I’ve receieved a number of emails lately inquiring about the validity of self-publishing. It’s a well-worn topic and my personal perspective isn’t much different than everyone else’s. In the right conditions, handled properly, with realistic attitudes, self-publishing can be a viable business decision for certain people. But I don’t believe in resorting to it just because you think the mainstream publishing industry is comprised of meanies who aren’t smart enough to comprehend your art.
In addition to these queries about the validity of printing your own books, a handful of the emailers also wanted to know why self-publishing is so reviled. I think there are a couple of factors that contribute to the negative perception. First, there are undoubtedly snobs who look for a chance to sneer and chuckle. Elitist assholes exist in every industry so it’s absurd to think there aren’t folks in the publishing biz who love nothing more than an opportunity to pooh-pooh the self-published hoi polloi. Second, not every one, but some self-published authors invite the very ridicule they hate.
You remember Bobby? That weird kid in high school who went out of his way to wear plaid pants, day-glo sneakers, a green mohawk, maybe a little goth makeup, and sucked on a pacifier all day? Bobby spent more time planning his anti-conformity outfit (because, “you know, he just does his own thing, he’s such an individual“) every morning than Jenny the Cheerleader dedicated to her hair. But then he always bitched and moaned about how Pam the Prom Queen ignored him. Some self-published authors are the same way. They act like idiots and then wonder why they face such disdain.
Not Just an Author, but a Published Author!
I’m lucky enough to spend a fair amount of time in the company of writers. I’ve been around bestsellers and the most beloved literary icons. And not once, not ever, have I heard these people introduce themselves as a “published author.” They meet a non-bookish person and they say “I’m a writer.” They don’t ever feel the need to include the published qualifier.
In 1932, when Clark Gable famously asked Willliam Faulkner “Oh, do you write?” Faulkner responded with one of the best zingers in the history of literature. He did not respond with “yes, I am a published author!”
However, the type of person who gives self-publishing a bad name adores that phrase. These misguided folks thrust business cards that proclaim ”Joe Blow, Published Author.” Mr. Blow strong arms the local bookstore in holding a signing and he takes out an ad that entices readers to “come meet published author Joe Blow!” He talks about how “they” can focus their efforts on stealing an athlete’s championship memories or a country boy’s high school diplomas, because he’s a published author and ”they” can never take that away from him. Joe Blow gets a PUBLSHD1 vanity license plate on his 1984 Plymouth Reliant K and he pre-orders his tombstone that reads:
Here lies Joe Blow, Published Author,
Ignored by the Industry, in all their hauteur.
Since he lacked a famous last name,
editors wouldn’t play his game,
but his writing meshed, and for all eternity
he will remain, forever Pub-lished!
For the people who invite the derision, their obsession with the ”published” tag makes all the difference in the world. And they don’t seem to realize how it’s a meaningless title when you bestow it upon yourself. If I go down to the YMCA and play a round of pickup basketball, then pay myself afterwards, does that give me the right to claim to be a professional athlete? If I form my own team, can I insinuate to friends that there’s no difference between me and Kobe?
I’ll Just Create My Own University!
The current mainstream method of selecting books for publication, editing them, and distributing those texts is archaic, ineffecient, ineffective, often ill-informed, and frequently unfair. I won’t deny that. But, it remains the system that we have. Does that system pump out horrendous books that are the literary equivalent of roadkill? Absolutely. Does that system overlook and ignore worthy authors and genius books in favor of celebrity crap? Definitely. Nevertheless, it is still the system we have and the system we all understand.
When you self-publish, or go with one of the more questionable print-on-demand services, you are essentially going around that system. You’re taking your ball, going home, and making up your own game in the backyard. Your game might be fun, it might be valid exercise, it might be the perfect thing for your situation, but it’s not the same way all the other kids play. And to pretend otherwise is to invite scorn and derision.
It’s probably safe to assume that virtually all of this website’s readers graduated from either high school or college. Maybe a few of you had to repeat 4th grade a few times, but that’s okay, I did the same thing with college algebra. I was in that class so many semesters in a row that the professor said to me, “You sure are small to be a football player.” The key here is that you made it, eventually, out of either high school or college.
