Self-publishing symposium: Kristen Tsetsi

How does self-publishing differ from traditional publishing?

I haven't had a book traditionally published, so there's a lot of information I don't have that would allow me to make a sound comparison, but I can tell you why, after having self-published, I'd like to be traditionally published.

As I understand it, having a book traditionally published means 1. People take the book more seriously immediately 2. (this includes reviewers normally not accessible to those who self-publish) 3. the book shows up in bookstores - the real ones that have people walking in, perusing

On the other hand, self-publishing is faster, gives the author complete control over everything from fonts to cover art, and cuts out the middleman.

Of course, the only time you don't want a middleman is when you're making real money from book sales. Most self-published authors don't.

Do self-published book review blogs help to raise the reader awareness of self-published books?

I believe yes. Internet blogs, articles, and websites are the biggest marketing tool self-published writers have when it comes to spreading word about the work.

How do you respond to the following statement?--Self-publishing is not a serious way to get one's work into print now and never will be.

I'd have to ask how "serious" is defined. And if I came to agree that it's currently not a serious way to get one's work into print (and it's not likely I would agree), I'd then have to question the use of the word "never."

Has the golden age of self-publishing already passed or is it yet to come?

It seems to have just begun.

What about the challenges posed to the self-published writer by having to promote and edit his or her own book?

As I understand it from authors who have published traditionally, the challenges are similar for all who want people to read their work. Every author should spend as much time editing her/his own writing as possible, whether self-publishing or handing it off to an editor connected with a publisher. Promotion, too, is something traditionally published writers have said is largely left up to them, as well. "They" say publishers aren't doing as much author promotion as they used to.

The challenge is real: it's difficult to simultaneously market and write. Both require creativity, but they require it in different ways, and each begs for full attention. I'm learning it comes down to time management. It's not easy, but it's do-able.

Why is it that a self-published author has yet to emerge into national recognition as a self-published author? (As opposed to being given a mainstream publishing contract after a self-published book attracts attention.)

My guess is that self-published authors simply have yet to be taken seriously. Until a traditional publisher accepts the work, it's not "real." Nor is it "good." Many still view self-published writers as those who can't write; if they could, they would be traditionally published. (Look here for a conversation/debate with with author J.A. Konrath about this popular belief.)

Has the experience of self-publishing changed the way you write? (If you have self-published. )

I wish I had a more interesting answer, but no. Anyone who writes writes the best way they can.

However - if anything, it's possible self-publishing allows some writers to be truer to themselves and their writing because they're focused on just that: the writing. They're not worrying about how to please an editor and/or a publisher, whether the manuscript will be accepted, about what will sell, and then allowing that to influence the story or how it's told.

 

Kristen Tsetsi is the author of Homefront

Find her at,

www.kristentsetsi.com
www.backwordbooks.com

Self-publishing symposium: Mick Rooney

How does self-publishing differ from traditional publishing?

Beyond the fact both paths of publishing will result in a printed book, I think they are worlds apart. Traditional publishing at its best is a shared and collective effort on the part of author and publisher to successfully manage the streams of creativity and marketability and deliver a book and brand to the reader using tried and trusted formulas of business. Traditional publishing at its worst is a collision of poor but desirable content and brute sales presented to the general consumer as a product of essential living.

Self-publishing is the individual or assisted business of the author to develop and connect with a readership by presenting their book as a comparative and quality product by using innovation to exploit a mix of old and new platforms. Self-publishing at its best has the potential to derive a sustained income for an author or create a brand and marketability that mainstream and independent publishers will find hard to ignore. Self-publishing at its worst simply turns bad writers into bad authors and bad manuscripts into bad books, and this unfairly makes an example of self-publishing in general at the expense of the author. The upshot of self-publishing at its worst is profit for the vanity presses and author solutions service and it prolongs the time span before self-publishing becomes an accepted part of the publishing industry.

Do self-published book review blogs help to raise the reader awareness of self-published books?

I don’t think reviews in general are as effective as the general perception of them. The biggest seller and influence on the sales of a book is word of mouth—effectively, readers sell the books they have read. Self-published book review blogs can help the sales of a book, but only because they usually address and appeal to defined and captured niche markets, often comprising of readers who themselves are authors.

How do you respond to the following statement?--Self-publishing is not a serious way to get one's work into print now and never will be.

Anyone can get their book into print—printing a book is simply a process. I suspect you really mean self-publishing is just printing a book rather than actually publishing it and that self-publishing may never be taken seriously. I don’t agree. There is nothing more serious than an educated author spending their own money and taking on what is a small business operation to publish their own work. Self-publishing is not serious only if the author decides not to take their hours of craft seriously when they decide to self-publish.

My own experience of talking to many self-published authors is that they are becoming savvier about the business of self-publishing and demonstrate a flexible and dynamic approach. What we are talking about here is perception, and significantly an industry perception, because I don’t believe the vast majority of readers could care less about who publishes what book. For them, it’s about content and quality of read and that’s something which will never change.

