Self-publishing differs from traditional trade publishing in that the writer often takes on all of the roles normally associated with a third-party publisher.

The writer may research and write the book, take on editorial control of the content, arrange for printing, marketing, and often distributing the work, either directly to consumers or to wholesalers or retailers.

A self-publisher may use the services of a printer using digital technology where each book will cost more or less the same price to produce. Or, the publisher may opt to use a printer using more traditional litho printing methods whereby the longer the print run, the lower will be the cost per book.

In some cases, books are printed on demand with no back-up stock held.

Many self-publishers, lacking the resources for large scale sales, may find they must subsidize their book(s) rather than make money from them.

Non-fiction titles have a better chance of achieving a commercial return than has a first, or second, novel by an unknown writer.

For lively club discussion on self-publishing see here.

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