Why do some writers see traditional publishing as the only way to go these days?

Question

Is it a lack of credibility, insecurity, or just ego--which drives some writers to believe that the only way we can be taken seriously enough with their writing--we all have to traditionally publish our works?

Okay. Some of you are COMPLETELY missing the point of the question. I wasn't *asking* about self-publishing or if my books were up to par, I am simply trying to understand the base mentality of some of these writers.

Stop taking things so seriously!

Answer 1

Self Publishing is tricky. There are many scams out there and people have been burned.

Then there's your book. If you can't find buyers, what are YOU going to do with them?

Plus, self-publishers have to do ALL their own leg work and sometimes bookstores are reluctant to carry them.

Still if you are willing to work REALLY hard and have others help you, self publishing can be the way to go.

Answer 2

Well said Lorreign and others. Good choice of words - self respecting author.

No, it is because we want to actually sell our books. And self publishing will not do that for you. All self publishing buys you is a box of books (poorly printed usually) with your name on them. It is your responsibility to promote the book or it wont sell. The average sales of a self published book are less than 100 generally. Give me the name of any self published book and the ISBN and I can tell you in about 60 seconds how many copies it has sold this year using the Ingram automated number. You have to throw money after money. Even in the world of traditional publishing you can expect to invest a good part of your initial advance in promotion because no publisher is going out on the limb for a first book anymore. Self published authors have to do way more than that. Their books aren't in bookstores where people actually go to buy books.

There have been 9 self published books to make it to the best seller list. One was The Celestine Prophecy. I have forgotten which other author went around the country with a car full of his books selling them store to store. The odds of that happening are something like getting struck with lightning.

Also, self publishing doesn't make you a published author. It makes you a self published author. Anyone can self publish anything they want as long as they have the money. Content doesn't matter. No self publisher turns an author down. It is usually a last ditch effort by an author who has been rejected many times. If you told a publisher or agent you were a published author and self published a book, they would fall off their Aeron chair laughing.

Yes, let us be perfectly honest here. To be taken seriously as an author, your work should have passed the scrutiny of an agent and been accepted by a recognized publisher. The fact that you can afford the money to self publish means nothing if you wish to be considered a serious author. I could publish the St. Louis phone book through Lulu or Publish America if I wanted to. They only want your money.

It sounds to me as though you have some animosity and anger due to a stack of rejection letters. So what? Everyone does. Gone with the Wind was rejected 50 times. But Ms. Mitchell didn't self publish it instead. She kept trying. James Patterson got over 20 ... **** happens.

But yes. The only way to be taken seriously as an author is to publish traditionally. Pax - C

Answer 3

selfpublishing does not make you a published author. No self-respecting author self-publishes. If you want to make it big, you have to go through the pecking order. Don't take the lazy way out cause it ends up costing YOU money when as a writer, you should get paid to write like nurses get paid to nurse.

only about 2 selfpublished books have ever made it to the bestselling list. bookstores do not carry selfpublished books. some might order a book for a consumer if they pay up front, but that is all.

Answer 4

If your writing is of the same standard as this question, I'm not at all surprised you cannot find a real publisher. What a mess.

Answer 5

For the same reason that so many people seem to genuinely think they should earn a living, pay for their own living expenses, and "pay their own way with being a burden on others"......just plain dumb common sense, I guess...

Answer 6

Umm, maybe it is more about distribution and marketing?