03/22/2026
Being self-published can have its benefits as you're acting as both the author and publisher. You get a bigger piece of the pie for one, but you also have to spend time doing the job of a publisher which can take time away from what you do best: writing.
Also, if you go the route of self-publishing, you still want your book to look its best. The reputation has been built that a book that doesn't follow industry practices can look unprofessional because so much of the self-published sector is filled with substandard content. This is what is meant by a book "looks self-published". You want to stand out and rise above this unfair judgement. In fact, one other way to distinguish yourself is by referring to yourself as an independent author rather than being self-published. One denotes that you're not affiliated with a publisher, the other connotates that you're new and green at being an author, even if it's not true.
If you're going to publish independently, you still need your work to look professional. You don't want to be labeled self-published by agents, bookstores, and expos as they will often choose to not work with you. (Yes, they can tell if a work is self-published just by looking at the cover.) In fact, most bookstores cannot take your work without a barcode or ISBN. This isn't an elitist viewpoint, it's about knowing how the industry works and making a good impression so you don't blend in with the piles of low-quality work. What many new authors see as gatekeepeing is really a reaction to not having a work that meets basic standards. If you learn those standards and practices, you'll build up a reputation for being a professional author, even if you're not published by a major publishing house.
But if you don't want to take the time or effort to learn publishing, this is where having a publisher on your side can really set you apart as an author.
At DNM Publishing we aim to help you put your best foot forward and make your book look its Sunday best. As a publisher, we help you to free up your time so that you can do what you love, which is write. Let us handle the business of publishing while you create your content. Once the book is released, this is the true start of publishing, not the end.
We also offer training and workshops on what retail looks for when listing works for sales, as well as design and layout tips following the Chicago Style of writing, which is THE standard for all US Publishing.
While we do charge for our services to authors publishing elsewhere (or on their own), we do not charge for services to those publishing with us. Why? Because this is another aspect of the industry that has taken hard earned money from authors, sometimes even thousands of dollars. Publishing is never something you should have to pay for, this includes any work done during the publishing process such as cover design or editing done in-house, or placement at book expos. The only time it is acceptable to pay for these types of services upfront is when you're using a service a la carte or independently publishing your title..
Give us a call at 765.246.7016 and request a consultation to make your book ready and presentable for publication. If you have a work you'd like us to consider for publication, you can request an inquiry form be sent to you by emailing us at [email protected].
