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The Self-Publishing Debate - Opinions?
Hi, She-Writers! I'm new here, and was wondering if you could help me.
I'm the editor of Trashionista, a chick-lit 'blogazine'. Recently I posted about about self-publishing, as a BBC programme here in the UK talked about the benefits (and disadvantages) of sites such as Blurb and Lulu. I had some mixed comments - some favour the traditional route to publication (myself included), whereas others wouldn't mind self-publishing.
I'm looking to write a follow-up post, with opinions of others - as kind of a debate. I'm wondering if any of you could offer your opinions on this. Would you self-publish, or stick to the traditional route to getting your book published? Is anyone here a self-published author and if so, what made you decide to self-publish?
I would link to your sites on the post along with your comments. Would anyone be up for sharing their opinions? :D
I'm the editor of Trashionista, a chick-lit 'blogazine'. Recently I posted about about self-publishing, as a BBC programme here in the UK talked about the benefits (and disadvantages) of sites such as Blurb and Lulu. I had some mixed comments - some favour the traditional route to publication (myself included), whereas others wouldn't mind self-publishing.
I'm looking to write a follow-up post, with opinions of others - as kind of a debate. I'm wondering if any of you could offer your opinions on this. Would you self-publish, or stick to the traditional route to getting your book published? Is anyone here a self-published author and if so, what made you decide to self-publish?
I would link to your sites on the post along with your comments. Would anyone be up for sharing their opinions? :D
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Talia Carner on -
Self publishing is all too often self-printing. The books go nowhere. Distribution is limited (e.g., online stores only) and few people even hear about the book. Book reviewers are reluctant to review it.
That is especially true for fiction.Poor editing and skipping the long process of revising or the cost of professional advice on a manuscript give self-published fiction a particularly bad name.
Self-publishing non-fiction books can serve the author somewhat better: The author may print books to accompany business lectures and sell via a specific organization.It also works for someone who wants to document material for a small audience--memoir to share with family members and younger generation.
This distinction between fiction and non-fiction should be a part of the discussion.
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Permalink Reply by Mary Hutchings Reed on
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Totally agree, Talia. What makes my novel Courting Kathleen Hannigan work is that it appeals to women lawyers, women in business, and men married to same!! The nonfictional element is the social history part. I imagine historical fiction is a category of fiction that is easier to sell on a self-published basis than general literary fiction.
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Permalink Reply by Michael N. Marcus on -
Talia said: >>Self publishing is all too often self-printing.
I don't understand, Printing is one stage of publishing, self- or otherwise. Very few self-publishers actually print books. With a print-on-demand book, if there is no demand, there is no printing.
>>The books go nowhere.
That's the fault of the self-publisher for ineffective or insufficient promotion.
>>Distribution is limited (e.g., online stores only)
Many millions of books are sold online.
>>and few people even hear about the book.
That's the fault of the self-publisher for ineffective or insufficient promotion.
>>Book reviewers are reluctant to review it.
If the book has the logo of a vanity press, it will probably be shunned. OTOH, if a self-pubber has a "real"-sounding business name and logo, and the book is properly designed, professionally edited, and well-written, it has a chance.
Michael N. Marcus
author of "Become a Real Self-Publisher: don't be a victim of a vanity press" http://www.amazon.com/dp/0981661742
author of "Stories I'd Tell My Children (but maybe not until they're adults)," coming 4/1/10. http://silversandsbooks.com/storiesbookinfo.html
http://BookMakingBlog.blogspot.com
http://www.SilverSandsBooks.com
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Permalink Reply by Talia Carner on
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I totally agree about the "fault" of the self-published author: poor or no editing, poor cover design, etc--and poor or no marketing skills. It is especially true for fiction works (non-fiction may have a built-in audience, and the contents may overcome poor design.) Most fiction writers are not marketing savvy and lack the ability, inclination or money to tackle serious production and marketing. (I often view it as an outsider as in my previous life I was a marketing consultant to Fortune 500 companies, so I am not speaking for myself.)
This author's "fault" is what makes self-publishing such a delusional endeavor for so many who simply do not understand the process but are enticed by "self-publishing" operators to shell out money. Often, their promise of "marketing" for the author ends up with little more than a listing on Amazon and being given bookmarks....