Now, when someone says they are a college graduate, we know what that entails. They had to take standardized tests, write essays, gain admission, complete required courses, accumulate a certain number of hours, pass final exams, and maintain a certain GPA in order to graduate. You might have gone to Harvard, Indiana University, or Northeastern Southern Central Nebraska A&T State at Lincoln but regardless of the rigor of your school, you had to meet these same basic requirements. Everyone understands, roughly, what it means to be a college graduate.
We also know people who are intelligent, hard-working, determined, and valid contributors to society who didn’t graduate from college. Bill Gates, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Frank Lloyd Wright are but a few icons of this society who didn’t finish higher education.
Now, let’s say that Rejected Rob applies to every college in this country and they all reject him. His GPA isn’t good enough, his test scores are poor, and he smells bad. Or maybe they just don’t understand a truly individual brand of personal genius. Not a single college or university admits Rejected Rob.
“What do those people know?” he rants. “Bill Gates didn’t finish college, big deal! Plenty of intelligent people fall through the cracks and don’t get in while legacies and rich kids are welcomed with open arms. Who are they to judge me? Once I get into the work force, I’ll succeed or fail based on my own merits. All I need is a chance!”
So, fueled by his rage at being excluded by higher education in this country, Rejected Rob decides to form my own college. He incorporates the name Rob’s Kick Ass Institute of Learning and print his own diploma. Not content with a dot matrix diploma, he orders a bunch of business cards that read “Rejected Rob: College Graduate.” He places advertisements in the local newspaper to “come down on Saturday and meet college graduate Rejected Rob!” He tells people at the local coffeeshop that his achievement is just as impressive as that of a M.I.T. graduate. He appears at job interviews that require have a college degree because, you know, he deserves a shot just as much as all you elitists who went to fancy schools. And whenever Rejected Rob faces any criticism, he chalks it up to the fact that all you bigtime college graduates are snobs intent on protecting your priviledged position.
Naturally, everyone would be scornful and dismissive of his delusions about the prestige of a Rejected Rob Kick Ass Institute of Learning.
The same thing is true of the crazed self-published folks.
Not all self-publishing proponents fall into this trap. Most of them understand their position in regards to mainstream publishing and they realistically and objectively make their publishing choices. They are living proof that self-publishing, in and of itself, is not a bad thing. On the contrary, it can be quite effective and lucrative.
Unfortunately, these reasonable self-publishing advocates suffer the indignities brought on by their obsessed “published author” colleagues.
I’m not going to tell the people who emailed me they should not, under any circumstances, self-publish. I’ll just warn them about being realistic, objective, and honest. I’ll encourage them to focus on sales and quality of writing if they choose that route and not to lean back and applaud themselves for being a “published author.” Self-publishing is not necessarily better or worse the mainstream book industry, but it’s definitely not the same.
Remember, self-publishing doesn’t embarrass people. Idiotic, delusional self- “published authors” embarrass people.
I won’t mince words. I am a writer and I have one book published. And yes, I went the self publishing route.
I’ve heard references to self publishing books being sub-standard in their printing methods, etc. But has anyone who picked up a self-published book or even a traditionally published book, ever thought about the blood, sweat, and tears that went into that book? The pain staking hours or the sleepless nights that author went through to put their thoughts on paper or in the word processor?
I will be the first to admit that self-publishing is everyone’s choice for getting their “art” published. But sometimes it is the best way for that author.
After I finished my book, before it was supposed to go to my editor. I sent out 25 copies of the book in PDF form to a couple of friends, offered it to strangers in chat rooms and even a couple of people at work. I was very surprised at the responses I got. Most of them were very positive.
I decided then to try an online book club. I found out that most of the people in the book club were very unprofessional about their views of self published books. They criticized my writing style, my mistakes in grammar, and so on. This of course, upset me and made me rethink the whole process of writing a book.
Was I good enough to make it out in the real world? Did my book have what it took to make a best seller?
As I pondered these questions, I ran into a fellow writer in a chat room and he gave me a famous quote to remember.
“Those who can write, do. Those who can’t, teach.”
I pondered these words for a couple of days and made my decision.
I released the book, in its non-edited form, and added a page to the front of my book which stated that I had my own writing style.
Readers will either enjoy the book, or they won’t. They will either buy it or they won’t. But the fact remains, people have bought it and have read it. I have gotten both good and bad responses. Mostly about the editing errors, but they said it didn’t affect how the book read.
