Self-publishing is defined as the act of initiating, editing, and publishing texts on one’s own as opposed to publishing through traditional book or journal publishers. The past 5 years has witnessed a dramatic increase in self-publishing by both established authors and students precipitated through the use of digital publication tools for distribution to larger online audiences. This entry discusses digital tools used for self-publishing, how self-publishing is used in learning environments, and some of the advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing.

According to a 2016 report by Author Earnings, 42% of all e-books sold on Amazon are self-published, while 27% of the e-books on its best seller lists were self-published. One primary reason for the increase in self-publishing is the increased demand for e-books on platforms such ...