What is the point of publishing? Would you publish your story?

[MatchaChocolate69]

Say that you were big enough online for a traditional publisher to want to do it. At that point, why would you? You are just giving over rights for free. The best thing you get other than losing money is a printing of your book. Is that the reason? If the reason is that you want a printed book, can't you go to a printing shop and get one for family/close friends?

My personal experience is that it’s been almost ten years since I last read a physical book. Does physical media still have a reason to exist? For me, no. Reading digitally is much more convenient, virtually unbeatable, and from any smartphone, you have access to a potentially unlimited library.

Also, I’m not interested in making money from what I write, and I value my independence, both creatively and in terms of deadlines. I want to do things at my own pace.

So no, I wouldn’t publish. For me, it just doesn’t make sense nowadays.

 

[Lysander_Works]

lulu.com is the one we use

we do recommend them if you want print-on-demand self publishing

they also allow you to set up a shop page where other people can order your book, and offer some other publishing and marketing services

when working with them, they bill themselves as a printer and distributor, an imprint, while you are legally your own publisher

Thank you. This isn't the one I was thinking of, but Lulu looks promising. I will take a deep look into them when I have the time. Might be well worth it.

I think for many they will shrink their audience by publishing on Amazon. If Amazon got an exclusivity for my novel, it would shrink. I would lose all of my readers, and if I don't want to pay, I have to advertise by posting on my profile or something. How many readers on SH would buy it? Would I gain more readers through Amazon like this?

It's my understanding that Amazon does not require exclusivity in order to publish on their platform, and so it would not exactly shrink your audience. KDP does offer certain programs and advertising plans which does require exclusivity, such as Kindle Vella, KDP Select, and more, but they are optional.

 

[Ellieporter]

I wasn't talking about you. I was talking about @ElliePorter but you fit the description, too.