A book’s quality is not in the pages that its printed on, or how it was printed, but in how the reader enjoys the story.
Take that to heart the next time you are searching the net and find a book that has been published by lulu.com or one of the other self publishing companies out there. Take to heart that some poor soul, spent a portion of their life, pouring their ideas and thoughts onto that printed page. Look past the errors, and see what the author is trying to tell you.
David Lumin
Sorry that is supposed to be “isn’t everyone’s choice.”
Very interesting article. And I can agree with some points but disagree with others (same for many of the responses). Sure there are many “rejected robs” and “joe blows” out there in the POD/Self-published world. But are we foolhardy enough to think that they don’t also exist amoungst the ranks of those who just recieved their first acceptance letter and are acting like Cinderella trying on the glass slippers? I knew people like that. They are annoying.
I agree with anyone who has said that there is just as much CRAP out there that is traditionally published as there is in POD publishing. In fact, I’d rather read a POD book by a true artist who slaved over every word, and revised it to infinity, perfecting their craft than ANYTHING written by Paris(ite) Hilton or her dog.
Yeah, the traditional publishing houses do SUCH a good job of weeding out crap, and producing good literature don’t they? *sarcasm intentional*
Likewise, it’s a narrow-minded blanket judgement that POD/Self-published/indy authors do not put their books through any scrutiny or editing before publication.
I have recently put out a collection of short stories. All except one were put through the scrutiny of online writing workshops, recieving feedback and critiques from fellow writers. I had to evaluate my content, and decide which stories to include and which not to include. There were some stories which I felt just wouldn’t make the cut–or needed further revisions before being included in any collection.
Traditional publishers (or if you prefer “commercial publishing houses”) put out worse garbage than indy writers. Like I really care about Tori Spelling’s “tell all” book. Too often it’s who you are that gets you a book contract. And, it’s a shame when publishers turn up their ugly noses to art, because “OMG Paris’ dog! That will make us money!” *rolls eyes*
Commercial publishers are just that–commercial publishers. they look at what’s going to make them money, and don’t care about upcoming writers who actually have talent. Now, if (and only if) a talented indy writer’s book sells X amount of copies, they may decide to pick up that title. But, you have to do what you can to make that story the best it can be, and market it to the best of your ability so that it does get the recognition it deserves.
Publishing is a business and they’ll more than likely publish crap by a famous Paris(ite)’s of the world (brilliant KC!), than ordinary people.
But then, the ordinary people, GHOST write for the celebs (we’re good for something then…)
Self-publishing is a viable option for people who’ve been told their book is good, but too original, won’t sell, lists are full… The snobs, I believe, are really the ones who haven’t struggled as long as the ones who’ve turned into self-published.
There’s room for all. Maybe it’s the publishers who’re the REAL snobs? They’ve missed out on an opportunity? Maybe?
Look, it is difficult for brilliant people like me. My writing is so great that no editor can understand it. Because of that, I am shit poor (I would much rather sit around playing with my belly fat than work, thank you). Because of that, I can’t afford to self publish. People who have told me to get a job should be forced to pay me to publish! WHAT IS IT ABOUT THAT IS SO HARD FOR SCUM TO GET!!!!!!!
Whoa. Happy almost three year anniversary “Why People Hate Self-Published Authors!”
I don’t see anything wrong with using a POD press for new authors, unless they expect the publisher to do any legwork when it comes to marketing or advertising. Both of my books were published via a POD press that gets a lot of bad press, but I was actually very impressed with their process. And….since I’m a copy editor myself (I only charge a buck a page for basic to comprehensive copy editing if anyone needs a copy or content editor!), I enjoyed the chance to edit my own book.
I am a self published author that has has huge success 5,000+ books sold with 2 titles. I give my profit to the cystic fibrosis foundation to find a cure. I chose self pub through Authorhouse because the profit is high. I have made over $50,000 for my charity with books Kyle’s First Crush, and Kyle’s First Playdate. Messy Tessy will come out this fall. I have had great success on major networks, ABC Health watch, NBC, CBS, MY ADVICE: TAKE THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED….IT TRULY MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE. LEAH ORR
You know, I’ve seen this same debate all over the blogosphere, and all of the points are starting to get really stale.
