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A Look Into the World of Self-Publishing

Sep 10, 2024

3 min read

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Charles Baudelaire wrote, "A book is a garden, an orchard, a storehouse, a party, a company by the way, a counselor, a multitude of counselors."


What we think of as revolutionary "books" have often actually appeared as pamphlets, rather than physical books, such as Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" or the 1889 work "The Narrative of Bethany Veney, A Slave Woman" (The American Antiquarian Society). Pamphlets may be compared to the modern-day "Zine" for their accessible size, lack of a hardcover, and cost, simply enabling the author to put their words on paper and get the word out.


In earlier centuries, many authors took to the press themselves, or personally paid for the printing so that they could be heard, whether the message was politically revolutionary, or the author was revolutionary because they had no access to publishing. Of course, race and gender have served as major obstacles to publishing, and in many cases, still do today. In 1917, Hogarth Press was founded by Virginia Woolf, so that she could produce Mrs. Dalloway.1 In 1931, Irma Rombauer self-published her own book when she could not get any interest from a publisher. She worked on weekends with her daughter to hand-make the artwork and create the layout for The Joy of Cooking. She sold all of the copies of the resulting 3000-piece print run for one dollar each. This book is now in the 9th Edition and is one of America's most popular cookbooks, selling over 20 million copies.2


The newest explosion of self-publishing is more than just a trend—it's still a revolution—in creative empowerment. Just as self-promoted artists have broken free from the constraints or erasure of major companies, writers and creatives of all kinds can now bypass the traditional gatekeepers of the academy, publishing houses, Hollywood, and big music labels. This is your moment to seize the tools of creation and distribution, and to share your voice with the world on your own terms.


Large-scale successful self-published books like Andy Weir’s The Martian, which was later adapted into a blockbuster film, and E.L. James’s Fifty Shades of Grey, which became a global phenomenon, demonstrate that self-publishing can lead to significant commercial success as well. These successes echo the way independent musicians have gained fame through platforms like SoundCloud and Bandcamp, proving that in today’s digital age, creators in all fields can build their own paths to success without relying on traditional gatekeepers.


You do not need permission from a select few to tell your story, share your knowledge, or showcase your art. Self-publishing always has and still does offer the freedom to amplify voices often excluded from the mainstream—voices that challenge the status quo, bring fresh perspectives, and reflect the diversity of human experience. Whether you're an indie author, an out-of-the-box thinker, or a visionary artist, the power is in your hands to build an audience and achieve success on your own terms. Join the revolution, take control of your creative destiny, and let your unique story resonate across the globe.


If you would like help bringing your project to life in any form, self-published or not, contact us at Polyprintdesign (fb@polyprintdesign.com).


Books are Forever!



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1Modernist Archives Publishing Project

2"The Genius of the Joy of Cooking". Mental Floss. 2010-01-02.

Sep 10, 2024

3 min read

2

35

2