[Alchemist]

I've been reading various posts about self-publishing, and was inspired by Hugh Howey's experience of success on Amazon, as well as that of others, realizing somewhat to my surprise that there's a whole market of "Amazon Authors," some of whom are presumably quite successful. In other words, I’m gathering that self-publishing—in various forms (POD, Kindle, ebook, etc) –is actually an increasingly viable way to go, which is very different than even ten years ago.

The reason I ask is that I'm hard at work on my first novel. I started it about eight years ago and have only dabbled here and there since, with years upon years of writer's block (or stalled creativity, really) and various forms of Real Life interfering. I had a bit of an epiphany/wake-up call recently that inspired me to “Just do it,” so I started a new routine of getting up early and shooting for 1,000 words a day or 5,000 a week; almost two and a half weeks later and I'm approaching 15,000 words, or about 100,000 words total for my novel. My goal is to have the first draft finished by June (somewhere in the 170-200,000 range) and then spend the summer (I'm a teacher) going over it, hoping to have a relatively polished draft to send out by September.

My focus right now is just on writing the draft - I'm trying not to put the cart before the horse, but am also thinking that if I really want to try to start the whole rigamarole of trying to get published in September, a bit of strategizing now won't hurt.

My intention was always to go the traditional route: hope to the gods that I could find an agent who would miraculously find one of the big publishers to get me going on my writing career. Having worked in a used book store about 10 years ago, the words "vanity press" have a negative connotation - that's what writer's who can't really write do. Now I'm not so sure.

We’re in the Information Age, which is changing the nature of not only the dissemination of knowledge, but also of art. It is my opinion that, more and more, artists will publish and market themselves; this is especially true because of the internet, print-on-demand, and whatever other new technologies arise in the next few years.

So back to my question. The potentials of the Information Age coupled with the allure of owning the rights to one’s own art--not to mention the sheer bad odds of and/or time it takes to get signed on by a big publisher--is giving me serious pause about which avenue to take. It seems that the two are not mutually exclusive, that I could start by going the Kindle route, maybe polish up some old short stories first, write a novella or two, and see what happens.

I guess what I’m hoping to start is a discussion on self-publishing vs. the traditional route, and what other aspiring—and established—writers are doing. What are the different possible avenues from finished draft to actual sales of one's work? How hard is it to be successful self-publishing vs. the traditional route? (By "successful" I am thinking of making enough money to at least do it as a part-time occupation, if not full-time). Any tips, words of wisdom or advice?

Thanks!

[MrBF1V3]

On the radio the other day the DJ said that after Christmas 1 in every 4 americans has an e-book reader. What can I say, stories are cheaper, it's easier to carry and on some of them you can even play movies.

I don't think paper books are going away even if the DJ seemed to think so. But things are changing. Any attempt at 'business as usual' is ill-advised.

If you self publish the whole of quality control is on your shoulders. If you skimp, you'll get lost in the crowd. If you don't get good reviews you'll get lost in the crowd. If you don't advertise effectively ... well, you get the point. I think maybe it's possible to do all these things right and still get lost in the crowd. It's a big crowd.

Good luck.

B5

[RedMage]

I am going the traditional route. Agent, publishing house, etc. I seem to be in the minority around sffworld, but I am ok with that. Or, perhaps I'm just not looking hard enough. But a lot of the questions about publishing that I see come down to questions about self publishing or going with smaller presses. I would like to go with a bigger publishing house. One that has been established for quite some time (i.e. decades) and who have books in every book store and are on the first dozen pages and more on Amazon when you search for fantasy, epic fantasy, dark fantasy, urban fantasy, etc.

I really don't care about the time factor. I hear that a lot too from those who decide to go the self publishing or smaller press route. Nothing wrong with that decision: there are a lot of great authors who have gone this way. For me the decision to go the traditional way boils down to one thing. I know I'm a good writer. I'm still working out my own style, still growing, but I think that is always going to be an ongoing process (and I'm ok with that too). No matter how long it takes, I would really like to hear back from those people who signed Scott Lynch, Neil Gaiman, Robert Holdstock, and Tad Williams. (I know I might be wrong about how they began publishing, but I'm going to imagine that you know what I mean.) The longer it takes, well, that's more time for me to polish my work, more time for me to build up a library of great, wonderful tales to get out on the bookshelves everywhere.

As for smaller presses, that issue is a fear for me. I am afraid that, as a smaller press, they are not very well established, both in the market and financially. I am afraid that if I were to try and publish with them, that they might go under before my contract would be up. Or that I would only be selling my work in, say, Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. I'd rather have my stuff all over the country, literally. International would be awesome, but I'll settle for just nationwide in the beginning.

I have more thoughts, but it's late. So I'll come back later...

