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Shaun
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Aug 12, 2013 01:54PM
'Why Indie Authors Still Suck' should satisfy you: http://anonnymouse13.wordpress.com/20...
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And it’s called Livejournal. It’s the place where pathetic, lonely, vampire obsessed writers go to get their fixi just screamed 'YO BITCH BE HATIN' really loudly at my screen at that bit. *goes to finish*
Wade through the profanity and hideous grammar and there are a few good points.Ironic that blog post is more poorly written than 99% of indie books?
I think not.
Does it make me want to attack it with my red pen?
Oh yes.
there is some good points among a very angry take down. i put forward the idea that most of the authors in this group fall into the section were he talks about people editing the hell out of the books and re-writing them over and over again. they might not use pro-editors but they certainly take advantage of the wonderful skills of some people in this group.i have to admit i kinda agree with him/her (him or her? the 'sweetheart' bit confused me - him i think?) about some authors thinking that they are ready to go with just a self edit
probably like you want to take a red pen to my group posts? :D
The author makes some valid points, but most of them are hidden underneath all the vitriol.
I made the mistake of self-editing with Shades of Grey.I learnt from it!
Decent points, badly made.But, especially on Amazon and on some FB groups I lurk in, anyone suggesting you cannot self edit gets ripped apart. Especially by any writer who is also a teacher. It's depressing.
And he's right on the horrid photoshopped covers too
Pfft.I'd have to take a red pen to most of mine then.
I reckon it's the height of hubris to demean another if you're going to post in such a manner and not run your rant through spell check, at least.
That blog makes me want to slap them in the face repeatedly with every single book by every single one of our authors till they get the message that a lot of Indie authors are very good if not excellent when they have an Ignite to edit for them (and Patti and GL and etc...) As I was saying to Elle the other night, covers don't really bother me cause I don't see them on my kindle anyway, they only really matter if you have a fire or read on and iPad or something like that so you could argue that there isn't as much need for a cover at all never mind an excellent one.
I match his level of vitriol every time I read a blog post littered with GIFs and pictures that are somehow supposed to hammer their point home. He does have a point though about self editing though, but that's about it. I've enjoyed a veritable horn of plenty by reading self published authors. Grammar, spelling and syntax can sometimes be a little off the mark, but the storytelling exhibited is often inspired. Plus I'm usually paying less than the cost of half a pint of ale for several hours pleasure so I fail to see what the issue is.The cover issue is an interesting one though, as I'm a bit of a font snob: a whiff of comic sans on the cover and I cannot read the book. It's an illness!
I think he makes a lot of very valid points, not least of which is paying for professional editing. And he does mention the beta reader cohorts which will also help. However, having had a succession of agents telling me what and how to rewrite bits so it will be more marketable, I think the publishing house itself is the last on the list, and considering how lazy they are at editing, I would always prefer to do/pay for my own editing. I don't think there is anything much I'd disagree with in his diatribe.
Andy wrote: "I match his level of vitriol every time I read a blog post littered with GIFs and pictures that are somehow supposed to hammer their point home. He does have a point though about self editing thoug..."comic sans on anything puts me off but i learnt a few years ago in a volunteer position that studies have shown time and time again that comic sans is easiest to read if you have eyesight problems or anything else that would effect your reading skills.
It's well argued and reasoned and should be required reading too for all the self published authors I've met who photoshop their covers and are convinced that the services of someone like Kath can be replaced with a ten minute bash with MS spellcheck.You wouldn't believe how many of them there are and how cross they get with other writers who gently insist that you cannot self edit.
Edited to point out I was referring to the reply, not the rant here.
Excellent article, thanks Will. I don't mind doing most of the work myself but editing/proof-reading is one area I definitely wouldn't skimp on.
It's the same with arts and crafts - if you cost out the actual hours it takes to produce something like a handmade greeting card or even a quilt, plus materials, you'd never be able to sell it!
You can't edit your own stuff.But you can at least do a few drafts. I've read a fair bit of indie stuff lately that was pretty clearly first draft material. No one from this group, I hasten to add.
Elle wrote: "comic sans on anything puts me off but i learnt a few years ago in a volunteer position that studies have shown time and time again that comic sans is easiest to read if you have eyesight problems or anything else that would effect your reading skills. ..."My dislike of that font goes back several years when a colleague of mine used to pin endless memos to the staff notice board that driveled on about pointless nonsense, all in red comic sans.
As it turns out, the braniacs at CERN use Comic Sans in all of their internal memos so it shows what I know.
Our XHTML teacher used Comic sans a lot cos it was supposed to be more legible.
Andy wrote: "There's a nice riposte here: http://mishaburnett.wordpress.com/201..."Yes, a very good blog.
Fitting it in with the blog Will mentioned about real costs, I found it interesting to consider 'the business'
Looking at publishing as a business man (if a farmer can ever claim to be that) the first thing I'd do is use freelance editors and proof readers. Yes I might pay them a little over their normal rate or give them some sort of small retainer so they'll give the stuff I put their way priority.
I'd give very serious thought to how much building I needed. My guess is that it could make sense to have a 'virtual' office and a real warehouse/storage, but there's a lot of professional storage and distribution people, I'd be out there looking at all those who offer it, not merely those who claim to support the book trade.
I think a lot of the small publishers coming up could be quite lean and fast on their feet and interesting to watch
Andrew wrote: "You can't edit your own stuff.But you can at least do a few drafts. I've read a fair bit of indie stuff lately that was pretty clearly first draft material. No one from this group, I hasten to add."
You are absolutely correct.
I know, I tried, it sucked.
After working with an editor I've got to the stage where he's taught me enough so that I'm not making the silly mistakes and he's got more time to make suggestions as to improvements rather than just pointing out errors in the story than need correcting.
Shaun wrote: "'Why Indie Authors Still Suck' should satisfy you: http://anonnymouse13.wordpress.com/20..."Mwah ha hahrgh! Wow! The veins in my temples and at the sides of my neck are throbbing in sympathy. That is one seriously frothy mouthed rant!
Cheers
MTM
