tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571939125765761515.post4305039144089788634..comments2023-04-10T06:25:11.417-07:00Comments on Soul Stretching Out: Blog Chain: The Brave New World of Self-PublishingKatrina L. Lantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06871272394922775923noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571939125765761515.post-52149253647273656392011-09-07T08:30:05.001-07:002011-09-07T08:30:05.001-07:00Welcome to the chain! Great answer. I think a lo...Welcome to the chain! Great answer. I think a lot of authors are tempted to just put their work out their without getting it polished enough. I know that in the past when my work has been criticized, my first impulse was to stick my tongue out. What did they know? I'd publish it myself! But when I took the time to really think about it, I always came to the conclusion that they were right, and my work wasn't quite there yet.Shaun Hutchinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01480241164653893038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571939125765761515.post-53099324161552662702011-09-05T16:51:09.000-07:002011-09-05T16:51:09.000-07:00Great response Katrina. You hit it on the head wh...Great response Katrina. You hit it on the head when you mention how much agents do and/or know about the publishing industry. This is the one fact that makes me shiver when I think about publishing something of my own (aside from the fact that my writing is far from ready, that is). Having said that, as we both progress there may come a time when we will be ready to jump off that veritable cliff. And I wish you luck (and a good parachute) when you do.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07823808700523297184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571939125765761515.post-22368603199260832622011-08-30T08:26:56.416-07:002011-08-30T08:26:56.416-07:00It's definitely something you have to decide f...It's definitely something you have to decide for yourself and there are so many factors to consider. Like you, marketing is not my thing and that factor alone will probably keep me from considering self-publishing as a real option for a long time. :) Great post!<br /><br />Welcome to the chain!Abby Annishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05543937393055900844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571939125765761515.post-74643666566866221112011-08-27T08:27:31.309-07:002011-08-27T08:27:31.309-07:00I don't think convoluted is a strong enough te...I don't think convoluted is a strong enough term to describe my feeling on the topic :P<br /><br />Thanks for a great post, Katrina. I take your points about the good and the bad, both traditional and self-publishing have their own eternally long pro-and-con lists...for me at least.Jonathon Arntsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17366218140886892757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571939125765761515.post-79889384625952186782011-08-22T10:21:29.939-07:002011-08-22T10:21:29.939-07:00Welcome to the blog chain! Self-publishing has bec...Welcome to the blog chain! Self-publishing has become the new thing these days. Yet I believe traditional publishing will last. Plenty of changes...Michelle H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10117937124348728578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571939125765761515.post-56290720979403615052011-08-22T06:53:42.275-07:002011-08-22T06:53:42.275-07:00Yep, it is incredibly tempting. For me, the market...Yep, it is incredibly tempting. For me, the marketing aspect isn't that big of a deciding factor. Having had a book traditionally published, I know that a huge chunk of the marketing responsibility falls on my shoulders anyway. And I really like having that self-pub option open to me. But you are right - you definitely need to be educated about what you are doing and make sure you, and your book, are ready before you put anything out there :)Michelle McLeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571939125765761515.post-88989696118010402482011-08-22T06:08:52.907-07:002011-08-22T06:08:52.907-07:00Both? All of the above?
I'm self publishing ...Both? All of the above?<br /><br />I'm self publishing one series, but have another being released by a publisher. For me, how it's released depends on what I'm writing. Some genres lend themselves to self publishing more than others. As you mentioned though, the trick is to find a good editor. Without one, you're toast. <br /><br />The best thing about this weird publishing time is that we have options.The East Coasterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00079925217846916286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571939125765761515.post-58914620135075907312011-08-19T18:50:45.038-07:002011-08-19T18:50:45.038-07:00You make a great point about the temptation being ...You make a great point about the temptation being a bad thing. It's hard to stay determined, and continue improving, when you've already worked on something for years.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571939125765761515.post-89580444986218246162011-08-19T12:18:40.776-07:002011-08-19T12:18:40.776-07:00100000000% agree with you.
I've never had the...100000000% agree with you.<br /><br />I've never had the temptation to self-publish because, like you said, I fear I'm not equipped for that. Also, I tend to second guess everything I write, and publishing something without an agent or editor saying "Yes, this will totally sell!", I'd be freaking out 24/7. BUT I also know successful self-pubbed authors, and they ROCK. So yeah, it's all about personality and savvy. <br /><br />Great post!Amparo Ortizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05751368034351196820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571939125765761515.post-62750224186494709342011-08-19T08:48:09.850-07:002011-08-19T08:48:09.850-07:00I hear you on the not wanting to push books on a s...I hear you on the not wanting to push books on a street corner. I am not a salesperson at all and I just don't think I could deal with having my own sales skills being my only marketing option.Kate Karyus Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15581176126578915929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571939125765761515.post-27370492750053640522011-08-19T08:29:00.673-07:002011-08-19T08:29:00.673-07:00Welcome to the blog chain, Katrina!
There are man...Welcome to the blog chain, Katrina!<br /><br />There are many different ways to have a successful writing career, whether in self-publishing or traditional publishing. No matter which way you go, you still need to learn the ropes and figure out when your story is ready for self-publication or the submission process. Writers need to empower themselves and learn as much as they can about all aspects of the writing business.Sandra Ulbrich Almazanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15365908651235829765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571939125765761515.post-40575513909146092382011-08-19T08:09:55.753-07:002011-08-19T08:09:55.753-07:00I'm not tempted because I want an actual hard ...I'm not tempted because I want an actual hard back book I can hold in my hand. I would be tempted to sign with the wrong agent just to hold that book.Angela Cothranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09243582290698922119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571939125765761515.post-75308931184865831402011-08-19T07:30:12.587-07:002011-08-19T07:30:12.587-07:00Oh, man is it ever tempting! But just like a tradi...Oh, man is it ever tempting! But just like a traditionally published book, once you self-pub, your book represents you as a writer. I'd need a team of grammar monkeys (and a couple of publicity pandas) to make self-publishing work for me. <br /><br />Great post, Katrina!Tere Kirklandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13562750950130316280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571939125765761515.post-38273052869384887782011-08-19T06:42:47.491-07:002011-08-19T06:42:47.491-07:00Hi, Katrina! I agree with you, that being backed b...Hi, Katrina! I agree with you, that being backed by a pro editor and trad pub house, gives much more confidence to the self-promotion aspect.<br />As a self-pubber, i'd always be wondering if my work was good enough. I did self-pub a story as a special project for a teen self-esteem campaign, but did so under a pen name since it's a message book that I'm not looking to make profit on. You really have to be willing to market yourself, which I haven't been able to properly do since we're right in the middle of an epic house move.<br />But I'm still seeking trad pub and an agent for my other stories. I don't rule out self-pubbing everything in the future, and know writers who have agents who've suggested they self-pub. But for now, I'll continue my search until the time is right to say trad is no longer for me. :)PK HREZOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11650153097981426833noreply@blogger.com