i think this is all very important to talk about explicitly with one another. it’s one thing to say hey look at us self-publishing over here, what a viable alternative to trad publishing! and another thing entirely to actually break down the work (and especially the money) that goes into it.

self-publishing MiR (first edition) was an entirely in-house cost-conscious affair, by which I mean I did every last bit by myself from editing to designing and cover making. using a print on demand service meant i didn’t have to front the cost of printing the books so the entire thing was easily profitable; I didn’t spend a dime, just my time.

the flip side to this of course is that the paperback i originally put out was not necessarily of a quality that i’m proud of. i hated the POD service i used (Lulu was overpriced and physical feel and look is subpar imo) and I’d never typeset or formatted a novel in my life, never mind designing a cover, so it was not necessarily a flawless reading experience and it still makes me feel uneasy that the first paperback I ever put out doesn’t quite live up to my aesthetic standards.

i’ve already decided that the next novel, if i don’t go trad with it, will be an affair that i put a lot more money into. i want it professionally edited, i want it properly formatted, i want a great artist to bring the cover to life. i’m not well off by any means but i can afford to lose some money on this and if it means i can put something i’m 100% proud of into people’s hands, i’ll do it. my writing is worth it, i believe in it.

but it’s important we be honest that this whole ‘self-publishing is so much easier than it used to be!’ thing is still largely a matter of privilege and resources. a quality product that matches trad work costs money and i greatly appreciate Clancy’s transparency here showing that even one of the largest examples of success for Substack fiction is still not a profitable enterprise.