Why Self Publish
With most publishers refusing to even look at unsolicited manuscripts and literary agents either increasingly deciding not to take on any new un-published authors or because they are simply overloaded due to the sheer volume of unsolicited manuscripts they are sent each month, which is over 1,000 per month in some cases, has made self publishing very indispensable for authors.
What is self-publishing?
Self-publishing means that as well as being the author of the book, you are also the publisher. The easiest way to think of it is that you do everything - you write, you edit, you format the text (or find a friend to do it), you design or commission work for the cover and you find the printing firm to actually print the books. Once the book is printed it is also your job to market it, and also to distribute and supply the copies.
Why should I self-publish?
It may be that you have had no luck when submitting your manuscript to agents and publishers but, you just want to see your work in print; it may be that you want to publish a book to give to friends and relatives. May be, it is just for the love of it rather than for the money. In whatever cases, do not believe that very few self-publishers ever see any significant profit from their publishing.
For instance, G. P. Taylor, who was a vicar in North Yorkshire, originally self-published his first novel, “Shadowmancer”. The book was so popular locally that word spread, and he eventually signed a publishing deal with Faber & Faber. It can happen. The fact is you never know what you and your writing can achieve unless you try. The only person who can truly decide whether or not your work should be published is you. If some friends and friends of friends have read your manuscript and given you positive feedback, those comments might well be an indicator that your work is worth pursuing. If on the other hand their responses have been luke-warm at best, maybe your manuscript needs more work done to it, or possibly your talents lie in other areas other than writing. The decision, in the end rests with you, but don’t be put off because literary agents and/or publishers have rebuffed you.