Recently I have received several postings from writer friends directing me to online links to their books. There they appear, glossy and professional, on sites like amazon. Strange, I didn’t even know the individuals had secured an agent, let alone a publishing deal. How could I be so remiss as to not even pick up on this? And then, on closer inspection, I see that there has been no agent, no publishing deal. Each and everyone of them has self-published. Now, I am of two minds on this...
One, how can you guarantee quality assurance? Yes, all of the writers are talented prose writers but whether they can sustain an entire narrative for 300+ pages is doubtful. I wonder now how many writers will presume to get ahead of themselves in the process? On the other side, many of these particular writers have worked long and hard on their craft and these particular stories. Why shouldn’t they have the satisfaction of seeing them in print?
With frightening statistics, such as only 1% of writers succeeding in getting their books published mainstream, there is a genuine argument for writers seeking alternative means to publication. But where does quality assurance come in? How does a writer trust this is the best version they could be putting out there? How does a reader ensure they are not being led a not-so-merry dance?
What is the criteria? And who decides? Are publishers there to produce books or to provide a service for authors? And, if the latter, then can we evolve into the guardians of Story, whereby we become the quality assurers? Do authors still trust us enough to service their needs?
Signing Off,
(Editorial Manager)
I understand where you are coming from....(here it comes)....but....I've encountered plenty of industry published work that is substandard in quality (in terms of plot, writing and dare I say it, grammar and spelling). The majority is, however, of a high standard whereas I suspect that may not be the case with self-published works.
In my experience I find that self-published work is scrutinised more by the end-reader because I guess they understandably ask "why is this self-published?". When we as readers encounter errors in industry-published works we dismiss the errors as minor.
What I am trying to get across is that being industry-published does not in any way guarantee a quality book (especially when it comes to sequels from well known authors - that is a particular area where the quality appears to subside). Vice versa, being self-published does not imply the work lacks quality.
On a personal note I spent a decade thinking of my book, spent 9 month writing it and then a further 9 months reading it and re-editing it. Apart some some grammar and spelling issues (no more than I've encountered in a Lee Child book recently) the book has been well received (judging by reviews when readers can be bothered to submit reviews).
And therein lies the key - self-publishers need to understand that writing the book is only half (or even one-third, if you consider marketing) of the effort involved.
It's certainly a thought evoking article and one which will ensure that I spend even more time checking my work in future.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but this is what I understand of publishing industry in a nutshell. Agents are not need to publish, period. They are needed if one wants to publish with all the perks; including but not excluded to global publication, signings, events, media coverage, etc… . The underlying principle is PMS: more Publicity = more Money = more author Satisfaction. Meaning: more time to cavort in Fiji, more “Yoo-Hoo! I’m rihihihich,” for everybody involved. The basic idea is that agents fill the checkbook better than authors alone. Like everything, there’s a price for that luxury and some authors would rather take charge than get stuck with the proverbial dirty work. So they trust their experience and instincts. It’s the same thing agents and publishers do, only they’re supposed to have more of it. But authors can learn. After all, agents and publishers did. That is what the publishing industry is most afraid of and what will help its transition from rigid corporations writers can hardly talk with, to manageable publication mediums. The down side? Writers can kiss good old days of leaving business mumbo-jumbo to someone else behind. And readers? They’ll get more selection, which translates into more page-per-pound competition, which will force authors to take full responsibility for increasing the quality of their work, or never get their head above the crowd high enough to make a profit.
Xean
1/20/2011
This is a timely thread as I logged on specifically to see if there was any information about the e-book style of self-publishing following a friend telling me he had put something on Amazon.
To be honest, my first instinct was to say 'Hey, that's cheating!' but my second was 'Why not just go for it?'
What I am interested in though, being currently unpublished, is what impact this route may have on the prospects of progressing into getting work published 'properly'? Would agents/publishers shy away from something that has already been sold in this way, would they not care or could it even be seen as a shop window?