Self-Publishing in India: A Cautionary Tale for Debut Authors

 

Self-Publishing in India: A Cautionary Tale for Debut Authors

India offers a wide range of self-publishing companies, each with diverse packages tailored to suit different needs and budgets. At first glance, this seems like a blessing for debut authors. However, my own journey through this landscape revealed the darker side of self-publishing—a path filled with misleading promises, hidden pitfalls, and costly mistakes.

The Harsh Reality Behind the Scenes

While many self-publishers in India promise an easy and successful publishing experience, the reality often falls far short. Based on my personal experiences, here are some of the common issues authors face:

• Substandard Services: The quality of publishing rarely matches what was promised in the package.
  
  

• False Sense of Ease: The publishing process seems smooth—until you make the advance payment. After that, communication and support often disappear.
  
  

• Restrictive Packages: Most packages are filled with limitations, offering very little flexibility.
  
  

• Undisclosed Book Pricing (MRP): Publishers often fail to disclose the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) before publication, leaving authors in the dark.
  
  

• Lack of Transparency: The team behind the publishing house remains faceless—no names, no contact numbers, no way to reach them once issues arise.
  
  

• Weak Online Presence: Many self-publishing companies have poorly maintained websites and minimal online credibility.
  
  

• Slow Distribution: Even after publication, book distribution is sluggish and inefficient.
  
  

• No Marketing Support: Despite promises, there's little to no help with marketing or promotional efforts.
  
  

• Unreliable Sales Reports: Sales data, if provided at all, is often vague or completely missing.
  
  

• Zero Post-Publication Support: Once your book is published, you're essentially left on your own.
  
  

Lessons Learned

As a debut author, it's easy to get excited and rush into agreements. I made the mistake of trusting these companies without thorough research—and paid the price.

And the journey has only just begun.

Shrishty Sharma

Manager HR/ Author

Asiatic International Corp

Shrishty@Flying-Crews.com

Shrishty@Air-aviator.com

https://www.flying-crews.com 

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