Yes, think hard before self-publishing–but understand what “true” self-publishing is first
Posted By Sue Collier on March 10, 2010
I read this blog post today
http://cba-ramblings.blogspot.com/2010/03/think-hard-before-self-publishing.html
from a literary agent, who basically thinks self-publishing is a bad idea for the vast majority of authors. Because I disagree with so much of what she says–from the standpoint of authors who are truly self-published (and this is an important distinction!)–and wrote a lengthy comment to the post, I thought I would post it here as well.
Here’s my comment to her blog post:
I have to disagree with much of this article from the standpoint of truly self-published authors. And by that, I mean authors who start up their own publishing company imprint, obtain their own ISBN prefix, and oversee that all aspects of editing and design are done professionally. Books published in this way cannot readily be identified as “self-published.” They are “independently” published. For authors who go the Lulu or iUniverse route—yes, much of this article is true; these books really don’t have a chance in the book marketplace, and they sell very few copies.
Self-published authors who do it correctly CAN get into traditional distribution channels. Through membership in such groups as IBPA, independent publishers are able to work with Baker and Taylor, for instance. Of course, it is up to the publisher/author to create demand for their books from the consumer level because distributors/wholesalers do little to market books. Marketing and promotions by the author are key—whether books are self- or traditionally published. (It usually comes as a shock to traditionally published authors that publishers do little to market most of their titles.)
As far as promotions publishers have access to—“purchasing space on front and center tables in Barnes & Noble—how many of their authors are getting this? The James Pattersons of the publishing world will get this treatment; the average midlist author likely will not anyway.
I would also venture to say that the odds of any published book becoming a NYT bestseller are staggeringly slim. Most authors—whether self- or traditionally published—should have more realistic goals. And there are certainly plenty of other “bestseller lists” to which they can aspire.
As far as selling a self-pubbed book becoming a full-time job—well, wouldn’t this be true for any book that needs to be marketed? Again, most publishers do little to promote the majority of the books on their list, focusing on the few moneymakers; it is primarily left up to the authors.
I do agree with the recommendation for authors to self-publish if they have some decent channels through which to sell books—and if they’ve got a good platform already established. (Of course, platform is becoming more and more important to traditional publishers as well.)
As someone who has worked with self-publishing authors for more than a decade (and who was involved in trade publishing for a decade before that), I am truly bothered by the fact that POD “self-publishing” is now being lumped together with true self-publishers. They are not one and the same—no matter how many times these “subsidy” presses say it is so. Paying to publish and publishing by starting one’s own publishing company are two different things. I work with authors who are doing the latter; these authors make thoughtful decisions about all aspects of production of their books, and these books stand up to any other on the bookstore shelf—because yes, their books are available in brick and mortar bookstores.
As self-publishing continues to grow in popularity (and I believe it will), we must educate people so they understand the POD digital publishers are really just vanity publishers masquerading as self-publishers. Unfortunately, they are also trading on the respectable reputation legitimate self-publishers have created.
About The Author
I was happy with everything you wrote until >>I am truly bothered by the fact that POD “self-publishing” is now being lumped together with true self-publishers.<<
You're doing some improper lumping.
POD (a manufacturing scenario) is used by real self-pubbers (like me), vanity presses, university presses, traditional publishers — all kinds of publishers — and should not be lumped together with any of them.
Writers Digest (publisher of your book) is making the situation worse by lumping together real self-publishers with the customers/victims of vanity presses, and by carrying ads for vanity presses aimed at ignorant, starry-eyed writers.
Michael N. Marcus
– president of the Independent Self-Publishers Alliance, http://www.independentselfpublishers.org
– author of “Become a Real Self-Publisher: Don’t be a Victim of a Vanity Press,” http://www.amazon.com/dp/0981661742
– author of “Stupid, Sloppy, Sleazy. The Strange Story of Vanity Publisher Outskirts Press. How do they stay in business?” http://silversandsbooks.com/outskirtspressbookinfo.html
– author of “Stories I’d Tell My Children (but maybe not until they’re adults),” coming 4/1/10. http://www.silversandsbooks.com/storiesbookino.html
http://BookMakingBlog.blogspot.com
http://www.SilverSandsBooks.com
Hello Sue,
I didn’t bother to read the comments from the Agent you mentioned . I have nothing against agents, but in this innovative world, I just don’t see any reason for a debut author to waste their time with agents. Even if they get a contract, which is highly unlikely, they will get almost no marketing help, and they give up control of their information. And, these days, information and content are currency!
The main problem for people who want to make money with a book is that they concentrate on selling books. Your book should be only one part of your platform. Authors communicate ideas , entertain and motivate – all while building a relationship with their community of readers. This may mean utilizing all sorts of communication tools. Unfortunately, agents, who ae stuck in an old and perishing model, are not in a position to take advantage of the new model, and will consistently speak against it.
I have been a self-published author since the late 1980’s, and my parents were in the business before that! I wrote 17 books (many self-published) and sold 2 million+ copies in 20 languages. Today, I use blogs, audios, videos and other tools to increase sales volume. It also strengthens my relationships with the readers.
It is an exciting time to be an author, particularly a self-published one.
Congratulations on your self-publishing success, Bill! It’s great to hear stories such as yours because it reaffirms that self-published authors can indeed sell lots of books! Thanks for reading, and I hope you’ll check back!
Michael–You’ve misunderstood what I mean because I don’t disagree with you. POD in and of itself is, of course, print on demand–a printing option that is becoming more and more viable through such channels as Lightning Source. It is its own entity; it’s simply a way of printing books digitally–and yes, all kinds of presses use it. What I strongly object to is that the subsidy presses are calling themselves “POD self-publishers,” leading many authors to believe that in order to print their books via POD channels (instead of offset where they are responsible for storing hundreds and perhaps thousands of books), they are forced into going with outfits such as Lulu, Author House, and the other subsidies.
I’m frankly annoyed with Writer’s Digest and their lumping together of all options that aren’t traditionally published as “self-published,” even though many options (including Author House) are vanity presses, through and through. And really, the complete opposite of well-thought-out, well-planned self-publishing. I have written an excellent chapter in my upcoming book that clarifies what all of the options are; perhaps I can convince them to read it!
I appreciate the comments. I’m an avid reader of your blog and an admirer of your work!
This is excellent information.
I look forward to learning more as time goes on.
Thank you all!
This is excellent information.
Thank you all!
I’m looking forward to following your blog.
I’ve completed a middle grade adventure. Am pursuing traditional publication as I continue to polish, but by year’s end, if it’s not being seriously considered, then we plan to self-publish (in the sense that you mean it.)
I joined SCBWI last fall, have already attended 2 conferences, am an apprentice level graduate of the Christian Writers Guild and just yesterday hired a writing coach to review my entire ms. (She’s booked until mid July so I have awhile to continue revisions.)
So – thank you and we all, I’m sure, look forward to learning more!
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