If people think self-publishing a book does not have a place within the publishing industry; they might like to visit Thomas Nelson and Harlequin who think very differently, and even taking the worst view are happy to exploit their slush piles.

Has the golden age of self-publishing already passed or is it yet to come?

I don’t think there are things like ‘golden ages’ in any form of publishing. If anything, traditional publishing has moved very little away from the business model they employed for years. Self-publishing has had a significant explosion due to new digital technology and social media networks rather than bring about it. This again is the misconception that self-publishing is something that existed outside of the publishing industry. Publishing is publishing—there is only change, and so far, self published authors have adapted to that change far better.

What about the challenges posed to the self-published writer by having to promote and edit his or her own book?

These are not so much challenges, but rather the realities of the last ten years that editing and promotion are tasks vanity publishers of the 1970’s and onwards charged you for but never carried out, and subsequent author services overcharge or don’t do proficiently. I think from what I have experienced, authors have adapted very well to new technology and media in promotion their work and finding and exploiting social media streams for their books. I believe this is going to go from strength to strength and the traditional model of publishing is adopting localised social models of marketing but on a global scale.

I have always believed that authors were better placed to understand their material and readership, but the traditional path of publishing somehow tried to circumvent the authors input into the core marketing strategy of a book. Self-published authors have a greater understanding of the need for professional editing of their book, and along with cover design are the few areas they must concede valuable input on.

Why is it that a self-published author has yet to emerge into national recognition as a self-published author? (As opposed to being given a mainstream publishing contract after a self-published book attracts attention.)

That question suggests we have not had successes at a national level. Strange how quickly we forget books like Necromancer, originally self-published. The truth is that publishers may not easily admit that they watch leading self-published titles and move quickly to acquire them in the first few months of success. This results in the enduring perception that most self-published successes always originated from large publishing houses. Few can blame authors for taking an opportunity if it leads to them writing full-time as a career. We have always presided over an industry happy to finger point at the poverties of self-publishing but quick to adopt and re-invent many self-publishing successes.

Has the experience of self-publishing changed the way you write? (If you have self-published.)

No. There may be a case for non-fiction, certainly not for fiction.

Mick Rooney has been self-publishing his books since 1990. He has written numerous articles on the publishing industry and self-publishing which have appeared in many magazines. He is editor, researcher and publishing consultant for his website and author resource, POD, Self-Publishing & Independent Publishing, providing news, service reviews and advice.

POD, Self Publishing & Independent Publishing: http://mickrooney.blogspot.com

Mick Rooney's Author Site: http://mickrooneyauthor.blogspot.com

Self-publishing symposium: Henry Baum

How does self-publishing differ from traditional publishing?

Limited distribution. Other than that - nothing. Yes, a publisher offers a design team, marketing team, and editorial guidance, but a writer can do those things alone. The one thing a writer cannot do (unless he or she has a gigantic marketing budget or money to self-distribute) is distribute to brick and mortar bookstores. In this way self-publishing will always lack compared to traditional publishing until distribution changes.

Do self-published book review blogs help to raise the reader awareness of self-published books?

Vaguely - awareness, yes. Immediate book sales, not so much. The most books I sold with my last novel, North of Sunset, was not from a review on the Poddy Mouth blog, but after that mention was picked up by Entertainment Weekly. People can say that blogs have a lot of marketing power, but it's still the mainstream, traditional press that can have the biggest impact on book sales.

How do you respond to the following statement?—Self-publishing is not a serious way to get one's work into print now and never will be.

You're a backward-thinking turd. Really, though, the "never will be" is easily discarded because imagine a world in which as many people have e-readers as now have cell phones. It'll open everything up. This is about being "in print" though, and self-published books can look as good as traditionally published books if you hire the right people. As mentioned, it's not the best way to distribute, but to have an actual book in your hands? Just fine.

Has the golden age of self-publishing already passed or is it yet to come?

Totally yet to come. Repeating myself here, but this time is coming: e-readers are ubiquitous and the Espresso Book Machine can be found at bookstores and other places (Starbucks et al). Traditional publishers will start looking to print on demand to save on costs - compared to having an up-front print run that may not sell. At that point, there's very little difference between traditional publishing and putting it out yourself, as everyone will be using a similar distribution system.

What about the challenges posed to the self-published writer by having to promote and edit his or her own book?

Every writer has to edit his/her own book, so it amounts to hiring an editor you trust. That will cost around $800, give or take, so it's not for everybody. Writers need to take on their own marketing as well. Personally, I'd like to have the muscle of a traditional publisher's marketing/distribution team, because I can then combine that with the marketing I'm already doing. That's better than going it alone. My whole beef with the traditional publishing industry is how books are selected, not how they're distributed or even marketed. It's sickening that books are selected based on how they can be marketed, but I can't deny that having someone else marketing you is effective. It's just better for my sanity to not try to enter a system that's gauging your work on something other than the quality of the work. It's too painful and maddening a process, and getting worse.

Why is it that a self-published author has yet to emerge into national recognition as a self-published author? (As opposed to being given a mainstream publishing contract after a self-published book attracts attention.)