POD technology isn’t going away, and neither is traditional publishing. Those on either side are arguing from their own self interests, so we get nowhere.
The strongest point I saw in these comments was about blogs. It’s interesting to note how a few years back there was a lot of whining and mockery from traditional journalists about blogs, and now that debate is largely over. While the vast majority of blogs are unreadable crap, bloggers are regularly featured on news programs and many carry as much authority as those in traditional journalism and publishing–true, many came from those quarters, but many have made their mark only in the blogosphere.
I’m sure a lot of traditional journalists/columnists would love to return to the pre-blogosphere days when they had no other real competition. Mockery, however, isn’t going to bring those days back. Traditional journalism isn’t going to disappear, but no one will deny it’s undergoing a rather dramatic transformation.
We’ll see what happens with POD and traditional book publishing.
The April 4, 2009 comment is NOT from me – Nanette Rayman Rivera. It was posted by a cyber stalker who is trying to ruin my reputation. He, who never met me, seems to think he has the right to destroy me because I can’t pay my student loans. Yet he does everything he can to make sure I can’t earn a living. He is Jacob Walsh of Indianapolis – ex cult member of Holy Order of MANS. He is all over the internet posing as me, saying idiotic, racist, assinine things. He threatened to kill me, cut up my genitals and burn my nipples off. He hacked into my email, etc, and orders things and puts them on my phone bill.
PLEASE DISREGARD ANY POSTS THAT SAY THEY ARE FROM NANETTE RAYMAN RIVERA, except this one, as I am the real Nanette.
Thank you.
Nanette
I think that self-publishing makes sense if you’re going to write a non-fiction book, you’re an expert in your field and you already have a following.
If you’re going to self-publish, always hire a professional designer and an editor (you can usually get a professional on a freelance basis).
I would imagine that it would be hard to market a fiction book without the muscle of a publisher behind it. But again, if you have a great website, somewhat of a following, and the money to hire a P.R. professional, then go for it!
MJ Acharya
The Breakup Workbook
Elitism.
What you’re railing against is the Cult of the Amateur which is enabled to such a great extent these days by such things as POD, Youtube, blogging services, and other “self-publishing” outlets. You (and I agree) are annoyed by the growing number of amateurs who are able to foist their crap on us in a package that gives them the appearance of a “real writer”. But you’re wasting your time. Poor quality takes care of itself – if it’s bad, no amount of self-publishing is going to turn it into a commercial success.
I think, moreover, that you want to exclude these folks from the elite “Club of Published Authors Who Don’t Have to Mention that They Are Published”. I agree that this is an “earned” accolade, but don’t try to pretend that you’re not being elitist.
As one who enjoys reading, and has an inside look from working for a publishing company and dealing with authors on a daily basis, I’ll share briefly what I think about the self pub, traditional published route.
Bottom line is that both self pub author and the majority of traditional pub authors will have to be the driving forces behind their book, from the beginning to the very end. If not, you’ll most likely have a flop on your hands.
Traditional Published Author
A traditional published author may be able to sit back while the editorial team, and cover design team go the work, but the majority of traditionally published authors are just getting the basics in marketing from their pub house and don’t realize it.
Many major publishing houses do use third party services, the same third party services that self published authors have access to, the only difference is that the Pub House is paying the bill, therefore will most likely be keeping a good percentage of the royalties.
Self Published Author
Make sure you inquire and get in writing the details of the services you are paying for. Be picky, make sure the company your interested in is picky and has your best interest of receiving a quality final product in mind.
You may also seek services from independent publishers. Do your research and find local independent publishers willing to assist you in making a quality product. Some may even do a profit sharing contract.
If you don’t want to go with any one company that specializes in the book process, you’re a great multi-tasker, go at it and be a complete project manager by seeking services from freelance editors, freelance graphic designers, printers, and marketers. You’ll be fighting a battle on multiple fronts and you must realize the balancing difficulty you have a head of you of getting each entity to come together as one to form one final product..
If you don’t have the means for consultation or research, or the time in general because your busy writing, here are two recommendations for you, and I’ll tell you why I recommend them. http://www.booksurge.com and https://www.createspace.com. Why, because they are backed by Amazon, inc. Although a partner/distributor to major publishing houses, take note of the Kindle, and Amazon’s astounding book sales for Christmas ’08. If you can’t join a publishing company, simply beat them with their biggest competitor/partner.
