Each March, small press month is celebrated by book lovers across the country. Although "small press" could refer to a small publishing company that publishes a few titles by different authors, it is most commonly used to describe self-published authors.

Self-publishing is another term that can be interpreted in many ways. It was something that you had to do in order to get a traditional publisher to publish your book. Self publishing book is now a completely different game. Many aspiring authors still struggle with this old stigma.

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The Time and Money Excuse

Another comment I often hear: "I know that self-publishing is an option I should consider, but it will take so much time, effort, and money. I think I may be better off looking for an agent or a publishing company to put out my book." True.

Self-publishing a book does take time and effort. But so will preparing a book proposal and hunting down the right agent or publishing company — especially one that will send you something other than a rejection slip. And with short-run digital printing (also known as "print on demand"), producing your own book doesn't have to be expensive. 

1 You decide the timetable

A new book from a major publisher can take anywhere from one to 18 months to be published. Self-publishing can make your book available in a few weeks or even months. Traditional publishers won't put much effort behind a book beyond a three- or four-month window. An author can aggressively market a self-published book for many years.

2 It's a great way for a new title to be tested in the marketplace.

You might be able to get the first draft of a book out there if you have an idea for a book. Do you prefer to spend time researching potential publishers and writing proposals? Personally, I am most interested in seeing if my ideas are embraced by actual consumers.