I guess because once you reach a level of success, most writers take the traditional book deal. If a publisher said, we'll give you $50,000 and better distribution, I wouldn't turn that down. If I was making $50,000 on my own, that'd be something different. But most writers aren't and most people need the money. It's not about the validation, I imagine, it's about the money. Very hard to turn your back if someone's offering something generous.

As time goes on and distribution improves, writers will be able to be self-sustaining. As it stands now, some of the people who are successful with self-publishing are those who had success with traditional publishing and have a larger platform because of it. My dream, of course, is to become that self-published poster child and still sell a lot of books on my own while having total creative freedom to release whatever I want. My diabolical plan is inching forward.

Has the experience of self-publishing changed the way you write? (If you have self-published.)

It's made me not have to think about the market at all. I still want to be entertaining. I'm not an experimental writer, I still want it to be readable. But I don't have to write by putting myself in an agent's head and how he or she would read the book. Honestly, that's how I should have been writing anyway, but ambition can get in the way of writing.

On the flipside, the obsession about an agent or editor's acceptance or rejection can get in the way of writing as well. So while I might have to spend a lot more time plugging my work all on my own, I have to spend a lot less time querying agents, looking up independent presses, and caring too much if they like what I write. Instead, I can just find readers who like or dislike it, which is the point of writing in the first place - not to be published, but to be read.

Henry Baum is author of North of Sunset. His latest novel is The American Book of the Dead. He is also the editor of Selfpublishingreview.com

Self-publishing symposium: Shannon Yarbrough

How does self-publishing differ from traditional publishing?

This is a question that by now, I'm sure most already know the answer to. I could first post the obvious which pretty much defines what self-publishing is in general: The author is mostly responsible for the editing, formatting, and marketing of his own work. Self-published books usually cost more and are sold nonreturnable. Self-published books are not usually stocked by traditional bookstores unless specifically ordered for an event or special order. But, by these definitions alone, someone considering self-publishing would probably frown upon it. These days, thanks to e-publishing, the expense and retail cost is much more affordable, and often free. E-publishing bypasses the brick and mortar bookstores all together, and puts the self-published author in the electronic forefront where bookstores are losing their customers anyway. Authors also keep the rights to their work which means they don't have to pay a big publishing house, editors, and agents, so they can keep more of the profit to themselves. Those margins might still be small, but most self-published authors still find it to be just as rewarding. In the end, we have a slush pile just like traditional publishing does.

Do self-published book review blogs help to raise the reader awareness of self-published books?

Since I founded LLBR (www.llbookreview.com), I would certainly say yes to this question. But generally I find more authors visit the site than readers who are non-writers. Now, we all know that when authors aren't writing, they should be reading. So, hopefully it's a win-win situation. Authors, new and old, learn more about the POD experience from these review blogs. And they also find books to read and can support other authors like themselves. Most non-writing readers don't care about the emphasis put on self-publishing; they just want a good book to read. I think sometimes we put too much emphasis on the self-publishing part because we think POD fans are the only ones reading us.

How do you respond to the following statement? –Self-publishing is not a serious way to get one’s work into print now and never will be.

I would probably respond by saying, "Did you ever hear of a book called The Joy of Cooking? It was first self-published. Or do you know who Upton Sinclair, James Redfield, Oscar Wilde, E.E. Cummings, Benjamin Franklin, Mark Twain, Walt Witman, Ezra Pound, Gertrude Stein, and Edgar Allan Poe are? Do you know what they all have in common? Yep, they self-published." Self-publishing is not taken seriously only because of the stigmas that surround it, most of which were created by the traditional publishing companies anyway. But that is changing.

Has the golden age of self-publishing already passed or is it yet to come?

I think it has yet to come, but we are getting there. As E-publishing becomes the norm, and more people buy into e-readers, it's only going to get better.

What about the challenges posed to the self-published writer by having to promote and edit his or her own book?

Well, anyone who is considering self-publishing seriously should know they can't do it alone. A lot of POD companies offer editing and formatting services. There are also a ton of reputable editors-for-hire out there. I'm guilty of trying to do it all by myself, and my biggest advice to anyone out there who wants to is don't take that "self" part literally. Get some type of professional assistance whether that be with formatting, your book cover, or editing. Hire someone. Take a writing class. Join a writing club. Or take advantage of your POD company's extra services if you can afford them.

Why is it that a self-published author has yet to emerge into national recognition as a self-published author? (As opposed to being given a mainstream publishing contract after a self-published book attracts attention.)

They have. You just don't hear about them. But it's because Americans are guilty of all reading the same thing. There are millions of books out there and millions more being published every year. Ask any non-reader to name a popular book though and they will probably say Harry Potter, or Twilight, or the latest by Stephen King, or whatever has been made into a movie this week. That's because as a society, we've always wanted what our neighbor has. We want to fit in. We want to do what everyone else is doing. So in the end, we are also all reading the same books. And so our society as a whole has an effect on what we see on the news or read in the papers. Because that's what is making money.

