Validity of self-publishing?

Question

I was wondering your thoughts on the validity of self-publishing. Ive been trying to publish a novel and a chapbook of poetry for years and I just fired my agent. Do you feel that there is any validity or simply vanity in self-publishing, i am pursuing my masters and PHD in English and need this for my career.??

Answer 1

First off, glad to here you're working on your masters -- doing the same thing and I know how harsh that can be.

I think resorting self-publishing is "valid", but it may cost you "credibility." The proverbial rock and a hard place. Yes you need this to continue to advance you academic career, but if you turn to self publishing at lessens the weight of your work in the eyes of your peers and counterparts.

I think canning your agent is a good first step. Next though I would look to finding another agent -- one that is more attune to your literary style and genre. I think that if you can find an agent that you can really relate your work to; it will increase the odds of finding a publisher significantly.

Let me also suggest two books: Noah Lukeman's 'The First Five Pages' and 'Making a Literary Life' by Carolyn See. There are links below to both of these -- I think you'll find them a great asset into how to navigate the waters of getting your writing to market and published.

I'd also get to know the people at the university press where you are going to school. They might have contacts, suggestions, and insights that could help you move the process along. Either in finding a new agent, getting published, or tips for self-publishing.

Hope this helps. Good luck! --Andy

Answer 2

Go ahead and self-publish the chapbook. You don't want to waste time on something that will not sell to a publisher anyway.

Self-publishing the novel is a bad move since it will not count as publication in any publishing circles. You didn't state what genre your novel is so I can only give general advice.

1. Get WRITER'S MARKET. If your novel is romance or science fiction or fantasy, most of those publishers do not require an agent. Mystery requires an agent with most publishers.

2. Browse through the listings at www.fictionwise.com for books in your genre. Note who published them and either consult Writers Market or look up their websites.

3. If you are considering self-publishing anyway, check at Fictionwise and Amazon to see if that publisher's books are listed. If they aren't, forget them. Your books have to be available to get sold. Do this with ANY publisher you are considering.

4. Don't dismiss electronic publishers as worthless. Since all but one of the New York giant publishing houses are now owned by two German corporations, they are concentrating on the profit margin. New authors and books that don't fit the marketing mold have no chance. As a result the small publishers, including the electronic publishers, have gained importance. Some, like Hard Shell Word Factory, have already gained fame for the number of awards their books have earned and the quality of their offerings.

Answer 3

I must beg to differ with one of your answerers - in some rare instances, self-published books were picked up by agents and then republished by mainstream publishing companies. So it's quite possible that your publishing credentials will not only remain intact but will actually benefit from self-publishing.

One site, the Miss Snark literary agent blog, often has very good information on Lulu and other POD sites. Here are a few links.

Answer 4

Certainly self-publishing is becoming more prevalent these days. As for valid, are you asking if self-published books are accepted by readers or by those in the publishing industry?

I don't think most readers care if the book they're holding is self-published . However, if you self-publish, you are much less likely to get your books in stores; you may not reach as many readers as you would if you went with a publisher. Realistically, most authors who self-publish do not see a sudden grass-roots surge of interest in their work that pushes their book onto prominent shelves at Barnes & Noble. You might get lucky. You might not.

You may want to consider if a future publisher will react negatively (or not at all) when they learn that you self-published earlier in your career ... it may send them the message that you are so desperate to get published you'll do anything, or that you are unprofessional.

I would say hire another agent and give it another go before you self-publish. Self-publishing may or may not be a mark of desperation; certainly it has connotations to that effect right now. But if all you want is to have a few books on your resume and a few copies to give to friends and family, go for it.

P.S. You may want to check out the self-publishing website Lulu.com; it looks pretty cheap and it'll even get your books on Amazon.com.

Answer 5

There is a tendency to view self published works as a 'vanity piece' which has no substance.

If you seek literary accolades and support, you need to seek another agent and literary publishing house that will actively promote your writing.

Anybody and their dog can put out a book in self publishing so long as they pay the fees. I would consider that a last resort if you are hoping to become a published author.

Look to smaller publishing houses. Your book can always be purchased for print by a larger entity if it sells well in a smaller or niche market.

Some bookstores even have their own label for producing and promoting to niche markets.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Self-publishing credits generally are not accepted in academia as legitimate publishing credits, so in that regard it will do you no good.

Self-publishing has its uses. Unfortunately, too often people do it for the wrong reasons. Many see it as a short-cut to publication. In actuality, self-publishing (successfully) is much harder. As a self-publisher, you become responsible for all aspects of the book. You have handle typesetting, proofreading, editing, layout and cover art design, distribution, sales, marketing...the whole thing.

Self-publishing is a good option if:
1. You have a "niche" book with a small, targeted market. Most roleplaying games are done via POD (print-on-demand) and self-publishing. Local histories are another example. Folks in Smalltown, TX may be fascinated with the history of their city, but not the general public. So self-publishing a book would make sense.
2. highly-specialized, technical books, like new computer program manuals, how-tos, etc, do well in self-publishing. Again, it is an item with low interest to the general population, but highly sought after in its circles.
3. Hobby books and do-it-yourself books do well with self-publishing. Again, you have a small targeted market very interested in the topic. But it isn't something of general interest to the public.
4. Personal projects not meant to make a profit: a print anthology for your writing club, a family history for your friends and relatives, a collection of grandma's poetry to give to the grandkids. Things you want bound in a "professional collection" but would never swing with a regular publisher.
5. You are actually running a small business, and not just self-publishing. The technology used for most self-publishing, print-on-demand, is also widely used by small indie presses to produce their books. Instead of having to print off 500 or a 1000 copies of a book, they can print as books are ordered. If you actually intend to launch a business (which means having the money and resources to handle all aspects of the process), then you really aren't "self-publishing". You're just sharing the technology.

But poetry, fiction, and biographies are a hard sell in self-publishing. In order to sell this type of work, you need a strong marketing base. It's difficult to get reviews for self-published books, which means it's difficult to generate press. Ads in trade magazines can be expensive, but without ads in the trade magazines libraries and booksellers won't even know the book exists.

Answer 7

Don't fire your agent next time...they know how to sell your book better than you do.