In 2023, more than one in five books published in France was done so without going through a traditional publisher. Amazon KDP, Kobo Writing Life, and Librinova are all showing double-digit growth, while legal obligations often remain unclear for many authors.
The self-publishing platforms are establishing their own codes, distanced from traditional houses and sometimes on the edge of regulation. At each step—legal deposit, formalities, rights management—the author discovers the less visible side of the profession, one that is rarely discussed without filters.
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Why Self-Publishing Attracts So Many Authors in 2024
Launching without a safety net, organizing everything oneself, choosing one’s pace and strategy: self-publishing is appealing, and the wind is blowing strong in 2024. For those who want to decide everything, from the title to the layout to the cover, the path opens wide and clear, without barriers or lengthy delays.
With just a few clicks, one can track sales, adjust prices, and experiment with marketing strategies. This new breath of fresh air removes much of the sacred and intimidating nature of publishing. You publish, you test, you adapt, without the pressure of an external verdict.
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Another appealing advantage is the ability to establish a direct dialogue with readers. Many build a loyal online community, while others opt for tailored support, but everyone escapes the standardized rejections of editorial committees. To facilitate the process, some new players specifically support first-time authors, like https://www.veritapress.fr/, which simplifies all the steps and reduces the anxiety of procedures.
Self-publishing eliminates the wait. Everything can be triggered at one’s own pace: a decision, a few adjustments, and your book is no longer trapped in a pending pile.
Concrete Steps: From Manuscript to Sale
The adventure begins with a polished, mature, and rigorously edited text, ready to be exported in the format required by the platform (Word, PDF, or EPUB). Working seriously on this foundation avoids many back-and-forths and technical surprises.
Presentation is equally important. An airy page, well-thought-out margins, chapters that can be instantly identified, flawless junior pagination—the reading comfort is non-negotiable.
Neglecting the cover is impossible. Created with software or designed by a professional, it must strike immediately, convincing at first glance, as it plays a decisive role in the reader’s choice.
To prepare for the release of one’s book, it is essential to gather several indispensable elements:
- A final manuscript, formatted as requested (Word, PDF, EPUB…)
- An attractive and impeccable presentation
- A well-crafted cover, aligned with the spirit of the story
- A thoughtful price, positioned considering what other authors offer in the same niche
Registration and then the submission of the book on the platform generally follow a clear sequence: uploading files, writing a polished description, selecting distribution parameters. Then begins the race for visibility: social media, creating an author website, direct newsletters to friends and early readers. It is the sum of these small, regular, and sincere efforts that creates one’s first base of loyal readers.
Self-Publishing: Rights, Obligations, and Points to Watch
Choosing self-publishing requires following the obligations applicable to everyone, whether for a physical book or an e-book. Legal deposit is mandatory: the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) must receive a copy, a formality that can now be completed online.
The ISBN, that famous unique 13-digit identifier, can be obtained through a few steps with the AFNIL and must appear on all versions of the book. Revenue from sales must be declared to the Urssaf, whether one is an artist-author or a micro-entrepreneur. As soon as the turnover increases, the question of VAT arises: it is better to be prepared to manage this threshold. Each sold work must carry the regulatory elements: author’s name, publisher’s address, ISBN, printing date.
Before publication, these specific steps must be completed:
- Systematic legal deposit with the BnF as soon as the book is on sale
- Obtaining an ISBN via the AFNIL for each new edition
- Correct declaration of income according to the chosen status
- Anticipation of the transition to VAT as soon as the activity threshold is reached
These steps are not mere formalities but the roots that anchor the book in time. A photogenic novel today may still find buyers in ten years, while many will remain buried in the limbo of digital, undetectable, as if they never existed.