Take Christopher Paolini's book, Eragon, for example. He began writing it when he was fifteen. Few people probably know it was first self-published. But fewer probably even know it was a book at all because Hollywood made it into a movie. I'm sure Mr. Paolini still cashed some nice paychecks though; today he's only 27 and has published a whole series of books. Still Alice by Lisa Genova is another self-published book picked up by the mainstream that has done very well.

My point is that most self-published authors don't have the finances or collateral that's needed to get that national recognition. If you could afford a massive marketing campaign, then it might happen for your self-published book. Still, it might not. For now, the self-published author is lucky to get the local color page in the community paper or a signing at their B&N, and for some, that's recognition enough.

Has the experience of self-publishing changed the way you write? (If you have self-published.)

Absolutely. I tend to format a new Word document to a 6x9 page right from the start, leaving blank pages for the front matter. I also format the margins and page numbers. All this even for a first draft!

What are the dangers of self-publishing? Are self-published authors, in other words, more likely to be attacked for writing material that is challenging or outside of mainstream?

Well, self-publishing has always been the scarlet letter of the writing world. Self-published authors are attacked for more than their content. I think the freedom from traditional publishing restrictions is exactly why authors self-publish. I've seen and read a lot of non-traditional books as far as design, content, and even illustrations go. That's one of the beauties of self-publishing that I enjoy. It's artistic freedom in a way that has broken the mold on not just the way we publish, but also the way we write and read.

 

Shannon Yarbrough runs the LL Book Review.

Self-publishing symposium: Bonnie Kozek

NP: How does self-publishing differ from traditional publishing?
BK: At its most elemental level there's no difference between self-publishing and traditional publishing: Either way, the writer's job is the same: Write a book. Beyond this essential there's a whole heap of difference—the biggest being time. How much time does it take to get your work published? In traditional publishing, excluding the rare exception, the answer is, years, decades, even lifetimes. (Henry Miller’s first novel didn't get published until he was 44 years old; Raymond Chandler's first short story didn't get published until he was 45 years old; Emily Dickinson's poems didn't get published until after her death.) In self-publishing, the answer is that your book can be published within months. When you move beyond the printed page into ebooks and digital, you can be published in minutes. Time is a tremendous factor in a writer's decision about which route to take, traditional or alternative. I personally found it to be a complex and difficult decision.

NP: How do you respond to the following statement?  “Self-publishing is not a serious way to get one’s work into print now and never will be.”
BK:  Well, it’s just a silly statement.  The fact is that writers are self-publishing, and they are getting their books reviewed, distributed, and into the hands of readers.  I belong to a collective of eight very serious writers, called Backword Books.  Our work has been reviewed by highly-respected literary critics and reviewers, and we have each achieved recognition in our varying genres.  So, to put it another way: There’s nothing “unserious” about self-publishing.

NP: Has the golden age of self-publishing already passed or is it yet to come?
BK:  The golden age of self-publishing has yet to come.  It’s still in its infancy. It has rattled, and radically altered traditional book publishing, and it will continue to do so.  It’s hard to predict what the book publishing industry will look like once the dust settles.  It’s also hard to predict when that might happen.  Until then, self-publishing continues an upward trajectory.  It has a cache of advantages over traditional publishing; technological innovation and infinite opportunity; unbridled creativity; and the excitement and energy of serious and committed individuals who have a love of books – be they reader, reviewer, marketer, or publisher.  When you add to that mix the willingness of professional writers to take control of their own destinies, well, it’s not hard to understand why self-publishing has so successfully breathed new life into an industry that had become both dull and stagnant. 

NP: What about the challenges posed to the self-published writer by having to promote and edit his or her own book?
BK:  It’s a tremendous challenge, no question.  In order to be successful, the self-published writer will have to wear many different hats – some which may not fit so well.  The writer has to become editor, proofreader, copywriter, blogger, marketer, maybe even distributor.  It’s a fulltime job.  On the other hand, the road to traditional publishing poses challenges no less daunting.  The writer has to become, primarily, a salesperson.  The writer has to shop the work around in hopes of finding an agent – which, even if one is secured, is no assurance that the work will be published.  The writer has to become, secondarily, a professional “waiter” – waiting for a response to an inquiry, waiting for acceptance or rejection, waiting for an agent to return a phone call.  Given all of this, it’s reasonable that a writer would choose to take on the challenges of self-publishing because the end result is not dependent on the judgments of agents and editors and publishers.  The end result is guaranteed: The writer will be published.

NP: Why is it that a self-published author has yet to emerge into national recognition as a self-published author? (As opposed to being given a mainstream publishing contract after a self-published book attracts attention.)
BK:  That’s an easy question: Writers want to write.  They don’t want to edit, proofread, market, distribute.  So, if a mainstream publisher came along and said, “You write, we’ll do the rest,” well, it would be an opportunity that most writers would find very hard to pass up.

NP: Has the experience of self-publishing changed the way you write?  (If you have self-published.)
BK:  No. 

