E.F. Kilcullen

5 Self-Published Dystopian Best Sellers and 5 Things Publishers Look For

Authors chose to self-publish for greater creative control, an easier and faster route to publication and higher royalty rates.

While the big publishing houses dominate the dystopian bestseller charts, self-published authors have been successful too!

How do self-published authors break through?

  • A gripping story and polished editing
  • Clever marketing through social media, blogs and ads to reach their audience
  • Reader reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.

Below are five examples of self-published dystopian novels that became best sellers. Also, I have listed five things publishers look for when giving self-published authors a traditional publishing deal.

5 Self-Published Dystopian Best-sellers

1. Wool by Hugh Howey

  • Initially released as a short story on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) in 2011, Wool became very popular, leading to a full-length series.
  • After its success, Simon & Schuster gave Howey a deal for print rights, while he retained his digital publishing rights.
  • Wool became a bestseller and was adapted into the Apple TV+ series Silo.

2. The Martian by Andy Weir

  • The Martian is more science fiction than dystopian. Andy Weir initially serialised it on his website before self-publishing the complete work in 2011.
  • The book became a self-published bestseller and was later published by Penguin Random House. It has been adapted into the blockbuster film of the same name starring Matt Damon.

3. Yesterday’s Gone by Sean Platt and David Wright

  • This dystopian thriller was self-published in serialised Amazon Kindle episodes resembling a TV series format.
  • It attracted acid fans and showed how serialised storytelling works well for self-published fiction.

4. The Subtle Body by Brenda Cooper

  • Established writer Brenda Cooper chose to self-publish this dystopian book.

5. The Book of Deacon by Joseph R. Lallo

  • Lallo is a more fantasy than dystopian author with a loyal fan base through Kindle Direct Publishing.

5 Things Publishers Look For in Self-Published Novels 

  • Sales Numbers:
    • 10,000+ copies sold shows market potential.
    • 5,000–10,000 copies along with excellent reviews and consistent sales growth attract publisher’s interest for niche genres.
  • Audience Engagement:
    Publishers look for authors who have built a dedicated fan base, such as:
    • High follower counts on social media.
    • A high number of good reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.
    • Email newsletter subscribers or a growing reader community.
  • Consistent Sales Growth:
    A book with steady upward sales momentum over time indicates a loyal audience.
  • Critical Acclaim or Awards:
    Winning self-publishing awards or earning significant media coverage.
  • Potential for Expansion:
    Publishers look for self-published books that can be expanded into series or adapted into films or TV shows.

So, for a self-published author to win a traditional publishing deal, the author must build an audience for the book by clever marketing and create fiction with a brilliant plot.

The author and writing coach James Scott Bell sums up the challenge beautifully in the following quote.

“Writing is both an art and a business. You have to learn the craft, then learn how to sell it.”

In