7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Self-Publish Your Poetry Book

You’re thinking of embarking on the self-publishing journey.

You enjoy writing poems and want to turn them into your own collection.

But how do you know if you’re prepared for this project?

Below, I’m going to cover 7 questions you need to ask yourself before you start self-publishing your poetry book.

Is it the right time?

Self-help gurus will tell you that “the best time is now” and to “start before you’re ready”. I agree – you will never feel completely ready. But you need to make sure that you are not jumping into self-publishing before you are in a good position to see the project through and create a book you are proud of.

Ask yourself: Is this something I’m passionate about or something I feel pressured into? Am I comfortable with my current writing style or do I need more time to develop my voice?

Listen to your gut. Often we instinctively know if it’s the right time or not.

2. Do I have a concept for my book?

Poetry books are works of art. You can’t simply slap some poems together and call it a day. You need to have a concept that ties your poems together and presents them in a creative way.

Ask yourself: Will there be common themes in your book (e.g. self-acceptance, forgiveness)? Is there a story you will be telling across your collection? Are there common images you want to use throughout your book (e.g. the sky)?

The stronger your concept is, the stronger your collection will be.

3. Can I commit to completing this project?

Self-publishing requires commitment. You need to commit to learning and make sure you can regularly set aside time to work on your book.

Ask yourself: Am I in a season of life where I can realistically spend time on my book? Do I care about this project enough to press through when I’m finding it hard or confusing?

I always say: Self-publishing is do-able for everyone if you’re willing to put in the effort.

4. What’s my budget for this project?

You can publish a book without spending a dollar. There really are enough tools and shortcuts for this to be possible.

However, skipping costs like professional editing, cover design or proof copies can reduce the quality of your book and, therefore, its success.

On the flip side, it is easy to get caught up in all the different courses, services, and advertising methods available. You can easily spend upwards of $5000 on your book without a budget in place.

Ask yourself: What is the minimum amount of money I will devote to creating a book I am proud of? What is the maximum amount of money I am willing to spend on this project?

Then set your budget somewhere in between these two amounts.

5. What are my intentions for my book?

This one is super important to figure out straight from the get-go. There are numerous choices you will have to make as you self-publish and if you aren’t sure what your intentions are for your book, you will be paralysed by indecision.

Ask yourself: Am I trying to make money or just doing this for fun? Do I want to sell my book in stores or just online? What do I want people to feel as they read my book?

6. Who is my target audience?

Knowing who your ideal reader is will help you create a book that they love just as much as you do. Not to mention, it provides direction for the marketing of your book.

Ask yourself: Is my poetry for a younger or older audience? Can my work be enjoyed by both men and women? Is there a particular demographic that the themes in my book would appeal to?

7. How am I going to plan to finish my book?

If you’re going to self-publish your poetry book, you need a plan in place. You need to have a good idea of what steps are involved and block out time to complete each one.

Ask yourself: What do I need to get done in order to self-publish? When is my intended publication date? How long will it take me to complete each step? Do I have a timeline I can use to keep track of this project?

Good news! If you don’t yet have a timeline, you can download my sample timeline and a blank template below!