Bonnie Kozek’s highly-acclaimed noir thriller, Threshold, is available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, Powell’s Books and other online sites.  The second thriller, Just Before the Dawn, will be published in 2010.  Learn more about her work at: http://www.bonniekozek.com or contact her at: bk@bonniekozek.com

Self-publishing symposium: Jesse Gordon

How does self-publishing differ from traditional publishing?

Self-publishing is either liberation or self-indulgence depending on how you go about it. There's a dubious association with instant gratification. The core benefits: you retain all control over your material, you keep a bigger chunk of the profits, and, oftentimes, you're able to forge a more personal relationship with your audience. The drawbacks (which, depending on your motivation, can also be benefits): you must be your own publisher, editing, formatting, creating effective packaging; you must be your own marketing team - you must be willing and able to spend a portion of your time as a door-to-door salesperson of sorts. It's a lesson in patience and refinement, though not such an added burden considering that many traditional publishers these days require you to have a marketing plan anyway.

Regarding availability, the gap is narrowing between books sold off of a book shelf and those sold via a web site. Chain book stores are steadily closing, and while you still have Barnes & Noble, Borders, and the independents, these stores only have so much physical space. There are legions of capable, entertaining "mid-list" authors whose books are not often included between Dan Brown and Stephenie Meyer. Selling through the Internet is a way to defeat the problem of limited shelf space. It also happens to be the most accessible method available to self-publishers.

Do self-published book review blogs help to raise the reader awareness of self-published books?

Absolutely. Legitimate, critical self-publishing review blogs (like good traditional-publishing review blogs) point out the blemishes as well as the dimples. For serious self-publishers, this is what you want if you have a good, solid book that doesn't carry the reputation of being self-published because it can't stand on its own, because it can't find traditional publication. It should never be assumed that getting reviewed at a self-publishing review blog is easier than getting reviewed elsewhere.

How do you respond to the following statement?--Self-publishing is not a serious way to get one's work into print now and never will be.

I daresay a more accurate version of the above statement is: "Self-indulgence is not a serious way to get one's work into print now and never will be." If you're not ready, if you're rushed, then it will come across to reviewers and readers alike. With self-publishing, there's no editor or agent acting as a stop-gap. What I'm finding as I go along is that it's not so much the self-publishing model itself that needs to clean up its image as it is the ability of self-publishing authors to effectively promote their work. It's all in how you do it.

Has the golden age of self-publishing already passed or is it yet to come?

Bigger and better things are yet to come. I'm convinced the traditional publishing industry had to stumble before a real awareness was raised regarding alternative book markets. The technology had to improve to a point where anyone with a computer and Internet connection could feasibly create and publish. Book stores, whether they're selling print or digital copies, will continue to be country clubs for the elites, which is perfectly fine. Many authors are bestsellers for a reason: they're very good at what they do. But they're not the only kids on the block. Self-published books—good ones—will continue to fill the gaps. Eventually, when (and I do think it's a matter of when and not if) e-books become the norm, everyone will be selling via digital download. The old notion that you find professional authors' books on store shelves, and amateurs' online will hold much less water.

What about the challenges posed to the self-published writer by having to promote and edit his or her own book?

This is something many traditional publishers are requiring of their authors due to tighter budgets. In the past, you could, to some extent, get away with merely sending in your manuscript and letting the publishing team handle the rest. You only needed to be on hand for signings or interviews. Now you need a marketing plan to go along with your synopsis and sample chapters. You need to convince your would-be publisher that you're a hustler. You need an agent. And even then, a contract with a traditional publisher comes with no guarantees. Yes, depending on your contract, you'll have access to physical store shelves, but you still have to work your butt off promoting yourself. You're selling more books, but getting a smaller percentage of each sale. Not a bad thing. On the DIY side, you're selling fewer books, but keeping more of the profits; you're having to manage all your book sales yourself, whether through your web site or via consignment agreements with local book shop owners. All stereotypes aside, both traditional and self-publishing endeavors involve a lot of work. The latter is more easily attainable, whether as your sole method of publishing or as a hook to attract a mainstream publisher.

Why is it that a self-published author has yet to emerge into national recognition as a self-published author? (As opposed to being given a mainstream publishing contract after a self-published book attracts attention.)

I think a lot of it is the social stigma of someone coming up to you and saying, "My latest novel is great! You should read it!" People don't like it when other people toot their own horn—but they don't mind as much when you toot someone else's horn. With self-publishing, this is something of a challenge. You have to promote yourself without sounding like a greasy car salesman, you have to get other people to blurb you and promote you. It can be exceedingly difficult, because you're not working with a paid staff, you're working with friends, other self-published authors, family members. They all have their own lives to worry about.

Also, at this point in time, traditional publishers still carry a lot of clout. A contract with Random House can do wonders for your literary presence. I've seen numerous instances where an author will start a series of books with a mainstream publisher, and then finish the series at a smaller press, or under his/her own imprint. Whatever politics are going on behind the scenes, an audience has gathered, and they'll follow if the books are good. Bands do it all the time.

