Subscribe to RSS 2.0Barriers to self-publishing. Crumbling.
Would it be fun to make a list of all the reasons you couldn't or shouldn't self-publish in 1950 and then check that against an updated list for 2010? I mean, I don't even know how a novel was typeset back then, but I'm fairly sure it couldn't be done on the same bit of technology used to write the manuscript (i.e. a typewriter or a fountain pen). And how was it delivered to the printers? Hmm, I don't know that either. Likewise cover art - though I assume that was done with photographic plates of some kind. Anyway, the point is, that a person these days could write a book and then get someone to typeset it, design a cover and produce print-ready PDFs without spending much money at all. They could even get it printed by, say, Lulu. But what to do with it after that? Even listing it on Amazon is a pain because how are you going to distribute stock to them and sort out the paperwork? So, phew, still a few reasons to involve a publisher. Unless e-books take off. I mention all this because it's just got a bit easier to go the e-book route. Bibliocore will put your book up on Apple's iBookstore, ready for iPad owners to buy it. And they'll even let you keep the royalties. So what does that leave for publishers to do that it's tricky to do for yourself?
1) Decide whether the book is any good or not. Though perhaps the first wave of readers could do that in a pinch. (Might authors give away the first 200 copies of their book for that reason?)
2) Market the book.
What else am I missing? I mean it might be nice if someone proof-read the thing, but an author could pay an outside proof-reader to do that just the way a publisher currently does. What else?
Comments: 7
Hi Rob
I found your article on self publishing very interesting indeed, having self published two novels. I believe that the publishing world is about to see some serious changes. e-Books are, in my opinion, the books of the future.
Pauline Barclay
Posted by: Pauline Barclay on April 8, 2010 09:52 AM
My theory: validation. People like to be chosen. Not much to build a business model on, though. Better brush up that ol' CV... (which will never happen, for the record, as I am ruined and could never work for anyone again.)
Oh, also, cover design. It pains me that you can usually spot a self-published cover. All you have to do is copy what's in the shops. How hard can it be - because all the tools that the pros use are readily available to all.
Posted by: Em on April 8, 2010 10:50 AM
As a self-employed illustrator/designer I know my limits to what I can achieve as an individual and if I ever chose such route. The way I see it is by doing everything yourself, you run the risk of diluting every step of publishing to mediocrity. No doubt authors could knock out a half decent book but setting up a company, registering ISBN, proof reading, line editing, design, distribution, marketing, review sourcing, etc is time consuming and distracts from what they should be concentrating on – creating a good story. In my opinion, self publishing is just the next rung up the ladder from vanity publishing. More often than not, you’re still financing a biased whim. Would that inspire subconscious confidence when building reputation amongst distibutors, retailers, the general public, reviewers, agents, scriptwriters, artists, or any number of possible leads that may transpire after the work is released? Then again, that LULU piece may be the next Harry Potter or Da Vinci Code. It’s all subjective.
(Pay for proof-reading? Blimey, I need to sell an organ.)
Posted by: Wayne Blackhurst on April 8, 2010 12:03 PM
I agree with Em: publishers lend a sense of legitimacy to a work because they are another body prepared to believe in a text to the same extent that the author does. But I also think that the question is not 'what does the publisher contribute in 2010?' but 'what can the publisher contribute in 2010?'
'Whatever they may do, authors do not write books.' - Roger Stoddard
Posted by: Nathan FitzPatrick on April 9, 2010 09:29 AM
Enjoyed your post, Rob. The reality is that distribution channels are now accessible to independent authors. Using Baker & Taylor, Lightning Source or a range of other distributors available through the CreateSpace program and others, your book can be ordered by just about any bookstore on the planet. It may not be displayed on shelves, but that's not necessary - if you create the buzz that drives people to the store to make the order, it's available, but then given recent statistics they are more likely to shop online.
A lot has changed in a short period of time. Independent authors are no longer excluded but embraced eg listings in the iPad bookstore thanks to an agreement with Smashwords. As more big name authors leave their publisher to self-publish eg JA Konrath, John E Wideman, Stephen Covey, many more will follow. Even Anne Rice mooted the idea of self-publishing her books solely as e-books in the future.
People in publishing are struggling to come to terms with the change, but change is here to stay and grow - it won't revert to the old days with gatekeepers holding sway with power and control over the publishing world. Those who accept and embrace change are likely to survive, the rest will be remembered on Wikipedia.
Posted by: Melanie Walsh on April 9, 2010 09:32 AM
Oh, also, cover design. It pains me that you can usually spot a self-published cover. All you have to do is copy what's in the shops. How hard can it be - because all the tools that the pros use are readily available to all.
Posted by: Self Publishing on September 7, 2010 07:09 PM
As someone who has tried self-publishing and who came from a magazine publishing background, I was interested in this. My cover was good I thought. I thought the blurb was good. I know the novel was great. Yet it still got glued to the shelves. Why?
The cover was not good the blurb was dreadful the story was great but typos got through. The thing was just plain badly presented. I learned a hard lesson and that was: be patient keep trying to get the work picked up by pros. Ebook or real publishing - do it yourself is fraught with pitfalls and humiliation.
Just found this blog. It's great. Thanks.
David Rory.
Posted by: David Rory O'Neill on October 26, 2010 11:16 AM