Some little girls dream of becoming princesses. I dreamed of getting a book deal.

I wrote fantasy stories from a young age. Browsing the shelves of my favorite bookstores and libraries, I imagined my own books sitting side-by-side with volumes by my favorite authors in the “T” section (alphabetical by author) — brightly-colored cover art, with my name on the cover and the spine!

When self-publishing became a thing, I swore I would never do it. That’s not what real authors do, after all! Realauthors have the stamp-of-approval that comes in the form of a publishing deal!

Well, dozens of novels later across more than a dozen fantasy/sci-fi serieses, I am a self-publishing convert and true believer. After my own experiences with publishing deals, as well as the experiences of fellow authors, I self-publish exclusively and I recommend that any aspiring author do the same.

Here’s why a publishing deal is the wrong choice now that you can easily get your work out by self-publishing.

1. Someone Else Has Final Say Over Your Story

I have had editors insist that I change the ending or eliminate crucial plot points. That I add characters, omit characters … even kill off characters that I had big plans for one or two books down the road.

This “advice” was always presented as being “for my own good,” by publishing professionals who know what’s best. People who know what my audience really wants.

The problem? I am my audience. I write the kind of books I would love to read. These editorial “suggestions” were really “orders” — comply, or the book never sees the light of day. I was left with several books in print that I was not satisfied with, because they didn’t go how I wanted them to.

By self-publishing, I have complete creative control. I’m happy with every book I have ever self-published … and my readership hasn’t decreased for lack of this “helpful advice” of those well-meaning editors.

2. You Can’t Publish What You Want, When You Want

I have had entire series finished, with readers chomping at the bit for the next installment … only to have publishers insist that it “wasn’t time yet.” I should wait to release a book that I knew was ready, and the market was ready for. Maybe focus on a new series or a book in a different series.

When I was younger I assumed these publishing “experts” knew something I didn’t. Now I know what that something is — how to maximize their own bottom line.

By self-publishing, nothing comes between my readers and my work — whenever and however I see fit to release it.

3. You Keep Less of your Sale Profits

With a publishing contract, you can end up giving 90% of the sale profits to the publisher and various middlemen. Did we really put in all that work writing the book — our creative baby, a labor of love — only to sell it for pennies on the dollar?

Self-publishing through Amazon, by contrast, allows you to keep 70% of the publishing royalties. keyTABs, by the Author’s Bookshelf is the online publishing tool I use exclusively. It allows me to keep 90% of the royalties — all I pay is 10% plus a small subscription fee. All I need to do is figure out how to reach my readers … and Author’s Bookshelf has tools that help with that too!

4. The Powers That Be can Take You Off the Shelf

Even if they don’t screw up your story or pocket all your profits, your publisher owns the rights to your book. They can stop printing it and take it off the market at any time, for any reason … and you can’t release it yourself because they own it! Even Amazon can shut you down for no reason.

By self-publishing on a platform that I own and control, I am immune to cancellation. No one can take me off the shelf.

5. Someone is Always Standing Between You and your Readers

When I was young I dreamed of the “stamp-of-approval” of a publishing deal. Now I know that fan letters from my loyal readers is the only stamp of approval any author needs. A publishing deal … all the money in the world … it doesn’t come close.

But with a publishing deal, your fans are always at arms’ length. Fan mail goes to the publisher. I can’t mass-email my readers without “going through corporate.” They even have final say over my social media presence.

By self-publishing, I can establish a direct conduit to my readers — not just to find out what they think of my work or market my next book, but to learn who they are and what they want. I can finally create my tribe … and watch it grow.

If you’re wondering if it’s hard to self-publish, it used to be … but the Author’s Bookshelf makes it easy. It’s an all-in-one publishing rights management tool that allows you to publish, market, monetize, and distribute your book online. Your work, your readers, on your schedule.