Data, data, data... I need me some.

I think it was Sherlock Holmes who said this. I might be paraphrasing but you get the drift. I've been driving both Molly and Karen W (a regular DWT follower) crazy on the subject of self-publishing and my inability to make a decision. Both have offered good sound advice. Advice that I value like gold. They are both really smart really professional writers.

But still I sit on the fence. I'm actually waiting until Nationals which I think (not sure why) is going to be EPIC this year as we see authors, publishers and agents take sides in the growing trend of self-publishing.

I realize the reason I'm so wishy washy on this is that I need more data. I'm a very decisive person when I know my options. But as many things are in publishing so much is unknown. As authors, we are not a group of people who work in the same building day in and day out. We can't have regular weekly status meetings to discuss what's happening real time. Heck we may only see each other once a year. How can we as a group make informed decisions without this connection, or is it just every woman for herself.

I recently renewed my membership with Ninc, an organization of multiple published writers, for this very reason. I need some more data. And thank heaven we do at least now have groups/loops and such where we can communicate and ask questions.

What are the true costs of self publishing? What are standard copy-editor fees? Where can you obtain cover art? Can I employ my own graphic artists? What are those fees like?

There is a tremendous amount of buzz about literary agents transitioning into book packagers. (we won't even get into that debate – but again I think it's going to be huge as agents try to carve out a market for themselves in this ever changing industry) But what I have to know before I would even consider such a thing is what are the numbers?

What are typical average monthly returns for ebooks in my genre? Compare that against the costs and what percentage makes sense for an agent if they do join you in this effort? And should it be a percentage or flat fees for services?

Now I know Karen will chime in here with a DIY message, but she forgets how lazy I am. I pay someone to clean my house even though I can do it myself cheaper. So paying someone to do copyediting, picking out cover art and titles is something I might be willing to consider for the right price. And what if the agency goes beyond that and offers marketing options?

But I need the data. What's the spectrum of self-publishing? We all know the self-publishing phenoms who are landing million dollar NY contracts because of their success. But what's the other end like? And how much can that figure change if you have a presence on Twitter and Facebook etc...?

These are questions I think we really need answers for before we can make what could be career changing decisions. How do mainstream publishers feel about established published authors self-publishing drawer books? How do agents feel about a work they previously attempted to get published but failed that is now making money on Amazon with no return for themselves? Does this impact the editor/writer or agent/writer relationship?

I have no clue. And so often in the publishing world we writers don't. So yep I'm going to go to Nationals and listen and listen. Madeleine Hunter held an excellent round table discussion at the NJ conference last year. I'll be interested to see what has changed just in that short amount of time.

It's a whole new world folks. And I (like I'm sure others out there) am just starting to dip my toe into the water. But frankly I need to know what's waiting for me in that water before I'm willing to take the plunge.