A question for those who are self-published

[dustinzgirl]

I self published to share with friends and family on lulu, sort of to test it out. Then after I sold about 50, mostly to my nana, I took it down. The reason I did this is because I wanted feedback so I could work on it more, without paying for feedback cuz I'm cheap like that So, I'm kind of the oddball, I don't take it as seriously as I probably should. Like I always tell my nana, I'm a woman with great vision but terrible execution.

[Teresa Edgerton]

Originally Posted by Balthazar

Yes, I do believe that Eragon was self-published first and then picked up by one of the big houses.

Well, this is apparently one of those stories that gets passed around so often we all end up believing it. But Paolini's parents already ran a small publishing house when they decided to publish their son's book.

Here's a link that tells some of the background:

http://jimhines.livejournal.com/313073.html

[Kissmequick]

Can I buy his parents?

How about the Rev Graham Taylor, and his book Shadowmancer? He sold his motorbike to pay for self publishing, hocked it around car boot sales and church fetes and it became very popular, then it came to the notice of someone at Faber. He now has a four book deal with them, and sold the film rights for over £2 million

I'd post the link but I'm not allowed yet.

[Mark Robson]

Well I also started self-published, but I would agree with Marky's first comment. I can now see the flaws in my first book that prevented me from being picked up at that stage. Even given the self published sales success of that book (and the others in the series that I never sent to publishers) and my subsequent deal with Simon & Schuster for later titles, I would still say the two publishers and 6 literary agents I sent 'The Forging of the Sword' to were right to reject it. The publishers may pass stuff over that eventually makes it big, but they don't do it that often.

[DMatusik]

I often see the extremes of this argument represented, but nothing in the middle. On one side, you have absolute rubbish that's self published while on the other you have perfection on a traditionally-printed page.

I have read several professionally-produced books that were awful; typos, grammatical errors - not even factoring in content, for the moment. I have also seen self-published fiction and non-fiction that was outstanding and not a single detail was missed.

Yes, self-publishing can lower the bar but the converse of that statement isn't necessarily true. Authors are up against time, quotas, editors' moods and all sorts of intangibles which can cause a perfectly good story to get rejected.

[Ian Whates]

I published my first book, Time Pieces, as a fund raiser. Not sure if it qualifies as 'self-published' though, since I twisted the arms of a few friends to write me new stories especially for the occasion. So as well as my own stories, the book features originals from the likes of Stephen Baxter, Ian Watson, Jon Courtenay Grimwood, Liz Williams, Mark Robson and Steve Cockayne (not to mention original cover art from Hollywood conceptual artist Chris Baker, which went on to win the BSFA award for best artwork).

However, every aspect of the book, from the 'commissioning' of work (all stories and artwork were gifted to the project), to the sourcing of the printers, the editing, proof-reading, etc, was down to me (with assistance on the editing from Ian Watson and help and advice throughout from Mark Robson) and I had never done anything of the sort before.

Not meaning to sound too immodest, but the resultant book was of very high quality, both in terms of production quality and content (or so I've been assured by many others). So self-publishing does not have to equate with inferior product.

[SpaceShip]

Originally Posted by Marky Lazer

I haven't been down this road, but I have read self-published novels and I have to say that I understand why they're self-published, if you know what I mean.

I've been down that road Marky and I reckon my reason was that I was running out of cash for postage as I lumped it around the agents/publishers who kept saying "no". The reason I self-published was because so many of my friends that had proof read it reckoned it good enough to do so - so I did. I am quite pleased with the comments I've had (some on Amazon, some even from members of the Chrons who've read my work) and so I'm pleased to have done so. Not made my fortune yet but then who knows!!!!

On the reverse side of your comment Marky, I've not finished some very professional books by some so-called "famous" writers that should never have been published and, if it wasn't for the fact that we might get sued, we could have a "rubbish published books" thread (that is, if there isn't one already)!

[daisybee]

Originally Posted by Rik Roots

Do it. Lulu.com is perfect for that sort of small distribution product. I published a book of poems via lulu.com and have no regrets.

Oh thanks, I'm sorting my poems at present. Have you sold any from the Lulu marketplace site? Not altogether sure about having my collection on there-but if I do it well I guess it wouldn't hurt!

[DMatusik]

It's good to see people coming out in support of self-publishing. It also helps independent publishers, like myself, by breaking down the stereotype that good literature can only come from the big-name NYC publishers.

