How to Answer "Did You Self-Publish It?"

When someone asks “Did you self-publish it?”, the best answer is a short, true one: “Yes, I published it myself, so every decision on the book was mine.” Say it calmly and then talk about the book. This post gives you lines for family, bookshops and interviews, and shows what readers actually check before they buy.

What should I say when someone asks “Did you self-publish it?”

Here are three short answers. They are my suggestions, so change the words until they sound like you.

• “Yes. I wanted to keep control of the book, so I published it myself.”
• “Yes, and it is out now. Here is what it is about.”
• “I run my own imprint.” (More on this below.)

Notice what they have in common. They say yes, they do not apologise, and they move straight to the book. The person asking may have meant it as a put-down, or they may only be curious. Either way, a calm yes ends the topic faster than a long defence.

Why does the question feel like an insult?

Sometimes the tone suggests “so it isn’t a real book”. That is the asker’s belief, not a fact about your book. You wrote it and finished it, and many people never do. If the doubt in the question is hitting you hard, read my posts on worrying that people will laugh at your book and overcoming self-doubt as a self-publisher. In my view, the fear is usually bigger than the problem.

How do I answer family and friends?

Family and friends are often kind but unsure what self-publishing means. You can keep it simple: “I published it myself. It is on Amazon, and you can order it.” If someone says “so, not a real publisher?”, you can smile and say “No publisher. Just me, and it worked.”

If a particular relative’s doubt is the real issue, they laughed when you said you would write a book covers what to do with it.

Should I tell my family at all?

You do not owe anyone the details of how your book was published. This is my view, and the choice is yours. If telling a certain person would bring pressure, doubt or a long debate, you can wait until the book is out and looks good. If you do tell them, share the good part first: the book exists and they can hold it.

A practical test helps. Ask yourself what you want from the conversation. If you want support, tell the people who give it. If you want to avoid an argument, you can simply say “It is out now” and hand them the book. Nobody can make you explain more than you want to.

How do I answer in a bookshop, a library or an interview?

Here the person usually wants a quick fact. In a bookshop or library, say “I published it myself” and offer a copy or the details, such as the title and where it is sold. In an interview, say it in one sentence and add why: “I self-published because I wanted to keep the rights and decide on the cover myself.” Only say that if it is true for you.

Don’t volunteer a long story. A short answer shows you are comfortable with it, and the listener usually takes their cue from you.

What if the person keeps pushing?

Some people repeat the question in the same tone. You do not need a clever line. Say the same calm answer once more and change the subject: “Yes, I did. Have you read much on this topic?” A person who is genuinely curious will follow you. A person who is only trying to score a point will usually move on when they get no reaction.

It also helps to decide your answer before you need it. Say it aloud a few times, at home, until it sounds natural. Then the question stops catching you off guard, and you answer in the same easy way every time.

What do readers check before they buy?

In my experience, a buyer deciding on your book looks at four things:

1. The cover. Does it look like the genre and read well as a small picture?
2. The description. Does it say what the book is about and who it is for?
3. The reviews. Are there some, and do they sound like real readers?
4. The look inside. Does the first page read well?

These are my observations, not a study. The point is that all four are in your hands as a self-publisher. If you are weighing the traditional route, my post on whether self-published books are better than traditional publishing compares the two.

Because these four are the things a buyer looks at, they are also where your effort is best spent. If you have a choice between worrying about the label and improving one of the four, improve one of the four.

When does it help to say “I run my own imprint”?

An imprint is the publisher name on your book. If you use your own ISBN, you choose it, and saying “I run my own imprint” is true. It can sound more businesslike in a bookshop or on a media page. It is not a trick: if someone asks you directly whether you self-published, still say yes. See what to put as the publisher on KDP for how the publisher field works.

What I do about it

If the question is making you hold back your book, you are not the first author to feel that. Book a free 25-minute discovery session and we will talk about your book and the next step. I will tell you honestly what I think.

Free 25-minute self-publishing call with Chris Baird

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