There is no science behind book marketing and selling books, period. I’ve seen authors appear on major tv shows, every day of the week of the release of their book and have complete flops! Bottom line, if you’re a writer who genuinely loves what you’re writing about and “naturally” promote it, word will get around, your quality published book has a better chance of attaining good avg. sales than sales of most traditional published books and self published books whose authors do nothing to promote them or give up after a week. In a sense, your published book is almost like a business, don’t fold up shop after a couple months, even a year. As long as your book is good quality, there are people out there waiting to read it, you just have to reach them, so be the driving force.
This is probably a dead thread, but something about your Kobe Bryant metaphor stuck in my mind, so I wanted to comment on it:
If you were able to talk people into paying to watch your pick-up basketball game, then, yes, by the only definition that matters, you would in fact be a professional athlete.
I think the greatest amount of acrimony between “real” authors and self-published authors doesn’t arise out of the truly absurd examples of self-publisher delusion you recount here. It comes from “real” authors who sell 200 copies or less of any particular title in their oeuvre every month, but who still insist that they are superior to “fake” self-published authors with higher sales figures.
The open secret is that there is not a lot of money to be made by writing, for 99.999% of authors. “Real” authors have always been able to make up for their puny compensation with the prestige that comes from being in print. They as a result cling to that prestige for dear life, and the industry encourages them to cling to it, because as the money dries up more and more every year they don’t have anything else to offer their stable of writers BUT prestige.
The best way to maintain systems of prestige is by establishing an Other who is made the object of disdain, and the Other that authors and publishers have chosen is the self-publisher.
This article hit home, I just had my novel Birthing the Lucifer star published and I am a writer of scifi and flash fiction. I tried my hand at a longer rant, I find that it’s hard to get publicity for my book although i did a release and a review here http://publishitorbust.blogspot.com/ and I set it up to give out autographed copies of my new novel. I hope I’m not hated or reviled.
D E Bartley
For me, self publishing with POD was a way to test a concept (prototype), to quickly get some books into the hands of friends and colleagues. I had learned and compiled some photographic techniques that I had been sharing with others through online forums, and compiling them into a book was a another way to explain my techniques to others. Since the vast majority of those seeking my help came through my website, POD, also made sense because the bookstore was not the primary marketing channel. I just put the POD link on the site, and those who had been asking for my techniques had a way to acquire them. Also the niche subject of the book (nude photography) made the POD route a good fit for me.
Some of the best books, music and creations I’ve found currently are those produced by self publishers. It’s naive to even draw a distinction between self-published and “publisher” published these days. Paris Hilton has a publisher. Edgar Allen Poe did not–he was self-published. Does that mean that of the two Paris Hilton is the ”real” author?
Wayne Dyer published his first book and drove the country selling it out of his trunk. Now he’s on the bestseller list. Joe Vitale and James Redfield were self published. Now they’re in every bookstore in the country. Everyone thinks of them all as “real” authors. This is the time for the entrepreneurial writer.
Contrary to popular thought writing a book isn’t that big a deal (In case you think I have no experience, I was a college writing professor for 8 years, taught at 3 different Chicago colleges/Universities. Have an MFA in writing; I was published in literary magazines, did freelance corporate publishing and even a kid’s book through a new your publisher. It’s NOT that big a deal.) Why are so many hung up on getting a publisher to give them a blessing? What is this obsession people have with giving their authority away?
We’re living in a time when EVERYONE’S got college degrees and accreditations. Who cares. What can you DO? Degrees and blessings from authorities mean NOTHING when everyone has them. These days the stuff you read on blogs is more powerful than anything in a bookstore or in newspapers. The only thing that matters is whether or not you can make an impact. I am much more impressed by the guy who publishes a book, or his own music that’s really GOOD than the self-involved “author” who’s “published” work goes straight to the bargain table because it’s crap. I still remember buying a copy of Jane Hamilton’s Book of Ruth off the bargain table of the major bookstore where I worked in the late 80’s/early 90’s. I got it for 50 cents. I remember liking it—but did it change my life? No. Can I tell you anything about it now? No. And yet, a self published book I bought recently on Chinese cooking is something I constantly use. It’s always effecting my life and the lives of my family.
