Is it best to self publish a memoir?

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   Natasha Sackettposted 3 years ago

   Is it best to self publish a memoir?
   
   I am writing a memoir about how I sustained a severe traumatic brain injury and how I have been recovering and living afterwards.  Every doctor, therapist, and person I have met who hears my story has told me that I should write a book.  A lot of instructional sites I find tell me that I should self publish because it is difficult to get agents and big publishers interested in a memoir.  I do not have the start up cash to be able to print my book to have it distributed or to do my own marketing that will reach more people than I can just tell or people who hear by word of mouth.

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2. 85

   TolovajWordsmithposted 3 years ago

   Memoirs are interesting for publishers only if a celebrity is involved. If nobody knows who are you, you can't expect people will look for your memoir in the store. In your case i suppose the focus will be on traumatic experience, so if I were you, I would build a book on this, starting with a title. Two things about self publishing:
   
   1. It was never easier, more accessible and with more opportunities to promote in history. You can start with an ebook, what means zero cost for printing and no problems with storage, distribution etc., then build on print-on-demand services where the cost of production still stays on zero, or, if an ebook catches on, find a publishing house which will be happy to publish a title with already established reputation. In all cases your biggest investment would be time spent on promotion. Only you can estimate the worth of your time.
   
   2. Many great authors used self publishing: Hans Christina Andersen, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Stephen King, ... Do I need to say more?
   
   Hope this helps.

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3. 60

   Natasha Sackettposted 3 years ago

   Thank you.  Once I have the book finalized,  completely edited and perfect to go i will look more info self publishing.

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