Famous Self-Published Authors Throughout History

The team at The Lighthouse Books works to inspire and elevate writers to the point of established self-published authors. Clearly, we are advocates of the self-publishing route. However, the concept of self-publishing is not a new one. In fact, many famous authors throughout history self-published at one point in time. Some writers found their start through the avenue. In other cases, well-known authors chose to step away from previous publishers and go their own route. Here is a quick list:

1. Benjamin Franklin: Franklin’s early professional life involved working as an apprentice in the printing trade. He thrived on both staying busy, career-wise and writing constantly. In 1733, he started publishing “Poor Richard’s Almanack” under the penname Richard Saunders. During the period of history in which Franklin lived, book production was scarce. Simply, Printing and binding was tremendously expensive. In 1758, he did compile excerpts from his Almanack in the pocket-sized book, “The Way to Wealth.” Centuries later, it remains a classic, often-quoted work.  

2. Thomas Paine-In 1776, Paine anonymously published “Common Sense.” He chose to self-publish without marking himself as the author due to the treasonous material against Great Britain. The work proved instrumental in America’s stance of independence from Great Britain. In its first year, 500,00 copies were sold.

3.Edgar Allan Poe-The American poet and short story writer self-published several of his early works. First, in 1827, Poe released the collection, “Tamerlane and Other Poems”. A couple of other small collections of poems would follow.  

4. Marcel Proust- As most writers are sure to face rejection of some sort during their career, Proust received that of the stinging nature for his work, “Swann’s Way.” Proust ultimately chose to self-publish the work in 1913. After the book’s initial success, a major publisher printed a second edition of “Swann’s Way.” The book would later come to be considered a classic masterpiece.

5.L. Frank Baum-The author of “Wizard of Oz” and many follow-ups to this classic work, started with a self-published book in 1886. The work was a guide to raising his favorite chicken, the Hamburg variety.  

6. Mark Twain-The author, whose real name was Samuel Clemens, was an American writer, lecturer, and a self-publisher. In contrast to previously noted writers, Twain was on his way as a well-known author when he self-published. Due to dissatisfaction of previous publishers, he established his own firm. Twain titled the firm Charles L. Webster and Co., and notably, in 1885, published “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”.

7. Beatrix Potter-Also out of dissatisfaction of known publishers, the author of “The Tales of Peter Rabbit” chose to self-publish this work in 1901. Potter used her own funds to publish 250 copies of the work, and it, of course, is know as a classic work.

8. Dr. Wayne Dyer-The psychotherapist and professor self-published his first work in 1976, which he and his wife literally sold “out of the back of his station wagon” to any bookstore that would buy copies. Dr. From this start, Dr. Dyer established himself as a self-help guru and the author of 21 New York Times Best Sellers!  

9. Margaret Atwood- Canadian author of “The Handmaid’s Tale”, Atwood self-published a book of poems, “Double Persephone.” In 1961, the collection won the E.J. Pratt Medal.

10. Stephen King-In 1960, King self-published “People, Places, and Things.” The collection came out of King’s own publishing house, Triad & Gaslight Books. King and his friend, in high school, wrote short stories that came to be the 18 story collection of “People, Places and Things.”