List: Annals of Self-Publishing | Curated by William Shunn

William Shunn

Jul 26, 2023

7 stories

Annals of Self-Publishing

A collection of essays on the perks and pitfalls of being your own publisher, from a writer with three decades in the business.

The unintended prologue to my "Cost of Self-Publishing" series.

The Writing Cooperative

William Shunn

How Bookstore Returns Forced Me to Rethink My Publishing Strategy

Returnable books are what enable bookstores to maintain an affordable inventory. But they also put a big burden on small publishers like…

Oct 2, 2021

A view from inside a bookstore out the front window into the daylit street beyond, with tables and shelves full of book in the foreground.

Oct 2, 2021

Part 1 of my "Cost of Self-Publishing" series.

The Writing Cooperative

William Shunn

The Cost of Self-Publishing: Editorial Expenses

Putting out my own book cost me plenty, both financially and personally. Was it worth it? Let’s start with the cost of professional…

Jun 18, 2022

A copy of a paperback book, The Accidental Terrorist by William Shunn, lies on a cluttered desk with twenty-dollar bills spilling out of it.

Jun 18, 2022

Part 2 of my "Cost of Self-Publishing" series.

The Writing Cooperative

William Shunn

The Cost of Self-Publishing: Production Expenses

A professionally edited manuscript is only the first step in our self-publishing odyssey. It takes coin to turn that manuscript into a…

Jun 27, 2022

A bookshelf containing various objects, including two dozen hardcover copies of The Accidental Terrorist.

Jun 27, 2022

Part 3 of my "Cost of Self-Publishing" series.

The Writing Cooperative

William Shunn

The Cost of Self-Publishing: Fulfillment Expenses

What associations does “fulfillment” conjure up? To a self-publisher, it might be less about personal satisfaction than stuffing envelopes.

Jul 8, 2022

A hardcover copy of The Accidental Terrorist half-wrapped in bubble wrap sits next to an open carton of more copies of the book, with mailing supplies nearby.

Jul 8, 2022

Part 4 of my "Cost of Self-Publishing" series.

The Writing Cooperative

William Shunn

The Cost of Self-Publishing: Marketing and Publicity

If a book drops and no one hears it, does it make a sale? Some thoughts on marketing, publicity, and the hidden costs of free advertising.

Jul 14, 2022

A bearded man wearing glasses and a blazer poses before a printed backdrop showing a stylized photograph of the inside of an airport departure terminal, with the hashtag #AccidentalTerrorist printed at the top.

Jul 14, 2022

Part 5 of my "Cost of Self-Publishing" series.

The Writing Cooperative

William Shunn

The Cost of Self-Publishing: Travel and Legal

It’s tempting as an author to fantasize about that glamorous cross-country book tour. But is such a thing practical, or even necessary?

Jul 22, 2022

On a darkened commercial street, a gray-bearded man with glasses takes a selfie with gas pumps and a bright red Ford Mustang behind him.

Jul 22, 2022

Part 6 of my "Cost of Self-Publishing" series.

The Writing Cooperative

William Shunn

The Cost of Self-Publishing: Final Accounting

When the expenses are logged and revenue is tallied, how does a self-published author decide whether or not the outcome was worth the cost?

Jul 25, 2022

A bearded man in glasses and a striped long-sleeved shirt with a print of birds in a tree reads from a paper manuscript in a warmly lit rustic space before a yellow-painted wall and shelves crowded with books and knickknacks.

Jul 25, 2022