Blogger: Wendy Lawton
Location: Books & Such Central Valley Office, CA
Metaphorically speaking, it used to be that a hopeful author had to stand in line, hat in hand, to try to get an agent. Then the agent would take his manuscript out to editor after editor, hoping to catch someone’s interest. It was a frustrating, protracted, gut-wrenching process. But guess what? Forget agents. Forget editors. Forget publishers. There’s no more waiting. A writer can pen the last sentence of his book and within hours have it available as an ebook and on its way to being a print-on-demand paperback as well.
Who needs the middle man? Let’s go direct to the reader!I know you’ve heard that battle cry lately. It’s understandable since the frustration level of the writer-hopeful has been at an all-time high. The process is enough to kill the smallest spark of creativity. Cutting through the rejection, delay and discouragement is tempting indeed, but I want to to explore what we give up when we do it all ourselves.
What’s wrong with DIY (do it yourself)? Isn’t self-sufficiency satisfying? It is to me. I can sew–in fact, as a textile student in college I took every class all the way through tailoring. I’d be rusty and it would take me time to get up to speed, but I could probably create a passable wardrobe for my entire family. I can also cook. Who needs to ever go out to eat? I can also clean house. I love to garden, and I could do all the yard work. I paint and sculpt as well. I could make all my own gifts. I have a number of kilns–I could even create my own dinnerware. I know how to can and preserve food. I can quilt. I can cut hair and groom the dog. I paint. I write. I. . . well you get the picture.
What would happen if I did all those things? I wouldn’t have time to do what I am called to do. Yes, I would enjoy doing them, but the truth is, my clothes wouldn’t hold a candle to professionally designed clothes because I don’t have time to keep up with textiles and trends. I’d miss the fun of eating out and discovering the magic of gifted chefs who’ve spent a lifetime honing their craft. I could clean my own house and do my own garden, but the people who do that for me free me up to do the things only I can do. I’d have a lot of fun making gifts and even designing dishes, but how I love discovering the art of others.
When we use professionals, we get the benefit of specialists. The quality of the product or service more than makes up for giving up control. It’s the same with publishing.
The DIY publishing model requires the author to be the writer, the editor, the copy editor, the cover designer, the jacket copy writer, the interior designer, the ebook publisher, the print liaison, the sales team, the marketing department, etc. The author can subcontract some or all of those tasks, but the coordination and all the final decisions fall squarely on the shoulders of an amateur. And though you can find people to do all these tasks, the finest practitioners are employed by or contracted by the traditional publishers.
Many a DIY published author will say that he chose the self-publishing route because he couldn’t get a traditional publisher or an agent interested in his book. There’s nothing more frustrating than when the gatekeepers seem to be keeping the doors stubbornly closed, but you have to ask why. It is true that the market is competitive–perhaps more now than ever before–but a great book is going to find a home in traditional publishing given time and effort. Too many self-pubbed books or DIY ebooks are substandard. Had the author not jumped the gun in his eagerness to make it available, the book could have been reworked and rewritten until it was great, not just passable. We all benefit from a good editor.
DIY authors will often cite financial reasons for self-pubbing. They ask why give away 75% of the cover price of a book to a traditional publisher when I can do it myself and keep 70%? Of this I am sure: The traditional publisher is worth every penny. Yes, some of the early pioneers in DIY ebook publishing made some serious money–we’re going to talk about that later this week–but as the market matures this is going to be the rare exception. Having a book available is the easy part. Driving buyers to that book and making sales is the real challenge. I see hundreds of royalty statements and, for the most part, publishers are doing a fine job of this. We hear anecdotal success stories from DIY authors, but there’s way too much hyperbole.
Is the traditional publisher obsolete? Janet Ann Collins commented on yesterday’s blog and said it better than I could: “My grandfather told me when movies were invented people predicted the end of live theater. When TV came out lots of folks said movies would die out. Neither of those things happened. . . There may have been more changes in the last thirty years than historically usually happened in a century, but we’ll find ways of adapting.”
Some books were made to be self-pubbed, and those are the ones that succeed. But for the most part, I’ll take the expertise of a traditional publisher any day. I like having a team of experts behind me.
I’ve just quickly scratched the surface here so let’s continue the conversation in the comment section. Tell me what you think. Challenge me. Tell us your own story.
Your first point resonates most with me. So many of us “artistic types,” if we’re honest, have a perfectionist streak that makes control appealing. Maybe it’s just me, but it’s a challenge to trust “my baby” to someone who is not as passionate about it as I am. Control issues? Not me! 😉
But you’re right. Even if we could do all things, we can’t do them all excellently–especially when trying to do them ALL. I have to ask myself where my time is most effectively spent. (Still trying to answer that one in some regards.)
Traditional publishers, I believe, will do fine once the dust of change settles–at least the good ones. Same can be said, likely, for the truly excellent self-published authors. The ones who produce a professional product that proves its value in the market are the ones who will succeed. Thank you, btw, for saying that some books were made to be self-pubbed. Not every project is broad enough in scope to be of interest to a major publisher, but some can still succeed within their niche.
I love the many options available now!
The world of e-publishing is most definitely a two-edged sword. The casual author/e-publisher can certainly turn out a book, but it may not have passed the scrutiny of an agent, acquisition editor, copy editor and proof-reader. The cover art may or may not be professionally done. And the marketing–and we all agree it’s mainly on the author, no argument there–but the burden of marketing falls even more heavily on the author’s shoulders in this situation.