Has the experience of self-publishing changed the way you write? (If you have self-published.)

I started self-publishing because the small presses I'd been with closed up shop, and I felt my work up until that point was still relevant enough to warrant some kind of distribution. With new material I've found that I've become more daring. After all, I'm no longer having to adhere to a publisher's tastes or guidelines. I've been able to stretch out a little, blending genres and styles. I've already had to go it alone, and so I'm not worried about falling from grace, so to speak. At the same time, though, I've had to make sure I don't get too lax. Proofreaders are still important (*before* the publishing process!), honest opinions still matter, and it's still my main goal each time around to write the best book I can.

Jesse Gordon is the author of several books. He writes at jessture.com

Self-publishing symposium: Elizabeth K. Burton

How does self-publishing differ from traditional publishing?

First, one needs to distinguish between true self-publishing, in which the author literally sets up as a sole-proprietor publishing business, and what is currently passing for "self-publishing" but is, in reality, subsidy publishing. Those who choose to subsidy publish true mightily to pretend that's not what they're doing, but the final product that usually emerges is its own proof otherwise.

A true self-publisher learns the business of publishing, and accepts that they are not themselves capable of handling all aspects of that business. They understand money will be required to purchase a unique identifying ISBN, pay professionals to handle editing and/or design and/or cover art, and that offering the excuse such things aren't necessary is the mark of a rank amateur.

In other words, true self-publishing operates exactly the same as traditional publishing. The only difference is that the publisher is also the author. I'm fully aware that's anathema these days, but I've been reading the other kind of "self-published" books for the last decade and the fact of the matter is, most of them are dreadful. The sad thing is, some could have been excellent had the author not fallen for fallacious idea that professionals in the publishing industry don't know what they're talking about and/or that anyone can do it.

In addition to being a publisher and a professional editor of many years' experience, I'm also a published author. Technically, it could be said I am self-published. I would never allow any of my own work to go to print until it had been thoroughly edited and copyedited, nor would I attempt to design my own covers. I am not now and never have been an artist, although I have acquired adequate skills to be able to design interiors. And worked to learn how to do it right.

In my experience, very few of those who "self-publish" take the time to do that. Or learn enough to know when they've being taken in by some clever subsidy-press sales pitch. Ignorance of how a business operates doesn't work in any other field, and it doesn't in publishing, either.

Do self-published book review blogs help to raise the reader awareness of self-published books?

They do if they're marketing their blog. Review blogs are like any other form of advertising—only as good as the level of traffic they generate. And the quality of the reviews they produce. The book blogger who never met a book he or she didn't like, or whose reviews consist of a synopsis of the plot and a single sentence that boils down to "I really liked this book" are all but useless.

How do you respond to the following statement?--Self-publishing is not a serious way to get one's work into print now and never will be.

True self-publishing has always been a viable means of getting one's work into print. What passes for it at the present time isn't. Readers and booksellers have expectations of quality, and it's precisely the fact those expectations aren't met that has made it all but impossible for those who do provide quality work to break through the barriers. As a result, the process—on-demand printing—had come to be considered synonymous with badly written, poorly edited books with unprofessional covers and interior design.

Has the golden age of self-publishing already passed or is it yet to come?

I'm always suspicious of phrases like "golden age." It implies there's some kind of revolution involved, which in turn fosters an "us vs. them" mindset that's self-destructive to those who seriously undertake self-publication. While mainstream publishing has its flaws, and they may well be legion, simply adopting a model that is based almost solely on doing everything contrary to the standard method isn't a revolution.

What about the challenges posed to the self-published writer by having to promote and edit his or her own book?

Given he or she starts with a book of the quality necessary in a professionally produced work, the main challenges a self-published author faces differ very little from those faced by a new or midlist traditionally published writer. The number of books being printed, the vast majority of which are "self-published," means there are fewer and fewer readers available for each book. The only cure is to know one's market and promote to it in the most effective manner possible.

And anyone who self-edits has already made a major error. Those seeking to self-publish need to get past the amateur notion that a professional editor will somehow destroy their deathless prose—that's not what a professional editor does. That said, there are many, many people advertising themselves as professional editors whose level of competence doesn't bear close scrutiny. I'm not saying they're deliberately scamming writers; the majority of them sincerely believe they have the knowledge and skills to do what they're doing. Unfortunately, they are often little more than writers who, believing they do have said skills and knowledge, decide to supplement their income by editing other writers.

One should select one's editor the same way one would a doctor or a lawyer. Ask around. Check qualifications. Ask for references. If a writer is truly fearful of an editor's wrecking their manuscript, it seems only common sense to do the research necessary to prevent that from happening.

And be prepared to pay for it.

Why is it that a self-published author has yet to emerge into national recognition as a self-published author? (As opposed to being given a mainstream publishing contract after a self-published book attracts attention.)

