Should I or should I not? It seems lately that I ask myself that question every day.  Should I  self-publish my third novel or move on to writing the next one?

Almost seven years ago I impulsively set forth to write my first novel.  I was suffering from cabin fever during a blazing hot summer when we were living in the desert. Long story short, within five months I had my first draft. I joined a writers’ club the following year and soon realized most members were self-publishing. I decided to do the same because it seemed like the right course of action for me. I have since published two books. Of course, neither book has made me famous or even made me much money. But those weren’t my goals either. My goals were to write and enjoy sharing my stories with readers, and I have accomplished both.

But something has changed for me. The third novel I’ve written is the best work I’ve done.  It covers a subject close to my heart and one that I would like to share with as wide an audience as possible. The problem is that I am not good at marketing my own books.  It takes the right personality and skills to proudly market one’s work without fear of rejection.  I’m too much of an introvert, do not enjoy marketing, and, as a result,  don’t sell my books in large numbers.

So, as I often do when faced with a difficult decision,  I weigh the pros and cons:

Pros:  Sharing my work with readers; enjoying the finished product in published format.

Cons:  It’s expensive, and I won’t necessarily earn back my investment. It’s time-consuming and takes away from writing time,  which is important to me.

What to do? I don’t know yet.  But I will decide soon.