Why I’ve Committed to Making Self-Published Novels a Sizable Proportion of What I Read

Simply put, I just really love reading them, and here’s why.

As a writer with a finished novel, I’ve been thinking about my consumption of self-published novels and what that means in terms of my impending decision around what kind of publication to go for. For the time being I’m pursuing traditional publication, but realistically my chances are slim (as they are for most novelists for a variety of reasons). Self-publishing may very well be in my future. The problem? Until recently I wasn’t reading many self-published books.

I’d read a few over the years, usually friends’ novels. I’m the type of friend who really will read your novel, the whole thing. I’ll even give you kind and constructive feedback if you ask for it (but only if you ask). I’ve helped edit friends’ manuscripts for self-publication: I’m a professional editor as well as a writer, so I’m the person to ask. But I’m also someone who grew up in the era prior to ubiquitous self-publishing. Back then, we only had what were called “vanity” presses, and the implication was that if you used one it was because you weren’t good enough to get published.

These days this is no longer true, and I’m not sure it ever was. If you take a random sample of self-published novels, you’ll find that they run the gamut in terms of writing skill and polish, with many on par with or better than (some) traditionally published novels. But I’m happy to read all skill and polish levels. Often the only difference is that self-published novels haven’t had the benefit of the multiple rounds of professional workshopping and editing traditionally published novels do. And I’ve realized that this is exactly what I love about self-published novels.

Traditionally published books have been through the hands of many middlemen who work to turn it into a salable product. Often a very good one, but still, it’s a product meant for the transactional marketplace. While self-published books are also products, most have not been shaped in the same way. The product you are getting often feels more authentically immediate in comparison to those slick traditionally published books. And I like that. I like the feeling of reading a piece of creative work that has come relatively unmediated straight from the creator’s imagination.

As a writer I have mixed feelings about traditional publication. Like any institution, it represents and maintains certain types of privilege. And I don’t want it to be the sole arbiter of what I read (I recognize I’m not addressing independent presses in this piece; it’s an area I have yet to explore). But there’s another reason I am committed to putting more self-published novels on my TBR list.

Writing a novel is hard. It takes vision and persistence. It takes being able to advocate for yourself to carve out the time and space to write and an almost insane level of self-belief in the face of continual small and large failures to accomplish. And then to put your work out into the world yourself, without the backing of a publishing house? Phenomenal. That is effing brave. Traditionally published authors at least have that buoying esteem of the publishing industry behind them, whether they feel like they’ve made it or not (even traditionally published authors struggle with imposter syndrome!).

And here’s one final reason I’m committed to reading more self-published novels: I like supporting fellow writers not just by reading their stuff but by buying it. I am also a creative trying to make some money from my creative work, and it can be a disheartening struggle. Our society doesn’t value independent creative work as much as it does creative products that have been taken up by institutions and packaged for the transactional marketplace. And that’s kind of messed up when you think about it.

I get most of the traditionally published novels I read from the public library, and I’m happy to spend some of that money I’m saving on self-published books, knowing most of it is going directly to the author (don’t feel guilty about borrowing rather than buying traditionally published books: authors make good money from library purchases). It feels like a win-win situation.

If you are a writer who hasn’t explored self-published works, I’d recommend doing so. You’ll enjoy them, you’ll learn from them, and you’ll be supporting fellow writers.