With Lulu and others, it's easy to revise your work and continually improve it. When you sell a dozen or so copies and need to make some changes, it's not a big deal because there aren't that many copies "in the wild." It's much more difficult to do that with a traditionally-published book, even though it does occur often.

An excerpt from Orson Scott Card's introduction in his latest edition of "Ender's Game:"
"And yet when a novel goes back to print . . . there ought to be something new in it to mark the occasion (something besides the minor changes as I fix the errors and internal contradictions and stylistic excesses . . ."

[Rik Roots]

Originally Posted by daisybee

Oh thanks, I'm sorting my poems at present. Have you sold any from the Lulu marketplace site? Not altogether sure about having my collection on there-but if I do it well I guess it wouldn't hurt!

I don't want to come across as a rabid lulu.com fan, so I'll try to limit my comments ...

You don't need to "publish" the book if it's just a few copies for a few friends. Check the lulu website for details.

If you're thinking of making the book available to anyone who wants to buy it, then make sure you've done the research and you're sure the services that lulu offer are the best fit to your desires and requirements for the book. I can't emphasise enough that people should research all the options open to them before choosing the self-publishing route, either with lulu or any other self-publishing firm.

For instance all my poetry is available to browse on my website. I only published the book of poems because people kept asking me if they could buy a book of my poems. Self-publishing the book with lulu suited my requirements - other people would have made a different choice, no doubt.

Sales? Last time I checked, I'd shifted a few dozen - not bad for a book whose content is already available for free on the 'net and which has not benefited from any marketing whatsoever ...

[Balthazar]

We all have dreams of being published, by a mainstream publisher, and yes, some of us here have seen that dream come true. I'm putting the finishing touches on Draft Zero (that's what Garth Nix calls the first draft) of my YA fantasy novel. In a few months, I will send some queries and hopefully get some good responses.

If not, I will keep trying the mainstream route. But if it gets to the point where I keep trying and no one bites, I might do the Lulu thing, just to see my book in print and to give to family and friends.

But I have no doubt I will be published in the traditional manner. Hubris? Me? Yeah.

[Balthazar]

I said: But I have no doubt I will be published in the traditional manner. Hubris? Me? Yeah.

In reflection I say: At least I sure as heck hope so.
*slinks away hoping people don't think he's some kind of over-confident jerk*

[Lanista]

Originally Posted by Balthazar

But I have no doubt I will be published in the traditional manner. Hubris? Me? Yeah.

That's the spirit, mate - don't let the naysayers grind you down. It's not being arrogant to believe in yourself. Many people write "for themselves" and have no wish to be published. They're just happy writers, and more power to them. Personally, I wanted to see my book in print (and to be fair, it's not out yet so I still haven't!) and I don't think anyone should make apologies for admitting that that is their goal.

That said, there seems to be a sort of literary snobbery when it comes to POD/Self-publishing works. Some people look down on these efforts as though "they weren't good enough to get a real publising deal." It simply isn't true - as someone pointed out, there are plenty of traditionally published books out there that are utter rubbish - especially in the fantasy genre (which I'm coming to loathe as time goes on - why were Gemmell and Jordan taken from us? The world is a poorer place without them).

Conversely, there are some excellent self-published works...and, for a genre fan, self-published works are a source of never-ending joy. Me, I love action-historicals set in the classical period. There's plenty of trad-published (did I just make up a new phrase!?!) books, of course, but I've also spent many joyful hours reading the POD works. "Legion" by William Altimari springs to mind, "The Gladiator Isarna" by Sara Pacher, "Shades of Artemis" by Jon Edward Martin (Yay, Spartans!). All of these are POD books, all of them are excellent.

But...self-belief is essential if you're going to take up the gauntlet thrown down by trad-publishing. As discussed elsewhere in this forum, you're going to get knockbacks, rejections and you WILL suffer from self-doubt. I was going to bin my book - the day I made the decision to try to write something else and forget about "Gladiatrix" was the day I got an email from the publishers wanting to meet me. So - just believe in yourself and believe in your work. Listen to advice from other people by all means, but always remember that advice is another word for opinion. You go with your gut.

Best of Luck!

Russ

[Balthazar]

Great words of encouragement, Lanista!

Thank you and good luck to you, too!

[iansales]

This is relevant - At Last! Writer Beware Blogs! A.C. Crispin and Victoria Strauss Reveal All!: Victoria Strauss -- Lessons for Self-Publishers