The exceptions to the rule are what make the field of e-books worthwhile: authors who’ve honed their craft, who use professionals to shape and polish their work; books that have gone out of hard-copy print but are resurrected (with appropriate work to make them work in this new medium). I don’t say there’s no place for e-publishing. I do say that it takes work–or, at least, it should.
It truly is a new world, and to quote the king, in The King and I, ” ’tis a puzzlement.”
Wow, Wendy, This is one of the most thorough and convincing arguments I’ve read on this topic. I’m willing to wait however long it takes so the experts can partner with me in doing what they do best.
Now I’m off to knit that new pair of socks… 🙂
I’ve received several freebie self-pubbed books from writers who probably gave them in hopes that I would create buzz for their product. I didn’t. Sometimes the cover art looks amateurish. Often the content comes across in poor, unpolished style. I see errors that make me embarrassed for the unknowing author.
One self-pubbed piece I received emphasized the danger of “roll-playing games.” Well, yeah, imitating a biscuit is a crummy way to pass spend your life. Too bad he didn’t pay an editor to spell it right: “role-playing games.”
Sure, some self-pubbed books turn out nicely. However, I sure appreciate the professionalism built into traditional publishing.
I can’t wait to turn the housekeeping over to someone else. 🙂 The gardening I’ll keep.
I think self-publishing is only right in some instances. Too many stories are not ready yet. Traditional publishing forced writers to hone their craft. Sadly, self-publishing doesn’t make a write take the time to learn the craft.
Another exception that might call for self-publishing is a narrow niche that is never going to sell enough to attract a publisher, even if it IS well written. I’m thinking of things like the handbook my husband created for his lomi-lomi massage therapy students. The demand is real, but it isn’t very large. Self-publishing makes sense for that handbook.
That being said, when it comes to fiction … I cannot imagine putting anything out there for public consumption that hasn’t been well edited. If my books shine, it’s thanks to excellent editing. I truly believe that. I need the help and I know it. I also know that I don’t at the moment have the discretionary funds to spend the thousands of dollars all levels of a professional edit would require. Yes. Thousands. I’ve actually priced it out of curiosity because of all these kinds of discussions.
As to marketing/cover design, etc. I think you’ve said it so well, Wendy. My husband’s first wife told him that he could do ANYTHING he set his mind to. As he approaches his 60s, he’s had to realize that that doesn’t mean he can do EVERYTHING he sets his mind to. When we try to everything … something suffers when it comes to quality. Something has to give.
I’m thankful to be among the writers who have traditional contracts, so it’s hard for those waiting for me to kick the bucket and leave a space at the table to wait. I get that. But the obvious answer is NOT to rush into self-publishing. For so many reasons … many of which you’ve covered, Wendy. God bless ya!
And P.S. Writing is already lonely enough. I appreciate the team approach and I need all the help I can get.
This trend intrigues me and I wonder how it will turn out. I have read a few Self-pubbed. Some which were extraordinary and others that were absolutely poor (in my humble opinion). Enough to make me weary about buying self-pubbed. As a would-be author,I like the idea of working with a team of people who know what they are doing, and making a more polished product. I hope we don’t come to lower our standards of reading because of a proliferation of subpar products. However, I do like the idea that those stories that don’t fit into a particular marketing box will now have an outlet.
Thanks for quoting me, Wendy.
Yes, self-publishing makes life easier for some to get published, but I think if I kept getting rejected I would ask why. There truly are some books out there that are better off not written.
If it’s a small niche market, I can understand self-publishing, but I prefer to depend upon the experience of others who know more about book design, cover art, and editing than I do.
I really feel for the first timers who get deeply frustrated by the metaphoric wall placed between them and a traditional publisher. It took me seven years before I finally found an editor willing to take me on.
The real problem with the whole concept of ‘self-publishing’ is that it allows manuscripts, which would simply be disregarded for their poor quality, to be published. I really wish that the many self publishing platforms would exercise a modicum of restraint before they let so much trash loose in the market place.
Its tough enough for those of us who have employed professionals to tweak our work, turning it into something saleable, without it being buried in the mire of dross, currently available.
It’s true that 90% of self-published books are lacking in quality. But today’s, publishing market is horrible to break into. If you’re Balducci or Patterson no problem. But first time authors spend thousands on “How to Books and Seminars” and strike out finding an agent. Given the option of putting your book out there verses suffering along getting nowhere, I see the attraction of self-publishing.
As an author with awards for my writing, but no bites from agents, I’m considering striking out on my own. What is the downside if you can put your book an Amazon free?
Bill, we certainly can understand your frustration and we know, too well, how difficult the publishing process can be to enter.
There’s nothing wrong with self-publishing as long as you know what’s involved there. Yes, you can slap something onto Amazon for free–and very quickly, I’ve looked at doing it myself–but to stand out and actually get a reading public, you need to do the publicity, make sure the book is perfectly edited and come up with a terrific cover. That takes money, too.
There are venues where we think self-publishing is a good route–particularly if you have a platform already established, are writing about a subject that will draw readers and your information is not readily available on line.
There’s a tricky spot between providing information and giving away the book, and it can be difficult for a non-fiction writer to find it. As to fiction, well, another tricky situation. Best wishes.
Wendy, your comments are right on. All you say is true. I’ve read some awful self-pub. books. If I were a novice, I’d advise me not to try this. But I have raked in my share of awards. I’m still on the fence though. Thanks.