Okay.
Possible rant ahead. Filled with one writer's opinions, and nothing more. We're all in this writing business for different reasons, therefore we have our own goals, our own standards, what makes us happy and content. And maybe I should just file this whole thing under "stuff I see on Facebook and Twitter that annoys me" and leave it at that. But, even if only for myself, I'm gonna grapple with it for a bit, because that's what I'm doing right now: grappling with this whole digital self-epublishing revolution.
So.
Let's start like this:
The other day one of my students - a 10th Grade Honors English student - stalked into my Creative Writing class (which she also takes), looking annoyed. Almost irate. I asked what was bothering her, and she proceeded to go on a mini-rant about all these free or .99 ebooks Amazon keeps offering her Kindle, and after she downloaded them, how her initial excitement fizzled when she realized most of them were either barely comprehensible and "shouldn't have been published at all" or so rife with editing errors, she had a hard time enjoying what she thought might've been a good story.
Now, granted - even as a 10th grade Honors student who's also a voracious reader, maybe she's not that discerning (I know back then I read a lot, and books fell into two basic categories: boring and not boring). Maybe she just missed all the grown-up nuances in those free and cheap e-books.
Or, maybe she just downloaded really crappy self-published ebooks.
I see it on Facebook and Twitter all the time. Probably should just ignore it, and I try to - until I get FB and Twitter messages, all saying a variety of the same things...
"Hey, my buddy's ebook is free on Amazon! And my Grandma's, too!"
"Hey, support indie-publishing! Buy my buddy's ebook, for only .99! Fight the power and join the revolution!"
"Hey, try out new authors today!"
Now.
In an effort NOT to sound like an insensitive jerk. Also trying not to shoot myself in the foot, because hopefully soon - either traditionally or independently - I'll be out there, promoting my work, too.
All writers today need to self-promote. That's pretty much a fact. I do it. When a new story gets accepted and published, when a new review comes in, I post about it. And that's one of the things digital self-publishing has opened new, unproven ground for: author promotion, control over pricing, things like that.
And the big houses in New York - even midlist houses, like that Leisure Fiction fiasco - are engaging in pretty dubious behavior at times, and the removal of the third party, opening the doors for readers straight to writers, is a pretty intriguing wrinkle. Even I can admit that.
And there are lots of great writers whom I love, or writers who've been blurbed by writers I love who are very proactive with their self-promotion in general and Amazon promotion in particular. Folks who have been blurbed by other heavy hitters in the industry, who have earned respect from their professional peers.
This blog isn't aimed at them. They've done their time, proven their worth - if not to me, then to writers whom I respect - and aren't tacky in their self-promotion, like some of the catch-phrases above.
It's just this: I wonder if this whole thing can sometimes be....self-contained.
Self-replicating.
Heck. Incestuous, even.
Because while I see lots of proven writers either going it alone - because they've proven their craft, have been really burned by traditional publishing or have been trying for YEARS (like 10 or so, not a month and half) to crack New York and just haven't - or they're reviving out-of-print works for new digital audiences, I also see a bunch of other writers - some of them proven (a select few), a lot of them NOT - simply supporting this new movement itself. And, that's not bad...in and of itself.
Again. This is probably something I should just leave alone. But it seems like, to me, that while some authors are more than willing to blurb other writers and give them their due, other writers seem to be....turning into cheerleaders for the movement.
In other words, it seems like they're simply supporting every single self-published and for-free digital download on Amazon simply because it's the latest, greatest new thing, reposting and offering up everyone and anyone's free ebook because, well - sure. They're part of the self-publishing digital epublishing revolution themselves. They're rooting for everyone and anyone who's self-published an ebook. And I don't know why, but something about that really bugs me.
Those scores of people who repost ad infinitum offers on Facebook about someone's newly self-published ebook, and the mantra is always the same:
"Hey, support indie-publishing! Buy my buddy's ebook, for only .99! Fight the power and join the revolution!"
"Hey, try out new authors today!"
Now, if you're about ready to pick up something heavy and throw it at me, are cursing my name for how insensitive I'm being and think I hate all indie authors, stop for a minute, breathe, and let me clarify: I'm rapidly and quickly evolving my views on digital self-publishing and self-publishing in general.