Amazon, the largest bookseller in the world could care less whether you self-published or are published by someone else. They are the largest bookstore for a reason—they can spot opportunity. Funny thing–while people are sitting round debating whether or not “self-published” writers are “real” writers a new breed is emerging. A breed of entrepreneurs who can spot opportunities, seize them and use them to make an impact on the world around us. And we’re going to topple the old industry. And that just kicks ass!
I am self published and have written a fantasy trilogy. I dislike other POD authors who push their work with false reviews from family and friends. That is really annoying as it casts suspicion on the rest of us who work really hard to get reviews. My novels in the Prophecy of the Kings series have only ever had real reviews. You can tell, as I have had some really good reviews and one or two stinkers. I would be grateful to other POD authors if they stopped this process of false reviews, talking up their own work. It undermines the rest of us.
I am a self-published POD writer whose first Christian fiction novel came out about six weeks ago. I never even tried to hire an agent or approach a traditional publishing company. Statistically, I know my manuscript for Eternity Beckons would have most likely been rejected by most publishers and quite frankly, I am too busy with the rest of my life (family, job, ministry, etc.) to spend time pursuing the “dream of being a famous author.” I just love to write creatively and share my work with others. It’s fun! I was a professional journalist and editor for many years with two college degrees (I am currently using neither). I think there is so much more to life than placing labels on people. Who cares how you publish your work? Just get it out there and let people judge it for themselves. And if you’re worried about dropping a whole twenty dollars on a hardcover or paperback book on Amazon ( which by the way is the largest bookstore in the world), many books can be purchased cheeply on Kindle or downloaded on E-book. Why is this topic such a debate anyway? Are there not far more important issues in the world right now? Geez!!!!
Once upon a time, in a land made of cobblestone streets and wrought iron lanterns, there lived a girl with magic in her hands. When she held a pen- magic was created. New worlds were born. She was a writer. In a burning passion to see her writings on shelves in bookbinding, in libraries, and most importantly, in people’s hands, she painstakingly traveled far and wide, knocking and calling out, ever-persistently she knocked on the doors of people called “literary agents” she called out from the sideways up to large houses called “publishing houses” .. day after day and night after night.. her spirit was strong and she never gave up! Months passed. And then years. Finally, a young and dashing literary agent fell in love with the beautiful young writer, took all her writings to the big publishing houses, and alas…. the writer’s dream had come true! Thanks to the dashing literary agent and the rich publishing houses who had printers.
Enter 2010. Long gone are the days when we needed to call out in the streets and knock on wooden doors and plead up towards the big grand windows of the big and rich publishing houses. Now, we can publish our writings by ourselves.
Those grand rich publishing houses of yesteryears are still the ones in power today. They monopolize the literary world and the literary industry. And now.. they are seeing and uprising. A change. Something that threatens their way of life, the the future of their last names! It is the self-published author. The modern day writer of today- who isn’t about to beg and grovel in the dust and wait for someone to fall in love with her in order to see her writings on bookshelves!
Nowadays, we have learned how to make our own selves happy. We have learned how to make our own dreams come true. And writing, being a writer, an author- is no exception!
DeBeers has been the leader in the diamond industry since people knew what diamonds were! Suddenly, some smart ones discovered a way to make equally excellent, beautiful, same exact quality diamonds WITHOUT having to wait 300 years for volcanic ash and stone and mud and hardened lava to create them thousands of miles under the earth! Some smart people found out how to make them in lab! In a fraction fraction fraction of the time! Definitely NOT thousands of years! hahahaha! And of course- what did the diamond giants like DeBeers do?? They launched a campaign to make these “synthetic” diamonds appear cheap and devalued.
Everything is just a business. And staying in business. The lab-created diamonds are not cheap. They are of no lower quality than the earth-created ones, they are of the same exact quality, beauty, and perfection. But it’s all about monopoly. And some people would actually shell out 4 million dollars for a giant diamond, when they could spend, what, 4 thousand dollars for the same one, made in a lab! It’s all to do with the influence of these giant companies, the influence they have on people and people’s thinking.
There’s no reason at all to hate, or to look down on, or to depreciate– self-published authors. In fact, I believe that anyone who does is misinformed and jealous. Envious. And probably just doesn’t have enough money to publish his book by himself!
