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Reader Stories: How I Self Published

From Ginny Wiehardt, former About.com Guide

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With the rise of print-on-demand services, many writers are choosing to circumvent the traditional publishing industry. Read what writers have to say about their experiences with self publishing, and share your own stories.

Publish America and Demon's Daughter

I was contacted by a man named Michael. I was handed over to various people who supported me along the way. They give you an Author's Questionnaire, one section of which asks for the emails of your f…More

Set Up Own Company -- Waussie Productions, Ltd.

My situation was highly unusual. I had some money left over from a small inheritance which I had put aside. So I set up my own company, Waussie Productions Ltd, and went about learning how to do ever…More

Self-Publishing Factory Experience

I used the world's largest publishing house. They are a self-publishing factory, producing over 8,000 books a year. While they try to sound personally invested and concerned, I felt like I was passed…More

The Making of "Hits and Misses"

I had heard of self-publishing at Lulu.com through the internet. One day, I just decided to upload my book to Lulu.com. I got my ISBN number in no time, made my cover through their cover wizard. I se…More

AuthorHouse

Sorry, the two thousand character limit does not provide me enough space to tell my experience. If you want to read about the royalty and copyright ripoff, visit this URL: http://www.complaintsboard.…More

Janus Publishing Co

I approached many self publishers and received quotes from £3800 to £12,000. They all gave my book (A Sealed Fate) high praise, but when I enquired what they would actually do to promote my…More

Lulu

I publish through Lulu, which allows me the freedom to set up my book the way I want, to design the cover, and to offer it at a fair price. My books are available as downloads and as print publicatio…More

Outskirts Press

I used Outskirts Press. The part with the publishing of the book was fine. The art work was not. I used an illustrator I already knew because to have the publisher do the cover art was much too expen…More

Old-Fashioned Vanity Press

I went through a company that advertised in the New Yorker. The people there were really nice, but the quality just wasn't what I wanted. The copy editing could have been better; I didn't like the co…More

Lulu, Smashwords, and Payloadz

I went first to the Lulu site and used their tools to set up my novellas and put covers on them. The tools were easy to use, the instructions were straightforward and the process was quick and easy. …More

Self-Published on AuthorHouse

I published with AuthorHouse (authorhouse.com). AuthorHouse is one of the oldest self-publishing companies around and has the best packages for what you actually need to market your novel. Other comp…More

Vanity Press Memoir Experience

I went with a traditional vanity press. They provided copy editing and proofreading, but no overall editorial advice, which was fine by me. (I didn't want them to change my story.) I supplied a photo…More

Reader Stories: How I Self Published

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