Life is too short to not Self-Publish

Recently I've seen a lot of published authors who make their presence known and some even talk down to self-published ones. And while I think they've earned the right to kick the rest of us in the head, I kinda wish they wouldn't. I respect published authors but there is one argument which I don't respect.

That traditional publishing equals validation.

I have never sent out my works to any publishers or agent. Partly it's because I do fear the rejection, but the other part is control. I feel like I can have total control over what happens to my books/stories right here through self-publishing.

So long as it is edited properly (and I have been pretty firm about getting that done, and done, and done), then I think the validation argument is invalid. Traditional publishing does not guarantee instant sales, and now adays, I don't see how a traditional author might advertise all that differently from a self-published one.

I am not putting myself on par with published authors, by any means, but I do believe they have no reason to take jabs at those who self-publish. Readers will go wherever they want and now the market is so large that there are so many different options. The idea that self-published authors are somehow either a threat or a blight is a bit strange. If we really are not to be taken seriously, then there is no need for established authors to beat us down, the world will take care of that. If we are a blight, then why add to that injury? And if we really are doing some sort of harm, the question is...how?

Regardless of which, I've worked hard to try to get the "Toys and Soldiers" Series polished. And I won't publish until I do. Time will tell how successful I am in my efforts.

For me, as a soon-to-be self-published author, I guess I'd have to say

The only validation I need is in the form of readers who come back.