I ain't your beta reader.

I'm pissed.

There is a really disturbing trend amongst a group of self-published authors who believe that readers should buy sub-par work to support these writers to learn how to write better.

Come again?

There are a lot of very professional authors who are self-publishing because it works for them. Hey, I have self-published a couple of things and am planning to release two more self-published projects this year. I'm talking about a specific group of unprofessional scammers who put out shitty work KNOWING it is shitting work and then EXPECT people to give them money for it.

I love books. I love to read. I don't have a lot of time to do it, however. I don't want to waste my time reading a book that doesn't thrill or entertain me. I am giving up on everything else around me, including time writing and time with my family, to read.

I demand quality.

The idea of charging money for an unedited jumble of typos, bad characters, worse plot, missing words, and poor craftsmanship – and knowing it could be a lot better – is more than just offensive. It's unethical. It's in the same category as scam artists.

Here's the thing. I am not a charity. I have no interest in giving my money to someone who hasn't even taken the time to try. I've worked hard to learn what I have about my craft. I'm still learning, still working hard, still trying to push myself. Slapping together a story that's never been beta read, never been critiqued, never been edited, AND KNOWING IT HAS PROBLEMS and then expecting people to pay money for it? That isn't "indie" publishing. That isn't "giving it to publishers." That isn't "the readers will decide what's good and what's not."

That's just plain lazy.

Plain and simple.

Want to self-publish? Pay your dues, just like everyone else. Put out the absolute best you can. Broke? Find a critique group or a couple of writers willing to exchange manuscripts with you. Find a grammar-obsessed co-worker to proofread your manuscript.

I'm tired of being told I'm the new gatekeeper. To hell with that. I'm not interesting in paying YOU to tell you how to get better as a writer. I charge for that.