YOU ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR TRADITIONAL PUBLISHING, RIGHT?

[A.K.]

Don’t seek to limit yourselves by believing the traditional publishing industry is a bridge only a select few are privy to cross. With persistence, a true belief in the power of your words, a broad knowledge of the industry itself, a bit of innovative strategy, and a hell of a lot of luck; you’ll eventually see that silver lining by which to exploit in order to get your ass on and to the other side of that bridge - http://backporchwriter.com/final-thou...

[Mark]

Actually, although I agree that you shouldn't stop trying, I would like to point out the assumption of "hell of a lot of luck" in your argument. The hero's story is the one about the one who succeeded. We tend to discount all those who died next to him for no other reason than happening to be in same place as a descending arrow. I'm certainly good enough for an agent and a publisher and my product is unique and revolutionary, which is probably my problem. Non-derivative work is difficult to pitch in a line or two. But I'm getting better at it.

[A.K.]

Mark wrote: "Actually, although I agree that you shouldn't stop trying, I would like to point out the assumption of "hell of a lot of luck" in your argument. The hero's story is the one about the one who succee..."

I see your point and empathize with your cleverly disguised angst. As a traditionally published writer, I do have mixed feelings about self publishing. I think it's a wonderful thing that anyone can now publish their own books. But I've seen so many problems we lovers of the written word are having.

For many the cost is high however they expect that it will all be paid back after they get it out to the public. But that is the second problem. Once published they don't know what to do to get it out where it will make them money. The thing they need to realize is that when you publish your own book, YOU are the publisher. And you need to do what all traditional publishers do; that is if you know what to do, which is NEVER the case. Some really excellent book printers do give self publishers quite a bit of help, but it doesn't compare to what a traditional publisher does for it's authors.

Are you one of those writers whose work is exceptional? You very well may be. Should a traditional publisher take your work? It probably should. But if you have or plan to self publish then find the best rated book printer who will give you some extras to help with getting your book out there. And then make a marketing plan and do everything possible to promote your book.

WHAT INSPIRES ME - http://thekuykendallpost.blogspot.com...

[Patrick]

Like a mosquito at a nude beach, I don't know where to begin...

I'm happy that someone picked up your book AK, and agree a person - if so inclined - shouldn't give up pursuing the traditional venue. But...

There are tectonic shifts happening in publishing. Traditional route is no longer the legitimizing mark it was once considered, neither is self-publishing an automatic stigma. First-time authors have to do the lion's share of their own promo, Big House Imprint or not. Many traditionally published writers don't earn back their advance while many self-pubbed writers consistently earn as much as B-listers. Do a Google search for Hugh Howey's excellent article on his self-pub journey.

End of the day, Self Pubbed writers are simply Self-Employed Craftsmen. Sure there is a learning curve. However, working for someone else doesn't guarantee quality, success, or legitimize their labor.

Good luck.

[A.K.]

Patrick wrote: "Like a mosquito at a nude beach, I don't know where to begin...

I'm happy that someone picked up your book AK, and agree a person - if so inclined - shouldn't give up pursuing the traditional venu..."

I see your point, Patrick! Look, the plethora of self publishing mills out there would hope that we simply give up. Tire of the endless rejections in order for these vultures to benefit from our dismay.

The stigma of it all is still a sticky one. I've been writing since I was ten years of age under countless nom de plume's that are very much alive to this very day and, like that of Stephen King at an early stage in his life, I fished many of the short stories I weaved to traditional publishers -- royalty paying anthologies with much success. All to prove to myself and others that not only did I find my work worthy, but so did others with a traditional perspective. Worthy enough to invest in the publication of such material.

It is both with the short stories and the novels I've written that my advice comes into play. Believe it or not, but I've written thirteen novels/concepts in my life; eleven of which, during my time in college I reluctantly sold the copyright too because I was essentially broke as hell. They were sold to many 'big' names in the publishing industry today of which I can't divulge any details due to the stipulations of the agreements signed, but I can tell you that these stories have grossed millions in print and motion picture.