I've taken the time to peruse some indie works, and have more coming up the pike soon. And, once I've read those, I'm going to blog my results, share how I think I stack up against those writers, and what I think about ME self-publishing.
What I'm NOT changing any time soon, however, is my commitment to excellence, my standards, my desire to read - and therefore recommend - only what I consider to be high quality work.
"BUT QUALITY IS SUBJECTIVE! EVERYONE'S CREATIVE VOICE IS DIFFERENT, UNIQUE, AND SPECIAL, AND THEREFORE WORTHY!"
In all kindness, as gently as I can possibly manage: No. That's just not true, at all.
At least not for me. And, based on a tenth grade honors student who reads like people breathe, apparently that's not true, either, and the "for-free" or .99 cent price didn't soothe the irritation of time lost reading....well...crap.
And I wonder how many legions of readers out there feel the same way. Because THOSE are the people we want to connect with, THOSE are the people we want spreading the word. Not other writers who are all cheerleading the movement. But readers who are reading. Because I don't know about anyone else, but:
"Hey, try out new authors today!"
Doesn't mean anything to me. I consider myself a pretty avid reader (I read like some people breathe). But - especially with a growing family, full-time job, part time graduate school and my own fledgling writing career - I have neither the time nor inclination to try out new writers I know nothing about. I'm going to stick with the writers I know and love. Only way I'll try out a new writer? If one of those writers I know and love - industry professionals - endorses them, either because they're older writers who are foundational, or are new writers breaking new ground.
Case in point: Recently read avid self-published writer Robert Swartwood's Man of Wax. It was excellent, and I plan on picking up one of his other novels, The Calling next. What finally tipped the scales for me? Man of Wax was blurbed by F. Paul Wilson. Who DOESN'T blurb lightly, mind you. Also, Robert has repeatedly been name-dropped by Brian Keene, who ALSO doesn't endorse lightly. SO, I decided he was worth checking out - and, lo and behold, he was.
I've made no secret of my writer-crush on Rio Youers. What made me initially pick up Mama Fish? Believe it or not, it wasn't publisher loyalty. He was blurbed by PETER FREAKING STRAUB. One of my favorite writers, and every book Peter has blurbed has been a winner for me. Buying Mama Fish was a no brainer.
I've read and reviewed Dan Keohane's self-published novel, Margret's Ark. I've got Destroyer of Worlds on my shelf, ready to go next. Dan is a Bram Stoker nominated author, has been published professionally numerous times, a member of the HWA, a mentor...he's proven himself. And he's TRIED to crack the New York code. Margret's Ark was an honorable mention or runner-up or something in Amazon's Breakout Novel contest. He's TRIED, for many years, to break through to traditional publishing. Was unsatisfied with his experience with the small press, so decided to go it alone.
When Glen Krisch's novels go into print, I'll snap them up, too. Why? He's been blurbed by Kealan Patrick Burke, another proven industry professional.
See a pattern, here?
This blog is already too long. And I'm still not sure what I'm trying to say. That I wish people would promote quality writing first and the newest publishing model second? And who am I to comment on "quality writing"? And am I'm just being a pouting, stick-in-the mud big meanie unwilling to support his fellow brothers and sisters in ink?
Will I offend people so badly that when it's finally my turn to promote my first novel, folks will think: "Oh, there's that guy. The one always ranting on his blog. Fat chance we'll buy his book." And, even though I'm just venting, this is all stuff I should just ignore. Not like it really affects me, directly.
All I know is this:
1. I only ever repost and pimp writers who have PROVEN themselves in the industry, or have earned the respect of their professional peers. I'm a cheerleader of GREAT WRITING, and that's it.
2. Someday, when it's my turn, I'll be pimping my own first novel. And I'm sure there'll be offers and special-promotions, too. But I'll run it like I always do: blog about it, post it to social media, and hope people like my writing.
Okay. I've run out of steam. Let loose in the comments, because I've certainly run off at the mouth on my end....
I wish you weren't so hard on yourself here. This is a fair piece, it's your blog--your opinion, and you ask a LOT of good questions.
