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

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.

William Shunn
in
The Writing Cooperative

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.

William Shunn
in
The Writing Cooperative

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.

William Shunn
in
The Writing Cooperative

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.

William Shunn
in
The Writing Cooperative

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.

William Shunn
in
The Writing Cooperative

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.

William Shunn
in
The Writing Cooperative

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.

William Shunn
in
The Writing Cooperative

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

William Shunn

William Shunn

Book Author

Writer, poet and puzzle maker. Hugo and Nebula Award finalist. Author of The Accidental Terrorist: Confessions of a Reluctant Missionary. He/him/Bill.

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