Theoretically, it’s easier than ever before to make money by self-publishing. Self-promotion, one of the biggest hurdles of the process, has become relatively simple for anyone who knows their way around social media. It’s an increasingly attractive alternative to waiting for a publishing house or literary agent to give your manuscript a chance, and a choice that frees many writers from censorship they would otherwise face during the editing process. As a sex worker who has faced extreme censorship for over a decade, I refused to give anyone else the power to tell me which parts of my story were palatable enough to publish.
Although this was my main drive for deciding to self-publish, I also knew my writing didn’t fit into the guidelines of your average successful release. Realistically, it was incredibly unlikely I’d ever find a publisher who was willing to go along with my vision. However, I knew after working in my community for many years that my writing was something my peers would not only enjoy, but also relate to. Overall, self-publishing is the ultimate vote of self-confidence. The amount of time, and often money, that goes into publishing and distributing your own book means you need to have the grit to keep going when your to-do list starts to overwhelm you. Before I inundate you with all the little jobs you need to do, and choices you have to make on your self-publishing journey, there’s some good news – it can be done relatively cheaply.
First things first, you need to write your book. Or most of it, at least. Once you have the bulk of the writing out of the way, it’s time to find yourself an editor. No matter how thrilled you are with the work you’ve done, I’d strongly advise everyone to pay an editor to help get their book into the best shape possible. There are multiple platforms online – such as Fiverr and Reedsy – that can help you find someone you feel comfortable working with. Some of your favourite authors are freelance editors as well, so it’s worth checking out their websites. If your writing deals with sensitive content, such as your personal experiences with sex work, you need to make sure you pick an editor who is happy to engage with this kind of content. Deciding who is going to edit your book is probably one of the most important decisions you’re going to make when it comes to self-publishing. Taking your time to pick an editor you feel truly understands what you’re looking to create and achieve is imperative. Every writer has a voice, and it’s your responsibility to pick someone who can help you amplify that voice rather than replace it with their own or stifle yours.
As a sex worker who has faced extreme censorship for over a decade, I refused to give anyone else the power to tell me which parts of my story were palatable enough to publish.
You’re going to have to speak to multiple people, and pay them to edit short excerpts of your writing. A thousand words should be enough for you to see if they’re going to be a good fit. Personally, I chose to start working with an editor when I was about 75% of the way through writing. This meant the majority of my writing was edited and ready to print by the time I was fully finished writing the book. Choosing someone to work with so closely on a personal project can be incredibly nerve-racking and stressful. It’s important you don’t settle for an okay editor, when the perfect match for you might be just around the corner. Make sure to be clear and concise about the expectations you have concerning a time frame for your book, and ask for their pricing before going ahead with any contracts and/or confidentiality clauses. This may sound a little daunting but as long as you’re both clear on the pricing structure and the primary focus of the editing, a contract can easily be drawn up from a simple online template.
Next you need to decide what your priorities are when it comes to the finished product. Do you want it to look great, above all else? If so, do you have the necessary skills to design the book cover and layout to the standard you desire? If not, you’ll need to pay someone to do it for you, which immediately leads to more questions – what’s your budget? What’s the brief for potential cover artists? Are you going to include any photographs or illustrations inside? As for the physical printing, you need to contemplate the costs, which can vary massively. Order paper sample packs from various printers to get an idea of what stock you’d like to print on. Decide if there’s a specific amount of money you’re looking to make from your book, initially and overall. If you don’t have the funds to print it the way you’d like to, question whether you can gather enough interest to do a successful pre-order. The money you make from your pre-order should cover your initial printing costs.
My main priority was the sustainability of physically printing my book. As a vegan, it was vital that no animal properties were used during my books production. Printers can also have limitations and stipulations. Unfortunately, the first company I picked to print with refused to take the job, due to the explicit nature of my writing. Depending on the subject matter, you may also need to shop around before you find a printer willing to work with you.
Depending on the subject matter, you may also need to shop around before you find a printer willing to work with you.
As you draw ever closer to holding your very first book in your hands, the harder it seems to become. With each decision made, ten more questions need to be answered. Are you planning on selling your book online, or are you going to ask independent bookstores to stock it? If you sell online, what website will you sell through and use to keep track of the sales? You’ll then need to set up accounts with the various payment processors available to you. Some of which may be platforms that have closed your accounts in the past, and that you may still be unable to use. You also need to decide whether you’ll be releasing an ebook, along with a physical book. Hell, you might not even want to create a physical book in the first place. Who am I to force you into a paperback? It’s likely you’ll need to hire someone to format your online manuscript if you do release an ebook. There are a thousand things to think about and you’re doing it all by yourself!
One tip I would give any sex worker looking to self-publish – advertise the jobs you have concerning your book within our own community. There is an abundance of sex workers who are extremely talented creatives. Illustrators, editors, content creators who know Adobe Creative Cloud inside out. You’ll also find many of our peers have worked on similar projects of their own over the years, and could offer plenty of sage advice on the process. It is a great privilege to be able to pay our fellow workers for their expertise, whether it’s for professional development, or for their work in other areas. Holding a finished product in your hands that has come from the collective effort of capable, skilled sex workers is a very special thing. Due to the prejudice we can face in every aspect of our lives, coming together to create can not only be enjoyable but also healing. One of us finding success is really a success for all of us, as the more our work finds its way into mainstream society the more the stigma surrounding sex work dissipates.
One tip I would give any sex worker looking to self-publish – advertise the jobs you have concerning your book within our own community.
The nitty gritty of the self-publishing process might be drastically different for each individual, but the main struggles remain the same. I truly believe the success of a self-published book comes down to your overall organisation. That doesn’t mean you need every single twist and turn of your story mapped out before your pen hits the page. On the contrary, I have found the best stepping stone to an amazingly executed personal project is simply an idea of how you want to make people feel, and of what you want to put out into the world.
Is it difficult to self-publish? Not really. Pop a few thousand words into a document and send it off to the first printer that comes up on Google. Is it difficult to create something from start to finish, good enough to make thousands of people want to buy it from you? You fucking bet.
As I sit here today, having successfully self-published two small memoirs and an Activity Book for Anxious Perverts, I promise you that the best things start as nothing more than a silly little note to self on your phone. I believe the world would be a better place if more of my peers shared their experiences and I hope to see self-publishing take off as a tool for uncensored self-expression in the next few years. With the ever encroaching restrictions on how we all exist and interact online, let’s put our energy and love into the written word.
Are you a sex worker with a story, opinion, news, or tips to share? We'd love to hear from you!
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