Question for self-publishing authors

[Alex]

I think it also depends a great deal on what genre you are writing as to whether traditional publishers are likely to show interest.

I recently attended the annual San Francisco Writers' Conference - a great event with a lot of very useful advice for self-publishers, on all fronts.

However, during the 'pitchathons', not one out of a total of thirty literary agents present showed the slightest bit of interest in publishing short stories or short story collections.

I was bemused by their collective response as I have had reasonable success in launching just such a collection Impromptu Scribe off my own bat.

As always, all that rejection letters mean or disinterested literary agents are implying is:

'I can't find a way of making money out of this'.

They are not necessarily saying:

'This is not worth publishing'.

Therefore, we should all perhaps just plug on with what we feel we want to write and if it is well-written, well-edited, has a good cover design, and is backed up with a solid social media platform, we have a better than average chance of making it.

There's my two cents worth :)

[Vanessa]

J.D. wrote: "@Vanessa: I think the book issue is that even though Createspace gets the titles into Ingrams, the stores have to buy it up front. With the traditionally published titles they get the books and pay..."

Thanks for the explanation... still sad though :(

[Katharine]

Gisela, thank you so much for that very helpful suggestion and taking your time to share your own experiences on this. There is a homeschool movement in the UK, not as big as in North America but it is out there. I will think some more about this.

[Glenn]

I would absolutely go with a real publisher. I think my book would do well in a store. It's kind of like a novelty book, so it would really catch someone's eye, if it was in a store.

[R.F.G.]

@Katharine,
Home-school can also be about quality of education rather than amount or type of religion. In my case I want my daughter to be literate, have a good grasp on science, and as far as learning about religion goes she'll have exposure to many, not one rigidly defined perspective.

Where I am textbooks (especially science) have so many committees wanting garbage in them it isn't funny. The history is more fiction than fact, the science is lacking, and so on. Between Each Child Held Behind and the upcoming Common Cretin focus kids are taught to pass a test rather than to learn and love learning.

If your writing fits the needs of a target audience you'll have a market on either side of the pond.

[Margaret]

Gisela wrote: "Margaret wrote: "J.D. wrote: "well, not counting the complete lack of responses, I got one from an agent basically telling me to pursue another career :P Now, I love my own work but I'm willing to ..."

Yes, what a kind editor!

[Grace]

When I first started writing seriously, it was in the hope of someday being accepted by a big publishing house, but after I published my first book the idea of going through all the indignities of pleading to be published and losing rights (even the tiniest rights) to my work made me feel sick. I love the freedoms and possibilities of self-publishing, and even if it's a longer and harder road to any kind of success than traditional publishing would be, I really think it's worth it.

[Effie]

Grace,
I just had this conversation with someone yesterday. The goal was always to be traditionally published. To be in bookstores and to have exposure for mega sales. But the thought now of anyone telling me I HAVE to cut this or change that goes against my grain. My editor made suggestions and 9 times out of 10 I took them, but a few times it just didn't sit right with me. I did what I felt was right for my story. If I was under a publisher, I would have had no choice. I'm not sure I could hand over my baby like that.

[Alicia]

Effie wrote: "Grace,
I just had this conversation with someone yesterday. The goal was always to be traditionally published. To be in bookstores and to have exposure for mega sales. But the thought now of anyone..."

I published myself after I put in more work than I ever thought possible; I'm glad I did.

It may be slow to catch on, this novel and trilogy of mine, but whatever it does, it will 1) be around forever, and 2) be as a result of my own efforts.

That sits well; the other was no fun when I tried it years ago. I don't need the negativity, nor do I need to keep punching up a query letter to attract someone's attention, hoping they will promote me further up the food chain.

My writing partner went the other way: after many years, and cutting 1/3 from her ms. on spec, she did get a small publisher to take her on. She was supposed to have been published this May. then they moved it to September. Then they told her they will not be publishing mysteries and thrillers any more (like hers).

She bought back the rights to her book (you can do that up to a certain point) - there would be no point in publishing with one company and then being dumped. She thinks she has another agent (that was quick - through a personal connection). He is going to start sending it out again. And she's reset a clock which usually takes 1.5 - 3 years to get your book out if and when you get taken on by another publisher.

Sigh. We should have been published around the same time so we could compare notes; instead, she is going to be several years behind.

'Traditional publishing' is not a choice - you can choose to start the process, but you can't choose to become traditionally published (less than 1% of those submitting do).