So You Want to Write a Book: Four Good Reasons to Self-Publish!

By Anne Milam

The words self-published have carried a stigma that has long implied, “You weren”t really good enough to get an actual book company to publish you.”

But I am here to debunk that myth. Self-publishing isn”t a dirty word anymore.

Let me give you four good reasons to self-publish:

“¢ First of all, if God has put a message in your heart to deliver, then you must share it. Plain and simple. No matter what size the audience. Let the public decide whether or not your work is worthy or valid or enjoyed.

When I birthed my first book, Bloom Where You”re Planted (shameless plug), I knew I was writing for a niche market, but I didn”t care. I had to write it because I felt moved to share with other women in ministry what God had been teaching me. Write for the love of writing, because you are a writer, or because you have a message!

“¢ Second, there is biblical precedent for self-publishing. God, himself, chose to self-publish. The apostle Paul was self-published. As were Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, and all other New Testament writers. Just sayin”.

“¢ Third, self-publishing is the Renaissance of writing in the 21st century. Long gone are the days of self-published authors with hundreds of self-purchased books mouldering in their garage. With digital, on-demand printing, everything is online and independent authors abound. This process is streamlined and cost-effective, unlike self-publishing of previous generations.

“¢ Fourth, you get to keep the rights to your book. So perhaps your first, second, and third attempts at writing don”t make the best-seller list. Keep at it. Because you love it. You”re honing your craft.

I chose to publish with a company called CreateSpace, the publishing engine for megaretailer Amazon.com. Publishing with that company gave me instant international exposure, as well as opportunities to print to the Kindle format. CreateSpace walks writers through the publishing process step-by-step, and supports indie authors with advice and articles on how best to get their work noticed.

If you are a writer and want to be published, self-publishing is the way to go.

Anne Milam is a wife, mother, author, teacher, and speaker. She and her husband, David, planted One Life Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, 10 years ago. 

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Books by Anne Milam:

Bloom Where You”re Planted: Stories of Women in Church Planting (CreateSpace/Amazon Digital Services, 2013)

Bloom Where You”re Planted II: More Stories of Women in Church Planting (CreateSpace/Amazon Digital Services, 2014)