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot of crap out there. I do a lot of cheerleading for my friends who are writers; but I'd like to think I enjoy quality stories and have had a hand in helping them produce quality products through beta reading and editing. A lot of folks out there fancy themselves to be writers when what they really want to be is a published author. They don't understand that writing is work and that even the best story idea can be crap if poorly written. Nor do they understand that by pushing the first thing they've ever written out without taking the care to put a quality product in the market place they are turning the bookstore into the slush pile and most of us don't want to read that crap.
The publishing industry has been turned upside down be the technological and marketing changes of the past few years. Keep doing what you're doing...writing, questioning, and talking about these things. The ongoing conversations can only serve to help us all figure this mess out.
Thank you for sharing this.
The only problem (okay, not even "problem"...more like a "quibble") I have with your piece is the use of "indie" as an adjective to describe self-pubbing. I think it's intended to romanticize this movement, by associating it (however nebulously) w/ indie film-making. Which, in
ReplyDeletemany cases, is just silly.
I think there's a place for self-pubbing as one element of an overall strategy...times & places & projects for which it makes sense. But I think that, the majority of the time, it doesn't make sense for the long-term success of an author's career.
Sue - thanks! Two things from your comment strike a powerful cord with me:
ReplyDelete"fancy themselves to be writers when what they really want to be is a published author" - absolutely. In fact, only six or seven years ago, I'd apply this same description to myself.
"Nor do they understand that by pushing the first thing they've ever written out without taking the care to put a quality product in the market place they are turning the bookstore into the slush pile and most of us don't want to read that crap."
Excellent point, one I'm going to blog about in the future in relation to myself. I've been having several Facebook conversations with Robert Swartwood about this, about the fact that, even though this MAY be the wave of the future, BECAUSE there's such a glut out there, it doesn't do a writer any good to do anything less than put their best foot forward, and that's not what many folks are doing. They're not pushing their best book out there, they're rushing to push their FIRST book out there, which is very, very different.
Nicole - quite right. Self-publishing is self-publishing, while indie publishing is part of a company, a publisher, with editors. Thanks for pointing that out for me.
"I think there's a place for self-pubbing as one element of an overall strategy...times & places & projects for which it makes sense."
I think this is the idea I've been developing. A good friend and author, Mike Duran is an excellent example of this. He signed two-book deal with a midlist publisher, but in the two year gap between his books, released a self-published novella. He's a proven writer who has shown his chops, he's meticulous and an excellent writer, and this was a good move for him. It served a purpose in his overall scheme.
Thanks for posting!
I had written out a very long and detailed reply, but then something happened to my browser and I lost everything. So then I wrote it out again, and the same friggin thing happened. So I'm just going to make this short. As I've said before, in my mind self-publishing is better for the writer in the long-term, just as long as they do it right. I have a great relationship with my agent and publisher, and while it was great working with my editor and the marketing team, I'm just one writer out of thousands, and a month or two after the book's release, that was it. They moved on. Not that I blame them, of course, but my book, just like the majority of books, came out to some fanfare and then that was it. They fizzle out. If those authors are lucky, they'll earn out their advance, but not many books do earn out. The typical shelf life of a book is, what, one or two months? Then the only place readers can usually find it is at Amazon. And half the time, the digital price will be even higher than the paperback price, because publishers want to sell out their print run. So with the high prices, those backlist titles don't sell very well. And an author who wants to grow a career lives and dies by his backlist. But self-publishing, and places like Amazon offering very high royalties, makes it possible for writers to become more aggressive with their careers. Mass distribution is no longer an issue; now it has become a level playing field. Granted, the high royalties that Amazon and other places offer may not be around forever, but they're certainly better than the current industry standard 25% -- which will never change, mind you, as publishers have seen the value of digital rights and will do whatever it takes to hold onto them. So for some writers, like myself, self-publishing my work isn't a last choice, but rather a first choice. When my agent told me how much he thought he could get me for my thriller The Serial Killer's Wife last year, I thought long and hard about it and told him I wanted to try it on my own first. He understood and was cool with it, and now less than a year has passed and I've nearly already made that amount he quoted me. And the best part is -- the book will keep selling. And if sales slow this year, that's fine too -- there is always next year, or the year after that, or the year after that. Digital can be forever, so why I would give up my digital rights for a few thousand bucks up front is beyond me. Then again, I've been lucky. Many talented authors who self-publish aren't. Some very untalented authors who self-publish are. Anyway, enough rambling for now. If you don't read Kristine Kathryn Rusch's blog, you should. She's been in publishing for decades and has seen the changes and always has important things to say. Check it out: http://kriswrites.com/
