When can I say “I’m published”?

Can I say “I’m published” even if I only publish my works online?

As you can see from the image it’s an exclusive club. What you’re really asking (if not you, then the next one reading this will be) is “can anyone stick a PDF of a Word Document online and be a member”?

The term “published author” really refers to your book being put out by a publisher who is in the business of publishing using their own money (not yours). These days “self publishing” sounds better than the previously used term “vanity publishing”, so at least self publishers now have a decent name to give themselves. Indie Author is catching on too. I would use those rather than “I’m published”. This applies to any length of work, by the way, so you could say “I’m published” if you had a reputable publication run your short story or magazine article. Implicit in the phrase is the understanding that a gatekeeper let you in the gate because the quality of your work was good enough to join the club. The same would go for saying you’re a Chartered Engineer or a Decorated Soldier, so I don’t think it’s unreasonable, but then I’m biased.

On the subject of Online only books, I don’t think this is an issue at all. If you are contracted by an eBook only publisher then you are still a published author, and no-one would (should) dispute that. Quite why a publisher would only release a title as an eBook is a mystery to me, though, since Print on Demand makes it so easy to produce a print work.