Ask Jerry
Can I self publish before looking for a publisher?
Asked by Leyla Preston on April 15, 2020
Hi Jerry,
Hope you're keeping safe and well.
I am writing a book and plan to sell it on my website as a self-published e-book version (as part of a sales funnel.) Will it hurt my chances to get the book published later? I would ideally like this book to go via the publishing route and have it printed but would like to get the book out into the open now and to my readers to see if it's any good.
Is this possible at all please?
Thanks for your time, Leyla
Jerry's Answer
It's both possible and common, Leyla, but I don't advise it. Why pay to have that done when you could be paid by a traditional publisher? At least exhaust your efforts in trying for that first.
If you self-publish, letting readers decide whether it's any good, publishers will see the same thing and perhaps wish they'd had access to it by one of their editors.
And legitimate, traditional publishers are generally not interested in books that have already been in circulation.