Are Self-Published Authors Real Authors?

In recent years, self-publishing has become more and more popular. With technology making it easier to produce a book and platforms like Amazon Kindle, self-publishing has become a viable option for many authors. But the question remains: are self-published authors real authors? Should they be considered in the same vein as traditionally published authors? Many people confuse the two and believe that because an author self-publishes, he or she may not be as talented or capable of writing high-quality pieces. This article investigates who self-publishing authors are and whether they are real authors.

Who Are Self-Published Authors?

Self-published authors are people who have decided to take their writing career into their own hands and publish their work themselves without the help of a traditional publishing house. Examples of traditional publishing houses are Penguin, Random House and Simon & Schuster. They usually use online platforms, such as Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing or Barnes & Noble’s Nook Press. A self-published author has written at least one book (or multiple books), published it, and sold it online or offline. They may be able to get some marketing assistance from these companies, but not much more than that. Most writers still have to do a lot of marketing for their books to sell well.

What Makes Self-Published Authors Unique?

Self-published authors have to wear many hats. They are responsible for writing and editing their own work and have to handle all the business aspects of being an author, from marketing to distribution. That means that self-published authors must be true entrepreneurs willing to put in the hard work to make their dream a reality. And while they may not have the backing of a traditional publisher or agent, it’s easy to see why more and more people choose this route every year. 

Reasons Why Self-Published Authors Are Not Real Authors

With the invention of e-books and self-publishing, the publishing industry has undergone drastic changes in recent years. Many authors choose to self-publish their work as an alternative to submitting to major publishing houses where they may have to wait months or even years before their book sees the light of day. But with this new practice has come an issue that causes controversy among readers: are self-published authors real authors? 

There are a few reasons why some people think self-published authors are not real authors. First, self-published authors don’t have to undergo the same rigorous process as traditionally published authors. Second, self-published authors don’t have to face the same level of scrutiny from editors and publishers. Third, self-publishing is often seen as a way to bypass the traditional system. Fourth, self-published books are often not as well edited or designed as traditionally published books. Fifth, many self-published authors put their own money into publishing their books which means they aren’t getting any help with marketing. Finally, there is more opportunity for fraud in self-publishing because anyone can publish anything they want on Amazon or other platforms without oversight by an editor or publisher.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Side of Self-Publishing

There are a lot of advantages to being a self-published author. You have complete control over your book from the cover design to the content. You also get to keep a higher  percentage of the royalties. The downside is that finding an audience for your work can be tricky, and you’ll need to do all the marketing yourself. Whether or not you want to self-publish depends on what you’re looking for in terms of success as an author. If you want fame, you should probably stick with traditional publishing because self-publishing doesn’t provide many opportunities for publicity. But if you just want to publish your book without dealing with the hassles of editing and getting rejected by publishers, then self-publishing might be a good option.

So, Are Self-Published Authors Real Authors?

The answer to this question is a resounding yes! Just because an author has chosen to self-publish their work doesn’t mean they’re any less of an author than one who has gone the traditional route. Self-publishing can be a great way to build a career as an author. With self-publishing, you have total control over your book and how it’s marketed. You can have a more targeted audience when writing your book and design your cover in the style you want. So don’t let anyone tell you that self-published authors are not real authors. It’s just another way for writers to get their voices heard and share their ideas with readers all over the world!

Why Self-Publishing Is Perfect for Beginners

If you’re just starting as a writer, self-publishing is a great way to get your work out there. You don’t have to go through the hassle of finding an agent or publisher, and you can keep complete control over your work. Here are five reasons why authors starting their careers should go the self-publishing way:

1. You choose what to write: With traditional publishing, it’s up to an editor to decide if they think your manuscript has potential. With self-publishing, it’s all up to you! 
2. You set the price: Traditional publishers will set the price for your book based on the amount of time spent editing and marketing it. That means you might end up charging less than $3 for a paperback novel that took you six months to write! 
3. There’s no approval process: You’ll never have to worry about another person changing anything in your story because of who they represent. 
4. Your success is entirely in your hands: Without a publisher behind you, the only one supporting you financially and emotionally is yourself. 
5. The money goes straight into your pocket: Self-published authors make more per book sold than those with traditional publishing deals. That’s because the costs for printing, distributing, marketing, etc., come directly from them rather than having some allocated by an outside source.

Closing Thoughts

The line between traditionally published and self-published authors is becoming increasingly blurred. Whether or not someone is considered a real author may be subjective to many readers. But the truth is that a self-published author is like any other author. So, self-published authors are real authors. What matters most is the work’s quality, not the publication method.