See above, to which I will add: true writers want to write. They want to be able to have time to do that. Being one's own publisher means adding all the aspects of the business a publisher does, which means that much less time available for writing. For novelists in particular, being able to hand all that over to someone else and thus have the much-desired time to write trumps the extra money they might make publishing themselves.

Has the experience of self-publishing changed the way you write? (If you have self-published.)

Being only technically self-published, this question really isn't applicable. How one is published, however, has nothing to do with a writer's talent, skill and voice. Those are what make him or her unique, and would be there even if their only access to readers was sitting on a street corner telling their stories aloud.

Liz
--
Elizabeth K. Burton, Executive Editor
Zumaya Publications LLC
Opening Doors to the Creative Mind
http://www.zumayapublications.com

Self-publishing symposium: Greg Banks

How does self-publishing differ from traditional publishing?

Self-publishing's biggest difference, from the author's standpoint, is that the entire burden of producing a quality end-products rests on the author's shoulders, as does getting the book into the marketplace and promoting it once it's there. Yes, there are services (in particular, Print-on-Demand services) like Lulu.com and CreateSpace that can help you with many of those things, but still the burden lies on the author to make good choices and, in the end, it's still up to the author to spend the time and effort required to market the book. This can be a daunting task, but for those prepared to take it on, also a very liberating one.

Do self-published book review blogs help to raise the reader awareness of self-published books?

They can, and many do. However many of these blogs are short-lived endeavors with small readerships, in essence themselves self-published. The impact they make on reader awareness is subjective, and varies from one blog to the next. I generally try to research the places I submit to for reviews, be they blogs, ezines, etc. A savvy author must learn to look for those review sites that are best suited, and most useful to, spreading the word and promoting your particular book.

How do you respond to the following statement?--Self-publishing is not a serious way to get one's work into print now and never will be.

I strongly disagree with this statement. Firstly, with the growing market for ebooks, print is slowly becoming a less significant marketplace. Secondly, while of course it is harder to get a book out into the marketplace when one self publishes, it is not only possible, but has been done. If one is strictly talking about getting the book "in print" (sales and distribution aside), then with the advent of Print-on-Demand Publishing, getting one's book into print is extremely easy. The critics of self-publishing might even say it's become too easy, in fact, since the quality of the writing doesn't always hold up to the quality of the book itself.

Has the golden age of self-publishing already passed or is it yet to come?

The "golden age," in my view, is when self-published authors are able to compete on equal footing with the mainstream publishing houses, and are therefore empowered with full control over their books and a greater profit margin on each book sold. And that time isn't in the past, it's happening right now.

What about the challenges posed to the self-published writer by having to promote and edit his or her own book?

It's a challenge to be sure, which is why anyone considering self-publishing needs to understand what they are getting themselves into before committing to it. I find that a lot of authors self publish first, and then learn how different it is from traditional publishing too late. But neither problems of promotion or editing are insurmountable, and one can (and probably should, if at all possible), get help with those things, particularly editing. I think the most important things are that: a) You must take those two elements of self-publishing seriously and be prepared to tackle them head on, whether you do it yourself or seek help; and b) If you are not prepared to take on these challenges, then you should seriously reconsider self publishing. As high as I am on self-publishing, I've also learned that everyone isn't suited for it.

Why is it that a self-published author has yet to emerge into national recognition as a self-published author? (As opposed to being given a mainstream publishing contract after a self-published book attracts attention.)

It depends on how you consider that question. I do know that I have seen self-published authors featured on nationally broadcast programs in the past. But unfortunately, to achieve real success requires two things that most self-published authors don't have: Large promotional budgets and access to prominent media sources like The New York Times Review and Publisher's Weekly. The only difference between self-published authors and the 10s of thousands of people who try out for American Idol is that there is no such show for authors that can suddenly put you into the National spotlight. But it has to also be pointed out that acquiring an agent and/or traditional publisher and then achieving national recognition is also a monumental task.

Has the experience of self-publishing changed the way you write? (If you have self-published.)

I don't know if it's changed the way I write, but as a writer who enjoys writing short stories, I am much more free to publish collections of my work, which, as I understand it, is harder to get accepted by a traditional publisher unless you are already and established "name" in the industry. I would hope that if self-publishing had any effect on how one writes, it would be to work even harder to produce a quality product, since we self published authors do still have to work for greater acceptance in the marketplace. Fortunately, the advent of devices like the Kindle and how it's further empowered authors to get their works in the hands of readers, is providing authors with a growing level of success and acceptance among readers.

- Greg Banks, BDDesign LLC - The Self Published Author's Best Friend
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* BDDesign Online - www.bddesignonline.com
* Cover Designs Online - www.coverdesignsonline.com
* BDDesign Art Gallery - http://bddesign.imagekind.com
* BDD Tees - http://www.cafepress.com/BDDtees

Self-publishing Symposium: Darryl Sloan

How does self-publishing differ from traditional publishing?
Self-publishing puts publishing in the hands of individuals rather than corporations. In its highest expression, self-publishing allows "writing with heart" to be heard, which would otherwise go disregarded because it's not perceived "good business" for maximizing profit.

