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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