If you’re a writer and you want to be published and pay any attention at all to the state of publishing today, you’ve heard all about the pros and the cons, the benefits and the dangers of self-publishing and e-publishing. For those of you interested, James Scott Bell over at The Kill Zone has a word of caution for you. Check it out.
Are any of you thinking of self-publishing? E-publishing? Got any words of wisdom or warning?
Some of my books are e published and it's worked out well for me because I've learned so much about writing in the process. Good epublishers will assign you an editor to work with and then you get free editing advice and coaching. I haven't made a lot of money from it, but it has taught me tons about the publishing world.
ReplyDeleteOne of the women in my children's writing group has a series of self-published early reader books and seems to be doing OK with them. She works full time promoting and selling them however--usually through school visits. If you don't have a head for business and marketing, this is NOT the best option for you.
ReplyDeleteI think you need know what you want from your writing career. If you're aiming to be rich, self-publishing is not the route for you.
ReplyDeleteCD
What a great article to share, thank you! I've taken a long time to decide whether or not to self-publish the little novella I'm planning to release late September. It has been a tough decision, but I think ultimately it's the right thing to to do for me. After reading the article, it became clear that I'm ready and have the right tools to self-publish this particular book.
ReplyDeleteAll I know is that to me it feels like a cop out. I won't settle for less than being published with an indie press without an agent. That's where I draw the line. How do you feel about it?
ReplyDeleteNah, won't do that.
ReplyDeleteGreat article. I don't think I'm ambitious enough to self publish. If I can't get an agency interested in what I'm writing, chances are I won't get anyone else, either. Heck, I can't even get my friends to read stuff!
ReplyDeleteMy only experience with e-publishing was a head scratcher. In the cover letter I sent them, I explained it was a Middle Grade, 35,000 words, with a 12 year old MC. It met all the criteria for middle grade in their submission guidelines.
ReplyDeleteI received an email from the editor that "young adult books are longer and to add 4,000 words and resubmit."
I don't like change, so I haven't explored e-publishing or self-publishing much, but people sure do seem to be talking about it a lot!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'm ready to think about self-publishing yet and especially not e-publishing. Yet I know it's worked out well for people, like Aubrie. So maybe it will be an option in a few years.
ReplyDeleteAnd I finally just realized your picture above is in Southern Utah! Right? It's the area I did my thesis research in, surveying all the mammals of the Grand Staircase-Escalante and the surrounding Paria region too.
Have a great weekend!
The problem is I'm not into marketing and selling and self promotion. I'm only into the writing. So I think I'm holding out for traditional publishing. But who knows what the future holds. Thanks for the article.
ReplyDeleteAnd pleading ignorance, what exactly is a beta reader? Someone who you just have contact with via the internet? Someone who will read your ms. and send comments, editing suggestion, via email?
ReplyDeleteYvonne, here's a blog post I did about beta and alpha readers that might help you out: http://tiny.cc/8y51l
ReplyDeleteHey Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI love your blog, so I'm giving it an award on Monday! Check it out:
http://joannebrothwell.blogspot.com