Welcome to the modern era, everybody! We’re not walking under wrought iron lanterns and over cobblestone, anymore, people!
C
Any story worth writing is worth telling. Traditionally published authors are clearly at a disadvantage. Yes, they’re published in the mainstream and yes you can find their book on the shelf, but for how long. I wrote a book eight years (and self-published); that is still selling for full-price. Where is the traditionally published book of 2002 that once sold at Barnes and Nobles? Who cares.
The point I am trying to make is people decided what they want to read. If they’re smart they will gravitate to the self-publisher if they don’t want to miss out on genius. A reader read that book I alluded to and called me: “The Greatest Writer Ever.” She then blogged about my book as if her life depended on it. The book had a few grammatical errors, but it didn’t take away from the incredible talent of telling the story.
Readers get it. If you’re smart, you won’t slam a self-published author. There are hundreds of Ernest Hemingways waiting for the UPS service person to deliver their self-published books in the morning!
Love your blog. Just found it on the internet. Would your folks be interested in another website I just happened upon? It’s a writers’ retreat hosting a book contest. Looks like such a cool place – I entered my 2 books today. I found it at: http://www.millenniumstarpublishing.com
I’ll keep checking your site for more good posts from you.
Thanks,
Carole
I came to self publishing a different way. My parents self publish and I paid for my first trip abroad by putting books together. My mom has written over 20 books. Her famous last words are, “I’m busy now; I’m editing a book.” I’ve edited them as well and argued over what sort of quality they should have.
It was just natural for me to self publish my first textbook. It took about 1,000 hours of work to get it from concept to printer. Yes, there are some quality issues, but I have to say that despite all the slick textbooks from publishers (I have stacks of them) in this particular genre, the content of my book is nothing to scoff at. I may take it to a big publisher someday, but my reasons for not doing so now are many. First, textbooks should always be seen as works in progress. I’m not ready to hand off control to a business. With full control and POD, I can tweak this book at any time. I can also have full control over the concept that I am trying to develop.
I only wrote this textbook because I couldn’t find one that satisfied me on the market. All those big name publishers haven’t created what I and my colleagues really want.
I don’t trust big name publishers when I buy a book of any kind (except DK–I love almost every book they come out with). If it is fiction, I open to the middle of the book and start reading. If that draws me in, then I go back and read the first 10 pages. Usually by then I get an idea if the book appeals to me or not. If the book is a manual or a textbook, I try to read through a set of directions and see if I can imagine myself following them (no spot reading there, you have to get a sense for the logic and flow of the text). Yes, big publishers might be a gatekeeper to BUYER BEWARE, but they also know that you judge a book by its cover (something that many self publishers actually don’t know and warn you far in advance with their covers and poor layout).
Self publishing is what it is–it gives more power to authors for better or for worse (as opposed to market barons for better or for worse). Self publishing, if you are serious about writing a good book isn’t a piece of cake–any good book will require the pound of flesh and piece of life to write. We are in a new world, folks, and the old ways of judging things is a changin’. But then again, not completely. Charles Dickens and Beatrix Potter self published too.
l feel confindent enough to say that I am exausted after reading the great majority of you insult self-publishers. The only reason why most authors seek and diligently persue traditional publishing is because it’s easier. As all authors know, there is nothing more rewarding than to have an established publishing company accept your work. You know it means they will fix all of your typos, correct your terrible grammar by the best proofreaders, and edit out whatever they do not like. They now own you and your work. They also get a nice percentage of your royalties and this is what they care about most.
Self-publishers are often rejected for numerous reasons. They get left out in the cold because sometimes the content is too racey for the mainstream and it’s too risky for an established publishing company to back it. The publisher’s goal is to maintain a steller reputation and to make money off your book. Therefore, non-self-publishing authors do not need to promote themselves or anything else. All they have to do is bring a safe and friendly concept that the world will like.
It must be great sitting on a high horse, a horse that you believe, you rightfully deserve for doing nothing but delivering a safe and friendly concept. I wonder what it would be like if 99% of the successful authors we have today had only taken the self-publishing route? Would the book be half as impressive and carry the same flow, professional editing and proofreading success? I think not.