Do self-published book review blogs help to raise the reader awareness of self-published books?
I would say not significantly, but everything counts.

How do you respond to the following statement? Self-publishing is not a serious way to get one's work into print now and never will be.
If your aim is to make a living at at it, I would say that's probably true. But if you have other goals, it's also true that 1900 sales (my current estimate since I began in 2002) means something.

Has the golden age of self-publishing already passed or is it yet to come?
The best is yet to come. Less and less people are buying stuff from bricks & mortar stores, and are relying more on online purchasing, which puts anyone with a website in the running for equal attention with traditionally published authors. I also think the ebook has yet to come of age, but it's getting there, with devices like the Kindle and the iPad. Owning a pocket PC certainly changed my negative perception of ebooks.

What about the challenges posed to the self-published writer by having to promote and edit his or her own book?
Badly edited (or non-edited) books are the downside. There are always going to be horrible self-published books that would never see the light of day under the old publishing model. But for the most part, these books are harmless. They never get good reviews, hardly anyone buys them, and they remain unknown to the general population. I'm prepared to live and let live with this downside, since the system also gives the truly great books a chance to flourish.

Promotion is always difficult, and it's a matter of how much work the author is prepared to put in. In my experience the general public doesn't care whether a book is self-published or not. It's only people involved in publishing who make all the fuss.

Why is it that a self-published author has yet to emerge into national recognition as a self-published author? (As opposed to being given a mainstream publishing contract after a self-published book attracts attention.)
Being picked up by a traditional publisher is too seductive to resist, since it opens doors to a much greater audience and the potential to turn a hobby into a career. Few, if any, self-published authors, when offered the opportunity, would turn it down.

Has the experience of self-publishing changed the way you write?
I love the freedom to write what I want to write, from the heart, without being dictated to by current market trends.

Darryl Sloan is the author of Chion. He has a blog at darrylsloan.wordpress.com

Self-publishing symposium: Zoe Winters

I can't address everything because my post would get to "ZOMG spork your eyeballs out long" but I think the primary reason that we have yet to have a "name" come out of self-publishing itself instead of after a mainstream publisher backed them is because the stigma of self-publishing has made it such that most SP authors seem to want to "get out of" SP. It's a means to an end for them.

I think this is all a mental block more than anything. There is nothing about publishing as a business model that makes it such that you can't create something that catches on and set up the business infrastructure to handle that success.

While that's not necessarily a bad thing for authors to take a deal, I think it helps to reinforce the stereotype that SP isn't a sustainable business model on it's own. And I believe that it is. When you do the math for 10 years out with 10 books in your backlist, there is a legitimate possibility of someone 'breaking out' in some way AS an SP author without even needing an outside publisher in the equation at all.

I think it takes someone (or several someones) truly committed to the business of SP itself, who can build each success on top of the previous smaller successes. But I think once someone does it, we'll start to see a lot of other someones do it. Because the game totally changes once a possibility opens up after someone has proven something can be done. (Like the guy that broke the 4 minute mile, after he did it a whole bunch of other people did it the next year.)

After a point, if the readership is out there, it's not that you CAN'T get it without a major publisher, you just have to find a way to reach your peeps. And you have to have some business sense and know how to reinvest to get your name out there further.

And I think the best days of SP are ahead of us. I also believe that as we go more and more to Ebooks and Ereaders that there is going to be less of an idea that you can "only" do the big stuff "with" a big publisher.

Because most publishers are not interfacing all that splendidly with the e-world. They don't have giant online presence. The Internet is the Internet and if we're on the Internet an SPer who knows how to market and get their name out there doesn't need a publisher in the online world. They just need to know how to build their platform.

The publisher therefore becomes a middle man.

 

Zoe Winters writes at zoewinters.org

A symposium: The Function of Self-Publishing at the Present Time

 

The publishing industry is undergoing change in how books are delivered. It is not unreasonable to presume that in a decade electronic devices such as the Apple tablet or the Kindle will be the premiere platforms delivering text to millions of readers. On the other end of the spectrum there is the democratization of the publishing process itself. Once reserved only to a chosen few, publishing has become available to anyone wishing to publish his or her book either through traditional means or as an ebook.

The purpose of this symposium is to assess the state of self-publishing and speculate on its future. Is it utopian to believe that self-publishing can become anything more than what the publishing mainstream sees it to be, essentially a slush pile? Can self-publishing become a realistic publishing option and produce recognized names?

Here are some questions to start the debate.

How does self-publishing differ from traditional publishing?

Do self-published book review blogs help to raise the reader awareness of self-published books?

How do you respond to the following statement?--Self-publishing is not a serious way to get one's work into print now and never will be.

Has the golden age of self-publishing already passed or is it yet to come?

What about the challenges posed to the self-published writer by having to promote and edit his or her own book?

Why is it that a self-published author has yet to emerge into national recognition as a self-published author? (As opposed to being given a mainstream publishing contract after a self-published book attracts attention.)

Has the experience of self-publishing changed the way you write? (If you have self-published.)