As early as 2008, the number of self published books outscored traditionally printed and by 2009 76% of all books published were self-published books. Today when digital bookstores are all over the place, self-publishing has become more of an essential platform for authors than just a fad. And as far as Indian authors are concerned there is no better platform for them to showcase their talent than self-publishing.
All top self-publishers have their presence in India. There is nothing out of the ordinary here because India has one of the biggest markets for books worldwide. We simply have too many people. And most Indians still love to read. And with social media now penetrating more and more into the Indian market, one simply has to gain partial recognition to suddenly being pitched into the hall of fame. The only problem in the Indian self-publication context is the presence of scammers. There are many of them and they are making many self-publishers pay through their noses.
The big debate is whether Indian authors are being measured with a different yardstick when it comes to calculating their payments from their books. Are Indian authors being charged more for self-publishing their books?
The cost of self-publication actually depends on the author. In an article written a couple of years ago, Rasana Atreya clearly mentioned why she continued with self-publishing even when her “Tell a Thousand Lies” was nominated for the Tibor Jones South Asia price, and publishing contracts were offered to her lap left, right and centre. A self-publisher can have complete control over their book provided they have the right approach.
The ideal strategy on self-publishing should include all or most of the points mentioned below.
– Partnering with a reputed self publishing company – Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Penguin for example.
– Maintaining 100% control over rights and royalties.
– Controlling all aspects of the book including cover design.
– Controlling terms related to exclusive and non-exclusive distribution.
– Considering the option of hybrid printing.
– Being aware of all the cost implications, including hidden costs, if any.
Indian authors being charged more for self-publication is a relative term. Accessing the right information and its appropriate use are the best ways to make the most from self-publishing.
Image credit: MONEY FROM AROUND THE WORLD ~$~€~$~ on flickr and reproduced under Creative Commons 2.0[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://writingtipsoasis.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Profile_Pic_Moumita.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Moumita Goswami is a full-time homemaker and a passionate writer. She stays in Pune with her husband and daughter. After giving up working, she started writing about five years ago and can now be seen using her computer keyboard almost all the time. An MA in Psychology from Calcutta University, Moumita has spent time in Kolkata, Delhi and now Pune. For Moumita, writing started as a sudden chance but she soon discovered her likeness for it. And now she has developed a passion for writing and hardly any day passes without her scribbling a few lines. She dreams of publishing her own book one day and is working towards it.
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