Skills are also resources. If you are a graphic designer, it may be advantageous to design your own cover and interiors. If you're tech-savvy, you can create a unique look for your website. I always recommend an editor, however—as a writer, you are too close to your work to be objective about its quality. Having a second pair of eyes on your story is invaluable and is worth every penny.
I'm a big do-it-yourself person. I learned how to use InDesign and I format my own books (print and eBook versions). I manage my own website. My partner is a professional graphic designer and he is kind enough to design my covers. This frees up more of my budget for editing and marketing.
The most important takeaway from this is: if you have a valuable skill related to publishing, use it. If your skill is not up to scratch, recognize that and seek help from a professional or a friend. Remember: your work will be judged on its quality, and you want to make a good first impression.
Do You Have The Time?
Time is also a resource. If you work a full-time job, are you really going to want to take on a publishing project? It will be like having a second job. Maybe you already have two jobs just to make ends meet.
It's not just about making time for publishing, and all the little jobs that come with it (checking edits, formatting, updating the websites, contacting bloggers, etc). You have to make it a priority in your life. Sometimes this means staying in instead of going out with friends. Sometimes it means dragging yourself away from the television/other entertainment and telling yourself to work. It requires a great deal of discipline.
I struggle with this because I often juggle many projects at once. Working on my books gets shoved to the bottom of my list because to be honest, it's not the project that pays me the most at the end of the day. Just remember: it's hard to make people care for your book if you yourself don't care.
Oh No, This Sounds Like So Much Work!
Yeah. It is. This article isn't meant to be discouraging. It's meant to give you insight into how much thought and time goes into every book that is created—regardless whether it's independently financed or birthed through a traditional publisher.
The best thing you can do if you're serious about becoming a publisher is rid yourself of those stars in your eyes. Publishing does not spontaneously happen to a lucky select few. Publishing is a business. Publishing happens because someone cares enough about a book to spend time and resources on it and provide a way to send it out into the world. It means loving something even when no one else does.
Because, no one will care about your books more than you.
Clare C. Marshall is an author, publisher, and freelance publishing professional. She has edited and formatted books for independent authors and publishing companies from all around the world since 2010. She publishes under Faery Ink Press. www.faeryinkpress.com