ReplyDeleteYou know, I think I got off on a tangent there, and it had nothing to do with your post, Kevin, but more a response to Nicole's comment how self-publishing doesn't make sense for the writer in the long-term. So, in regards to your post, free can be beneficial at times. It's just like publishers giving away hundreds of review copies. Last month I did some free promotions on titles that weren't selling very well, and had some great results (I broke down the numbers here: http://www.robertswartwood.com/insights/about-last-month). I did it for promotion, though, and not just because I wanted to give the books away. They were loss leaders for a few days. But over the past year I've come to see the 99 cent price point for novels as a bad idea. For short stories and novellas, sure, but for a novel? No way. By now it'll just get lost in the noise of thousands of other 99 cent novels (most of which, yes, are crappy), and besides, it will only earn you 35 cents. How can a writer possibly expect to make a living by earning 35 per unit sold? At least with $2.99, a writer can earn $2.00. So if I sell 1,000 99-cent ebooks, that makes me $350. If I sell 1,000 $2.99 ebooks, that makes me $2,000. Writers need to respect their work, and their readers. The more I think about it, the more I see 99 cent novels as insulting to everyone involved. Sure, as a special promotion for a week or a few days, that's fine I guess, but by now 99 cent novels have become so common, they don't stand out anymore. But a free download? That's a no-brainer. That doesn't mean, of course, the book will be worth reading. But sometimes, just sometimes, it is.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the insights, Rob. Probably the hardest thing to deal with - for me, anyway, because I tend towards the romantic with a flair for the dramatic (if y'all haven't noticed) is growing up and then laboring through college with this notion of what publishing is/was supposed to me, then entering the market - in however small a fashion I did - about five years ago, with years of advice from writers whom I respected and trusted ringing in my ears....
ReplyDeleteOnly to see it all CHANGE completely in the last five years. Again, on a very practical level (which is hard for me) a writer wants readers, in any format, a writer wants to survive. Adjusting to all this, however...has been tough. I'm not going to lie.
Right now, all I'm trying to do is wrestle with it, get a handle on things, and above all..go slowly.
More in a bit.
One last thought - from me, anyway - for any other folks who may stop by tonight...the one big roadblock for me, personally, when it comes to self-publishing is simply this: money.
ReplyDeleteAs Robert has pointed out - as well as many others - is that self-publishing the RIGHT way takes TIME and MONEY. One of those I have just enough of to write productively, let alone format and edit and upload and everything else.
The other?
None of, at all.
I mean, I'm not going to throw a big pity party. Abby and I are a lot like many other American families, I imagine, who used to be middle class or lower-middle class, but now find themselves more upper-lower class (though we dress up nicely), and, to be fair, we've been richly blessed, and are much better off than lots of others.
But money for all the right software to do a nice job on layout and design? To pay an editor? To do up the cover the way it's supposed to be, pay for the ISBN....
I mean, we average roughly a $200 SHORTFALL every month. I'm attending grad school this semester, and have no idea how we're going to pay for it. Again - not complaining. I'm still smiling, as always. But it would be a very poor choice for me to self-publish anything right now, simply because I can't afford to do it right. Probably won't be able to afford to do it right, for a long, long while.
Which for ME, anyway...seeking publication the traditional way is the smartest route. And I'm not talking New York, necessarily. Nor am I necessarily talking small press. I'm more thinking about Angry Robot Books, Medallion Press, Abbaddon Books, Apex Books, Cemetery Dance or Thunderstorm (should I ever be fortunate enough to work with either of those last two). That's where I'm going to focus my efforts for awhile. They're quality houses, I've heard nothing but great things about them, they put out very nice products. With Don D'Auria onboard at Samhain Publishing, even they're worth a look before self-publishing, right now - simply because I can't afford to self-publish.
And, other than any copies of my own books I'd have to pay for at wholesale, I wouldn't have to pay anything. And, if I knock on those doors for a long time and nothing happens...well, we'll just have to see....