As for print-on-demand (vs. offset): The cost per book is so high, that the list price must be way over the market price of such books. While mainstream publishers offer a trade paperback at $12-14, a print-on-demand author via iUniverse and such other operations must sell a trade paperback for $17-20 to cover basic cost and the "publisher" fee/commission before the author can even add a dollar or two for herself....
The exceptions--as you and some on this board have demonstrated--are when an author is a sophisticated marketer, has a "front" publisher name and logo, and can promote the book aggressively. Those are the exceptions. The majority of self-published fiction writers fail miserably.
Our responses are not mutually exclusive.
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Permalink Reply by Zetta Brown on -
Talia said: "As for print-on-demand (vs. offset): The cost per book is so high, that the list price must be way over the market price of such books. While mainstream publishers offer a trade paperback at $12-14, a print-on-demand author via iUniverse and such other operations must sell a trade paperback for $17-20 to cover basic cost and the "publisher" fee/commission before the author can even add a dollar or two for herself...."
I'm afraid I don't agree. iUniverse is publish on demand--not print-on-demand. There is a difference.
Print-on-demand is the process used by traditional and independent publishers to print their books as an alternative to off-set. Print-on-demand is done digitally using electronic files so there's no need to have a "traditional" print run of hundreds or thousands of books that require warehousing. Books can be ordered and shiped in any quantity - hence, print-on-demand.
Publish-on-demand is really "self" publishing where an author will use a company like iUniverse to do all the production work which costs money and is the reason why the cover price is so high.
Print-on-demand isn't as cheap as mass market but it does allow a publisher to have competitive prices.
We publish our books through LSI and the cover prices on our books range from $7.99-14.99. The price depends on page count. Not only that, but we receive compliments from our authors, customers, and others in the field about the quality of our books--inside and out.
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Permalink Reply by Michael N. Marcus on
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Zetta said, "iUniverse is publish on demand--not print-on-demand. There is a difference.'
The difference is that there is NO SUCH THING as publish--on-demand.
Printing a book takes a few minutes. A book can be printed "on demand" when an order is placed.
Publishing is a complex process (which includes printing) and can take months, or years. The long publishing sequence is not started each time someone clicks on a link at Amazon.com.
Talia also said, >>"self" publishing where an author will use a company like iUniverse to do all the production work.
A writer who uses iUniverse is a customer (or victim) of a vanity press, NOT a self-publisher.
Vanity presses make most of their money by selling services to writers, not by selling books to readers. The books are often ugly, error-filled and overpriced -- and very few copies are sold.
Just as no one can eat lunch for you, no other person or company can self-publish for you. The words just don't make sense.
OTOH, a "real" self-publisher establishes a business, hires editors and designers, purchases photography, owns ISBNS, obtains LCCNs and copyrights, chooses a printer, and promotes the books.
That's very different from paying for the services of a vanity press.
Michael N. Marcus
author of "Become a Real Self-Publisher: Don’t be a Victim of a Vanity Press," http://www.amazon.com/dp/0981661742
author of "Stories I'd Tell My Children (but maybe not until they're adults)," coming 4/1/10. http://silversandsbooks.com/storiesbookinf…
http://BookMakingBlog.blogspot.com
http://www.SilverSandsBooks.com
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Permalink Reply by Debra Weiner on -
What is your opinion of Amazon's Create Space?
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Permalink Reply by Linda A Lavid on
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I'd definitely look into Createspace. Here's a link. I know it's from their community board but it seems to cover a lot of ground. All the authors I've know who have used CS are very happy.
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Permalink Reply by Debra Weiner on
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Thank you. I've spent a good bit of time going through their Website and it seems very turn-key and straightforward. It also looks like the Pro-Plan is the best way to go to have as large an audience as possible.
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Permalink Reply by Theodora Filis on -
Talia,
I had contemplated using iUniverse for a while now.
This was very helpful.
Thanks so much for sharing.
Dora
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Permalink Reply by Patricia Anne Panahi on -
I published a cookbook with a small publisher and made absolutely no money at all. For my spiritual memoir, I went with Authorhouse and, two years later, I still haven't recouped my original money, despite marketing efforts. For my new novel, I'm going for a literary agent whatever it takes.
www.patriciapanahi.com
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Permalink Reply by Shirley Marrs on -
Zetta,
Who is LSI and where are they located?
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With the shift in distribution, has there been talks about change in costs ?
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