tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263065698998982328.post526745512916078649..comments2023-10-26T06:36:02.143-07:00Comments on <center>Kevin Lucia</center>: The Self-Publishing Go-Go 'Round....Kevin Luciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15766234223662610010noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263065698998982328.post-77144182383288306942012-03-13T04:06:48.366-07:002012-03-13T04:06:48.366-07:00"Of course, they also get burned on some real..."Of course, they also get burned on some really crappy crap,"<br /><br />Yep. Had a student the other day complain about the .99 ebooks she'd downloaded, that were poorly formatted, and not even edited. But we covered that in my last post.<br /><br />"..but even major publishers publish some crappy crap ...."<br /><br />Also very true. Thanks for adding to the convo, Rob!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263065698998982328.post-46984064381143962472012-03-13T03:52:18.050-07:002012-03-13T03:52:18.050-07:00Fair enough. I guess what I mean is that your EVER...Fair enough. I guess what I mean is that your EVERY DAY reader doesn't really care. For those of us who are readers AND writers (as you say), we're obviously aware of the differences between "indie" and "self-published" but most readers who aren't familiar with publishing are just looking for a good book to read. Of course, they also get burned on some really crappy crap, but even major publishers publish some crappy crap ... though, of course, by no means to the same extent.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11958488745475196164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263065698998982328.post-59263363132156776192012-03-13T02:45:23.344-07:002012-03-13T02:45:23.344-07:00I actually have to respectfully disagree with you ...I actually have to respectfully disagree with you on this one, Rob, but whether that's as a writer or a reader, I'm not sure. I'd maintain as a reader, but perhaps being mixed up in this whole thing as a writer colors the issue for me....<br /><br />For me, an indie publisher represents quality control. And maybe I'm giving them entirely too much faith. Now, I've already admitted that it's possible for good work to be self-published. But I'm still of the belief that's the exception, and not the rule. Quite frankly, I only picked up your work because of the notables who don't give out their blurbs often, blurbing your work. That said something to me. If they'd been blurbed by the "usual suspects" - one or two bigger authors who are blurbing ANYTHING self-published, these days - I would've passed them right by.<br /><br />By and large, if I have a choice between an unknown self-published author with no endorsements, or endorsements by little fry writers and a book published by Medallion, Cemetery Dance, Angry Robot, Shroud....I'll pick the latter, every time. Again, maybe that's because all my interactions with editors have been positive. But I know if I a buy a book from those "Indie" publishers, they've got editors and layout design people, gatekeepers, standards of quality.It's much more likely that the books they're producing are of higher quality than the AVERAGE self-published writer (note: I don't consider your work to be average self-published work, but above-average).<br /><br />So I guess that's the difference for me. An indie publisher is a simply a small publisher that doesn't belong to the Bix 6, isn't necessarily incorporated with them, and is their own entity, while a self-publisher is one guy. I happen to think, based on that alone, there is a big difference. <br /><br />Again, just my opinion. And maybe things will change if I ever gain the self-confidence to feel I DON'T need an editor. But I'm not sure that will ever happen. I really don't want to see publishers go away, and while self-publishing may increasingly become a useful tool, I really don't want a market that's full of nothing but self-published writers (which I know is not what you're saying, at all).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263065698998982328.post-27465852503569915492012-03-12T21:04:22.741-07:002012-03-12T21:04:22.741-07:00I also want to throw in my two cents about the who...I also want to throw in my two cents about the whole "indie" vs. "self-published" debate. I personally find the whole thing a tad silly. I mean, really, does it matter? To writers, obviously it does because we all have egos, but to the readers, who are really the most important factor in this whole writing/publishing game? Nope. Then again, writers like to talk in circles, so an ongoing debate like this doesn't surprise me, just as the ongoing debate of whether ebooks are "real" books or not will continue. *sigh*Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11958488745475196164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263065698998982328.post-14771372031683033722012-03-12T20:43:10.854-07:002012-03-12T20:43:10.854-07:00Yeah, I don't care at all for some of the curr...Yeah, I don't care at all for some of the current rhetoric going around that you're stupid if you don't self-publish. I think what every writer should do, at least, is be open-minded and look at both sides first and then make an educated decision. A lot of writers get in the argument that one is better than the other, when really that isn't true at all. What each writer has to do is just do what feels right for them. <br /><br />Now, to be clear, it's still possible for a writer with no track record to sell a book to a major publisher. It may be much harder than ever before, sure, but it's still possible. Pretty much every novel I've self-published was given a "no" from major publishers, but it wasn't because they were bad books. In the end, it almost always came down to basically the marketability of that specific title. In fact, years and years ago with my first agent, a senior editor at Doubleday called saying she LOVED my thriller MAN OF WAX ... but just didn't feel it was right for Doubleday. So there you go. <br /><br />Anyway, Kevin, I think you're being smart about this, so good luck, and alway feel free to hit me up if you have any questions about whatever.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11958488745475196164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263065698998982328.post-29715792082541112842012-03-12T15:22:09.497-07:002012-03-12T15:22:09.497-07:00Keven, you make an important distinction, one made...Keven, you make an important distinction, one made a few weeks ago here by Nicole Cushing, I think: INDIE publishing and SELF publishing (though that's independent) are two different animals. All those publishers I mentioned, with I think the exception of Angry Robot (they're a subsidiary or something of one of the Big Six, I believe - though they seem pretty autonomous) are essentially INDIE publishers. They have editors, gate keepers, proofreaders. Calling self-publishing INDIE publishing is misleading. <br /><br />Thanks, Barry. Again, to each their own. But this argument is one that needs to be evened out with some cold, hard facts, I think.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263065698998982328.post-77115879466183711002012-03-12T15:08:38.286-07:002012-03-12T15:08:38.286-07:00Great post. I did go the way of self publishing a...Great post. I did go the way of self publishing and while I don't regret it, I'm also not sold on the alleged total nefarious evils of the Big 6. Yes, I have self published and will continue to do so. But I will also continue to submit work through traditional routes.<br /><br />Three months ago, I might not have agreed with everything you said here. But as of late, the CHOOSE SIDES NOW OR PERISH argument is getting pretty tired.Barry Napierhttp://www.barrynapierwriting.wordpres.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263065698998982328.post-2597357430428559932012-03-12T15:03:40.074-07:002012-03-12T15:03:40.074-07:00I've found traditional small indie presses, li...I've found traditional small indie presses, like Splashdown Books, Marcher Lord Press, Port Yonder Press, Desert Breeze, and Written World Communication, just to name a few, a great middle ground for those who feel shut out of traditional press because of the "name" factor. These small presses are still difficult to get into, so you've really got to shine, but they don't really care about your name. They're looking for good authors. This avenue has low overhead and higher royalty rates and it builds "street cred" toward landing a big 6 contracts. No need for agents either, usually. It's definitely not self-publishing or vanity publishing, so I think indie publishers may actually be a large part of publishing reform. My two cents, anyway.<br /><br />-Keven<br />www.kevennewsome.comKeven Newsomehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01637807949089866558noreply@blogger.com