When first entering the world of writing or being an author, you’re probably curious whether you need an agent, but self-publishing has changed everything!
One of the common questions a new author may ask is, ‘Does every writer need a book agent?’ and it’s a legitimate question or concern. While in the past, to get a book published traditionally, you would have needed an agent. However, a lot has changed in the last ten to fifteen years.
In this series, we’ve looked at Is Facebook the Same As A Website, and now we’re looking at whether or not every writer needs a book agent or if they can make money or become successful as a self-published author in Australia.
Self-publishing platforms such as Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and, IngramSpark Publishing, and Print on Demand (POD) services have revolutionized how books reach readers. So, does every writer need an agent? Or can you become a successful self-published author who could reach a publishing house regardless?
Once Upon a Time, There was An Author Who …
Did you know that the author of Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling, was rejected by 12 different publishing houses? Yes, the same Harry Potter series that has sold over 500 million books spawned eight blockbuster movies that have made over $7.7 billion, along with merchandise, games, toys, amusement parks, and on and on the list goes.
That Harry Potter author. Now, that may not have been her agent, but some people along the way seriously dropped the ball.
Tell me again why you need an agent. It’s hard to tell anyone they need an agent when so many agents and publishing houses get it wrong so often.
Self-Publishing Led to What?
Perhaps you have heard of the movie or book 50 Shades of Grey? Did you know that author EL James originally wrote 50 Shades of Grey as a fan fiction version loosely based on the Twilight series?
She self-published the first part of the trilogy and received a massive response from her readers. Within one year, she received a traditional publishing deal and would go on to sell over 100 million copies and several blockbuster movies.
It became one of the fastest-selling paperbacks in history.
Just Drop It and Get A Real Job | Writers without a Book Agent
Famous American author and businessman Robert Kiyosaki was repeatedly told his book Rich Dad, Poor Dad wasn’t worth publishing. So, he gave up. No, he didn’t. Instead, he decided to self-publish and sold over 40 million copies in 109 countries while consistently sitting on the New York Times Bestseller List for over six years.
Tell me again why a writer needs a book agent. Robert didn’t, and there’s every reason to believe that you can make a successful living as a self-published author in Australia if you have a good idea, excellent writing skills, and invest in your book creation and marketing.
So, Does Every Writer or Author Need A Book Agent to Be Successful? – Conclusion
If you can find an agent willing to take you. If that agent can find a publishing house willing to take a chance, then an agent is great. However, finding an agent willing to take a chance, is open to receiving manuscripts, and has genuine connections with publishing houses is extremely difficult.
A lot of factors have to align all at once. For many authors, self-publishing is a legitimate and lucrative way to publish their books.
If you have any questions about the self-publishing process, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly.
At Author Services Australia, we support Australian self-published authors and writers with a full range of affordable self-publishing services, including ghostwriting, copyediting, developmental editing, proofreading, ebook and paperback formatting, book cover design, uploading assistance, and social media and marketing.
What is the definition of success? It’s probably the most challenging question to answer and will vary significantly from author to author. So how do you gauge your success as an author? I’d love to hear. Drop a comment below, and don’t forget to subscribe to the blog so that you don’t miss out on any updates.
