Self-publishing exposed!
Even in 2008, when ebooks are steadily gaining in popularity and self-publishing is becoming more and more accepted, there are still a lot of myths out there, especially about the latter. You have probably heard them: People who self-publish can’t cut it with traditional publishers (ie. they are not good enough), self-publishing is only for family memoirs/histories, and the list goes on.
During my weekend blog reading I came across this post over at the TeleRead blog. The post basically gives the top ten myths about self-publishing and seeks to dispel such nastiness. I’m not going to run through all ten myths, you can read them yourself and make your own judgment. However, I would like to add my own two cents about a few things that were mentioned.
Here’s an argument against the myth that readers are biased against self-published books:
Readers are biased against bad books, no matter how they were brought to market. It’s only publishers and other writers who are biased against self-published books. No reader gets pulled in by jacket copy or an excerpt, only to glance at the spine and hurl the book to the floor in disgust, exclaiming, "Why, this book was published by Joe Bob’s Falafel Hut, Bait Shop and Press, not a real publisher at all!"
Seriously, how many of you know who actually published your favorite book? Who published the book you are currently reading? Most readers out there can’t answer those questions. Why? Because they usually don’t care who publishes the books they read.
The above quote also makes a great point – it’s usually only writers and publishers that have a grudge against self-published books.
The one other myth I’d like to comment on is the one about self-published authors are not good enough to go through the traditional publishing route. Actually, it’s not so much the myth I want to emphasize, rather, it’s what is said a little further down:
A rumor circulating around BookExpo America in Los Angeles last month holds that no large publisher will offer a contract to a new author unless that author can demonstrate a significant online presence and a following of at least 25,000.
Ah, so self-publishing can get your foot in the door to a traditional book contract! When I have heard people argue against self-publishing or read articles about why people shouldn’t pursue to publish their own books, no one mentions this little nugget. If you publish your own book, market it, and gain a substantial following, you have probably have a much better chance of getting the attention of the editor at XYZ Big Publishing House because you have the readership to bring to the table.
Self-publishing your work should be a viable option, especially in today’s cut-throat world of book publishing. And with Print-On-Demand technology, you won’t have to break the bank in the process!
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- Is self-publishing accepted more in Egypt?
- Mark your calendars: Self-Publishing Book Expo planned for November 7
- Self-publishing success doesn’t require hitting bestseller list
Read More: Publishing News, Self-Publishing
As a full-time freelance editor/indexer/proofreader who works for both royalty presses (mostly university and denominational; some trade) and self-publishing authors and houses, I can say that I’ve seen many good self-published books, and many awful books being produced by royalty presses. When I am bold enough to ask about the latter, I’ve been told such things as, “We had a six-book contract with the author, and we’re so ready to be done with her that we’re publishing this last one no matter what.” I’ve rewritten books for such authors that have come to me for copyediting but which really needed a total overhaul . . . and the publisher agreed, but just didn’t want to devote in-house resources to it. What I tell people now from my 30 years of experience is that the quality of the manuscript is often not even among the top five reasons you may or may not be accepted by a royalty publisher. Small consolation.
Many authors of nonfiction are ultimately responsible for their own indexes, and a bad index can turn a good book into an unmarketable one very quickly, given that the human tendency for right-handed people is to flip from back to front. Bad index = no sale. If you’re an author wanting a great index by a professional in the field, check me out: boblandedits.blogspot.com.
Most interesting topic. Yes, to sell oneself to a large publisher, they are interested in people with large followings. This new angle, resulting from the Internet, has bit them in the foot because they will sign deals with bloggers who are great at rambling daily and having a big audience, but are terrible writers (in the classic and grammatical sense) who can’t carry a solid full length story.
Hi Brad, I’m new to your site- I linked here through Writing Forward- and I just wanted to tell you how much I like it. It’s so positive and informative. I really like this post and the one about chapbooks.
I’ve heard only negative things about self-publishing and it is so refreshing to get another take on it. Your points make much more sense. Plus, I always admire the indie spirit!
Thanks so much. I subscribed through Google Reader so I’ll be checking back regularly.
Hi Brad,
To a degree self-publishing depends on the subject. Mt web site, among other things, advertises my self-published book with the same title. It is specifically directed towards glass collectors and historians so I have a target market and it is selling well enough to cover my out of pocket expenses. Also, I am already a recognised authority in the field which must help.
Friends have told me that the royalty return from their commercially published books is so small at hardly be worth the bother. If the book is any good there is, however, the cudos of an enhanced reputation associated with reaching a larger potential market if that it the aim.
On the other hand an overseas friend with a sense of nostalgia wants to publish a book of anecdotes or stories about his experiences in his town before leaving the country, followed by, perhaps, a book of poetry. I can see no clear target audience for such projects which must surely be just for self satisfaction.
I can only say that my self-publishing project, involving my own design work and using a private printer was both great fun and a rewarding experience in its own right. Promotion through a local glass club, on the web and via my ISBN number seems to work well enough to engender orders from both Europe and America as well as at home. So I would advise those interested to have a go but start with a very modest print number of just a few copies to test its potential before lashing out on a more extravagant basis.