[Laer Carroll]

There is nothing to keep writers from going both routes: self-publishing and traditional publishing. To think you have to choose one OR the other is silly.

Each practice has advantages over the other. A combination of the two increases your chances of gaining readership.

Also, each supports the other. Self-publishing proves to prospective agents that you have the will and smarts to finish works and follow through on getting them out to possible readers. A traditionally printed work shows possible buyers of your self-published work that it has been vetted by professionals.

My guess is that many self-publishers choose that process because it seems like an easier process than the alternative. Hardly. Not if you've actually tried it as I and several other members of this forum will quickly tell you. There is no quick and easy path to success.

[Laer Carroll]

Rushing to publish is like going on a first date with your fly open, or your make-up smudged. You may never live down that bad first impression.

Self-publishers begin with the stigma of being second-best, of turning out crap products. We have to bend over backwards to ensure our book is not like so many other self-published books. We must make sure that we wait until we have a book that is absolutely the best we can create, as good as or better than what comes from traditional publishers.
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[kmtolan]

Currently, the largest segment in the e-book business as far as publishing goes is the independent e-publishers such as Double Dragon and their ilk. I've been with an independent press (Champagne Books) for five years now, and find it sort of the middle ground between self-publishing and the traditional dead-tree folks.

The advantages of going with an independent press include skirting the stigma Laer mentioned. You were accepted by someone who felt you were good enough to make money off of (grin). This opens the door to being on convention panels and such that might otherwise be closed to all but the most successful self-pubbers. It is a bit of a pat on the back for the ego, as well. You pay for nothing - cover art and editing are part of the bargain. Finally, and this is of no small importance, you are exposed to the readership garnered by said publisher. Also, any respectable publisher will have already made inroads with many distribution channels. Finally, the time it takes to hook up with an e-publisher is measured in weeks instead of years. Agents usually not required, and your odds at acceptance are much much higher due to the number of publishers out there looking for new authors.

That said, you still have some very common problems with those who self publish - namely getting your name out there. Many reviewers and trade magazines still won't look at you. You can't get in the SFFWA, either. Both are tied deeply into the traditional markets and are slow to change for various reasons. Don't quit your day job, either. Most writers can't go it alone on their writing, and that includes those published with e-pubs. You won't be getting 70% royalties with an e-pub - they have folks to pay other than yourself (that free editor and artist thingy).

Hope that helps you with your decision.
Kerry

[Window Bar]

There's a psychological angle as well. Most people won't do something they hate. At least they won't do it often, and they won't sustain the effort.

So if you enjoy online network building (facebook, twitter, correspondence with blog sites, placement of freebie ads, submissions to contests, establishing virtual book tours, etc.) ... then you can succeed as a self publisher. But if you hate this stuff, you'll be very creative at dreaming up avoidance behavior. You'll surf the internet, you'll play online games, you'll spend wa-a-a-a-y too much time on SFFWorld... and you'll wonder where the day went. :D.

Marketing is as important as writing. One must be diligent. Otherwise, you're a candidate for finding a press to help. It actually may be less expensive, because it will leave more time for completing more books.

So examine yourself. Are you likely to do what it takes to get your name out?

(My credentials? As an indie, I go through times of laziness both in writing and marketing. Laziness is simple: It means you hate work, at least temporarily. When I'm lazy in writing, nothing gets written. When I'm lazy in marketing, the sales fall.)

Good luck -- WB

[RedMage]

@WB--Ah, that must be why I don't want to self-pub. I have almost zero social media presence. And little desire at this time, before I have anything out there for consumption, to build that presence I do have.

@Laer--You're right. Both routes are possible. However, I have heard that if you have an eye on the traditional route, then self-pubbing first can hurt your chances because the traditional houses will see you as having done the vanity press thing.

[Alchemist]

@Laer--You're right. Both routes are possible. However, I have heard that if you have an eye on the traditional route, then self-pubbing first can hurt your chances because the traditional houses will see you as having done the vanity press thing.

But is that the case any longer? That's one of the major questions I have - this seems to be changing, but I'm wondering to what degree.

[Laer Carroll]

I have heard that if you have an eye on the traditional route, then self-pubbing first can hurt your chances because the traditional houses will see you as having done the vanity press thing.

Certainly possible, though that is (slowly) changing. That's why you get a good agent, who can convince the publishers you are an exception.

Or quite simply write queries that are so brilliant that they realize you are an exception.

What, you don't believe you can write a brilliant query? Well, if you REALLY can't you are NOT an exception!

Just don't be so sure you can't write good queries. Those are writing just as much as your stories are, and you need to take as much care and creativity to them as to anything else. Writing queries, and blogs, and PR, and answers to interview questions are all part of being a writer. You can't shirk any of them.