Self-publishing is extremely difficult. It is often a lonely road that one travels in order to be recognized for the same passion as an established author; to tell a story. I challenge all established writers to abandon their traditional publisher’s name, just one time and for giggles. Lets see what you are made of as a self-publisher; without your armor of professionals.
I never even considered self e-publishing as making me a ‘published author’
I’ve never ever even thought of calling myself an author, far less a published-author. I’m a wannabe writer who would quite like it if self e-publishing allowed some people to read my work, and even better if I got some feedback. Yes I would love to get a book published, the old fashioned way, and it could still happen. I see self e-pub as a way to get my name out there, just like getting short-stories published on-line and in anthologies. It is nicer, and just feels more valid, when someone else accepts your work, no matter what it is. I’ve no illusions about what I’m doing with self e-pub. I would never dream of paying for a vanity-press book though.
Why don’t these people just write a few short stories if they only want to be able to say they are ‘published,’ it isn’t really a big deal… it’s not like it makes you sparkle in sunlight or anything!
I am what you call a “self-published” author. Until reading your article, I had no idea there was this negative stigma that goes along with being “self-published,”. I only self-published my book because I tried to get a literary agent to help me get my book to a reputable publishing house, I spent a year trying to secure an agent and then gave up that idea. These literary agents are a joke to me, but that’s my personal assessment. I went the self-publish route in order to get my book out there in print, I have no remorse for publishing this way, it is my prerogative I apologize to no one for publishing this way. Also, the idea of “self published” means unless you are published by a reputable publishing house you are not considered to be an author is not true. The book is out there for all to see, so I consider that a “self-published” author is as much a “published” author as the rest. The negativity one encounters along this line amazes me. It is like some kind of snobbery because there are the authors published by the big renowned publishing houses, and authors like myself who are “self” published. I have several “self-published” author friends and acquaintances and we are all doing very well, thank you.
As a “PS” to my above comment, I am informed that “Self-Publishing” for authors is the latest and quickest way to get published. Newer authors are getting away from the traditional publishing house regimen and are self-publishing. The only people publishing through the publishing houses are celebrities and media people, Generally the publishing house gives them a substantial book advance to get their story. So no, I am certain those people will never go the “Self-Publishing” method. Celebrities usually have their stories written for them and about them by ghost writers. The publishing houses are eager to obtain these stories, they make good reading for the general public, in other words, they are instant sellers, big bucks for the publishing house. They are willing to pay for this information, Contrary to some unknown, such as my friends or me.
It is good to see the positive comments about “Self-Publishing” here. Makes me feel good about myself.
The comments really cracked me up because most of these people lack the self-awareness to realize that they exemplify the nutty/needy lunatics described in the original post. Wow, the defensiveness! The cluelessness! The rambling sentences, bad grammar, bad spelling — and most of all, the indignant sense of entitlement. I deserve to be considered a legitimate “author” because of my “pain staking” [sic] efforts and my “blood, sweat, and tears” and goshdarnit, because mommy thinks I’m great! To hell with those experts who rejected me! [eyeroll]
This is the result of a school system that tells everyone they’re all special and nobody is ever wrong, just “differently correct.”
If you are self-published, check out The Wishing Shelf Awards at http://www.thewsa.co.uk
Hi,
I self-published a book. I didn’t do it to go around the system so much as my project transformed from an audio book project to also being a print project. I have to admit I was naive and had to learn a few things, but I got the job done. Honestly, I don’t read big named published books much. But I did have an idea. I wanted to try it out for myself so I did it. I’m glad I did. I hope to make sales on my work but never expect it. In the end readers will decide if my work is good. Not me. I understand that. I do however see traditional publishing like shopping on Ebay. You waste a lot of time not knowing what’s going on only to find out the answer is no or worse, no reply at all. In the end I think traditionl publishers may be shooting themselves in the foot that way. Now they end up competing with scores of self-publishers. It’s the end of an era I suppose.
Just my take.
“Resorting” to self-publishing? Wow! I deliberately chose to self-publish on Kindle because it’s the wave of the future–everyone is jumping on the bandwagon (including some very famous authors)! if people hate self-published authors, then why are so many of them selling books right and left? And why are traditional bookstores folding up?
Brian January
http://amzn.com/B005WM0HN6
Valid points but I don’t think anyone hates self published authors the title is a little extreme.