa Genova, Beatrix Potter, Andy Weir, Christopher Paolini, Margaret Atwood, Frank Baum, William Blake, Ken Blanchard, Robert Buy, Willa Cather, Julie Cameron, Pat Conroy, Stephen Crane, and me.
Traditional publishing paradigms are shifting. Self-publishing is all the rage for aspiring authors. Forbes magazine said the number of self-published books has increased by 265% in the last five years. They attribute the surge to the “democratization of publishing by platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, and paperback books on Amazon stories within 48 hours of submission. The platform covered 35% to 70% royalties on sales starkly contrasting to traditional publishing, where authors typically earn 16% to 25%.
Barnes & Noble Press, the giant bookstore is at the forefront of self-publishing. It is not a traditional publisher but a place to advance authors in self-publishing on its “press.” Its website has drop-down menus; Author Posts & Interviews, Self-Publishing Tips & Resources. In a post on its site, it lists five points to advance your self-published book: (1) Embrace a dual role—author and entrepreneur. (2) Balancing Act: Writing and Business. (3) Staying True to You: Creative Control. (4) Curiosity is Key: Always be Learning. (5) With Friends Like These: Embrace Community.
Spines.com is a platform dedicated to telling your story and simplifying your journey. They are “harnessing the power of cutting edge AI, and revolutionizing every facet of the self-publishing journey. They were conceived by writers who are the backbone of the self-publishing culture. As they put it, “storytelling makes us human.”
From my personal perspective, the best self-publishing company in the U.S. is 1106 Design. Its owner, Michele DeFilippo, is every aspiring author’s dream. She and her staff help authors self-publish high-end, classy, fully developed, expertly edited, in glorious covers, and highly successful outcomes. They help authors set up book distribution accounts in their own names so every penny of net revenue, after retailer discounts and printing costs are deducted, is deposited directly into your bank account, never theirs. So much for the desirability and availability of self-publishing. What about the ethics of it? There are author ethics and publishing ethics. But what happens when the author is also the publisher? Which set of ethics apply?
Google says, “Authors generally have a moral obligation to present their work with accuracy, integrity, and a consideration for potential harm, meaning they should strive to provide truthful information, avoid harmful stereotypes, and be mindful of the impact their writing might have on readers, particularly when dealing with sensitive topics; while authors are not obligated to always reflect a specific moral viewpoint, they should present their ideas thoughtfully and responsibly.”[2]
Publishing Companies also have moral obligations. “Moral rights are rights of creators of copyrighted works generally recognized in civil law jurisdictions and, to a lesser extent, in some common law jurisdictions. The moral rights include the right of attribution, the right to have a work published anonymously or pseudonymously, and the right to the integrity of the work. The preserving of the integrity of the work allows the author to object to alteration, distortion, or mutilation of the work that is ‘prejudicial to the author’s honor or reputation.’ Anything else that may detract from the writer’s relationship with the work even after it leaves their possession, or ownership may bring these moral rights into play. Moral rights are distinct from any economic rights tied to copyrights. Even if a writer has assigned their copyright rights to a work to a third party, they still maintain the moral rights to the work.”[3]
[1] https://ghostwritersandco.com/books-published-last-year/ see also, https://wordsrated.com/number-of-books-published-per-year-2021/
[2] https://www.google.com/search?q=what+moral+obligations+do+authos+owe+their+readers%3F&oq=what+moral+obligations+do+authos+owe+their+readers%3F&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIJ
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_rights#:~:text=The%20moral%20rights%20include%20the,the%20integrity%20of%20the%20work. ntial-life-truths-that-sound-depressing-but-arent?msockid=079856387d7666e51599437b7c836728
I am an author and a part-time lawyer with a focus on ethics and professional discipline. I teach creative writing and ethics to law students at Arizona State University. Read my bio.
If you have an important story you want told, you can commission me to write it for you. Learn how.
I am an author and a part-time lawyer with a focus on ethics and professional discipline. I teach creative writing and ethics to law students at Arizona State University. 
My latest novel is Hide & Be. 
If you have an important story you want told, you can commission me to write it for you. 