My advice comes from a simple fact that our stories in the hands of one with established clout will both excel and sell beyond anything you yourself could ever hope to achieve. That is just reality as it is not what you know, it's who you know. As a raw, nameless storyteller making my way through college with a major in pre-medical studies with a minor in Psychology, it was (looking back on it now) the only way I could have earned on my stories.

Anyway... the problem with most enterprises that will help you self publish is that they don't really care about the product. Though they would argue vehemently that they are not; in fact, any company that takes your money for anything in book form other than printing is a vanity press, in my opinion. There's nothing wrong with that as long as you realize that is what you are getting into. Many of them charge thousands of pounds/dollars. They would publish the alphabet on two hundred pages for you if you paid them.

For me, I believe that self publishing means what it says. You do all the work including formatting, publicity etc and you publish , probably on Createspace and Kindle as they don't charge you a fee. They then do POD which again costs you nothing.

Libraries and chain bookstores are out of reach for the POD authors. If the self published author orders a couple of thousand books to be printed by a reputable printing firm he/she is likely to get stuck with a lot of remainders. And there is no guarantee that they will buy the books in the first place.

So, if you want your books in the mainstream I'm afraid you are stuck with the traditional publishers who have the clout to get you there.

A STRATEGY IS WHAT YOU NEED - http://www.thewriterofbooks.com/home/...

[Patrick]

Dude, you sound like a salesmen. Quick response, then back to work.

Who cares about "libraries and chain stores"? They're closing down. They aren't the exclusive or even major points of sale any longer. That's my point - the industry dynamic is shifting.

Technology and the Net have made "clout" available to anyone who avails themselves. The traditional route isn't the high road/guarantee/mainstream it used to be. Plain and Simple.

And 'Success', what precisely is that? Movie Rights? Personally, I agree with Flannery O'Connor when she said:

"Everywhere I go, I'm asked if I think the universities stifle writers. My opinion is that they don't stifle enough of them. There's many a best seller that could have been prevented by a good teacher."

Sure I'd cash Hollywood's check if it came my way, but like all serious craftsmen, I've got to love my work, strive for excellence, and take the long view. Take your work seriously - not your self. Let the work speak for itself.

[A.K.]

Patrick wrote: "Dude, you sound like a salesmen..."

Just what is it am I trying to sell to you, Patrick? The point of the post is simply to generate a fresh and lively conversation. I'm a writer... a storyteller who after years of hard word and dedication in the craft can now call myself an author. And given what I had to endure in my journey, which is no different than what many writer's are going through at present; I only seek to give back in some way. Encouraging posts for struggling writers through the medium of social media is my way of motivating a wary bunch of talented wordsmiths into staying the course.

AN UNLIKELY JOURNEY (FROM YESTERDAY TO TODAY) - http://thekuykendallpost.blogspot.com...

[Sabrina]

As others have said, traditional publishing is changing. Getting over the bridge no longer puts you on that mythical golden road. And Indie publishing is no longer the road that takes you off into the wilderness. Now, both roads run parallel with each other and authors skip back and forth at will.

Publishers are doing less and less for authors. I know a NYT bestselling author who had to do her own in book map because her Big 5 Publisher wouldn't cover the cost. She also has to do most of her own marketing and self promotion.

More and more, traditional authors are producing self published works along with their traditional published books. Why? Because Agents are telling traditional authors that they also need to self publish to make a living.

Big Publishers are no longer sticking with authors who don't come out with a bang. They are dropping mid-list authors before they have a chance to become well known. I read an article from a NYT bestselling author who said that if she had published in today's climate, then she wouldn't be here, because her publisher would have dropped her after the second book. Her books did not become well known until the 10th.

It looks like you might have had this happen to you: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

But you are absolutely right: self publishing is hard work. An author can't just plop their book on a site and expect it to sell. We market, we format, we hire professional editors and artists, we run a business and invest in ourselves. And more and more authors (traditional included) are realizing that there is nothing a publishing company can do for them that they can't do for themselves.

Hugh Howey is a good example of this. Anymore, with the horrible publishing contracts being offered, you are better off making it as a self published author. That way, when a publisher does want to pick you up, you have bargaining power.