The life of a writer is mostly “torture.” I have deep respect and compassion for people who write despite bleakness.

James

Note from the Wicked Witch of Publishing(TM): James lives in Philadelphia. In this book, Tom and his coauthor document the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of forty men and women including themselves who–after years of working for companies–decided to start and run businesses on their own.

The problem with a $5,000 advance is that the publishing house has a lottery ticket. There is no incentive for them to market the book or spend the money needed to get it meaningful exposure in the chain stores. If it sells, they win. If it doesn’t, very little is lost. Authors need to recognize this.

I think that POD is similar to what is happening in the music business. And while successful artists have been VERY successful “self-publishing” their music (Radiohead being the best example), other artists are now working to find ways to use non-traditional avenues of distribution for their works. The web is a fantastic ally in these efforts.

Like any entrepreneur, the trick is to put in the work to create a great product and to work your tail off getting that fine work expsosure.

BTW, as a frequent traveler, I can tell you that Lynne’s book is fabulous. You’ll find it in the seat pocket in front of me every trip!

The trick is to recognize where you fall on the spectrum, based on your resources and what you hope to accomplish with your book(s).

Even with no publication record and no connections in the publishing industry, I got representation from a top literary agent, who sold my debut novel to a major US publisher for six figures, as well as to nine major foreign publishers (to date). I’m presently finishing my third contracted novel, and my fourth is under contract as well. It can be done.

As Peter says, most self-published/POD books are “the slush pile.” Most authors who choose that route are the ones whose work isn’t ready, or simply isn’t good, yet their eagerness to be published and the often-misleading lore of self-pubbed successes persuades them to waste their time and money trying to be the next big success.

Traditional publishing has its problems, sure, but it remains the most viable route to professional success for writers who want to have a career as *writers,* rather than one-man-band book producers/distributors/marketers/sellers.

Note from the Wicked Witch of Publishing(TM): I’ll bet you submitted a fabulous query package ultimately to the “right” agent AND had a great manuscript to boot. That six-figure advance ensured that you would get decent marketing, too. You found the right agent and a smart agent. Yes, it can be done. [Therese’s novels are published internationally in nine languages and more than twenty-eight countries, to date.] (Photo: Elena Seibert)

You essentially confirmed my argument. Without a significant investment in editing, design and marketing, a self-published book is an exercise in failure. Even with those investments, most self-published books will fail.

You can print a book with POD or even skip that step and publish an ebook, but getting people to notice it and buy it is anoher matter entirely.

You may scoff at a $5,000 advance, but advances in he 5-10K range are very typical for first time authors.

Most writers don’t have the money or expertise to duplicate the effors of a major trade publisher or even a reputable small press.

Furthermore, most self-pubished books aren’t worth publishing. They’re the slush pile. I’ve read enough samples of self-published books to know that. I’ve actually purchased two nonfiction books published by iUniverse and Xlibris, Hooray for Holly-what? and The Next James Dean. The first cost $20 for a less than 100 page paperback. It was basically an expanded magazine article. The second book has some virtues but needed a tough editor.

Few writers are experienced publishing insiders such as yourself. You have also republished a book that already proved its success. To extrapolate from your case and suggest that this is possible for most writers is specious reasoning.

It is a sad state of affairs; but the problems here could very well be said to be related across the whole economic platform. That the progression of business culture of the 60s and 70s has been grind to a halt because of the perpetuation of the culture that seeks to retain their own personal power in the publishing world- rather than promote the creation of new writers and even newer works meant for a new day and age.

It is true that getting your work published is damned hard; it is easier to get to near space or win the lottery, than to have your work published, let alone read by people who are supposedly there to support the industry. And what of the thirsty reader?

Books were a cutting edge forum over four hundred years ago, and now they are the behemoth on the back of the floundering swimmer (independent writers). There will always been good and bad to both arguments, and the debate focused on POD will not be any different. But the fact is, that this mode offers a technological opportunity to those true and hidden authors who can not get past the lobbies of the palaces of modern and greedy publishing.

Benjamin Franklin, even in his youth took it upon himself to self publish, and this is the way it should be. POD can help new and old authors continue to grow in an age where the status quo is focused on those most obvious money makers. “People tend not to change an established behavior unless the incentive to change is compelling.” In this debate, we can now say that people are seeing the light, and hopefully we will be ushering a new age of publishing, that to the empowerment of authors who live to write, will have avenues to self publish in the grand tradition trail blazed by the likes of Silence Dogood.

Note from The Wicked Witch of Publishing(TM): At last, someone who “gets it.”

The average self-published book sells somewhere between 50-150 copies, depending on the sources I’ve consulted. Most of those copies are purchased by the author. I recently looked at self-publishing advocate Angela Hoy’s list of the POD services and their set-up fees. Even the cheapest costs about $500.

It is close to impossible to get a self-published book reviewed or shelved in brick and mortar stores.

It may be possible for an excepional salesman with a niche nonfiction book to succeed through selling their book at seminars or conferences. Most people, writers included, have neither the platform, expertise or resources to do this.

It is dishonest to promote self-publishing by contrasting it to the worst case scenario for traditional publishing, especially the old saw about how no first time writer can’t get an agent, how you don’t end up with any money after the agent and publisher take their share, etc. Not mentioned is the fact that you get an advance of at least about $5,000 (and perhaps more) and the publisher does the heavy lifting of design, typesetting, and printing. Finally your book will be distributed to bookstores and has a chance at being reviewed and noticed.

Self-publishing is not a worthwhile alternative for most writers. It’s an expensive treadmill to oblivion and by suggesting otherwise, this article is a cruel deception.

Note from The Wicked Witch of Publishing (TM): Peter, I scoff at a $5000 advance. Traditional publishers scoff at a $5000 advance. A paltry $5000 advance is an indication that no one has much faith in your book. Self-publishing is often the ONLY alternative for most people, some of whom are actually “writers and authors,” most of whom are deluding themselves. (I drive a car; ergo, I am a race car driver.) Those people are wasting their time and their money if they think they will hit the bestseller lists or even get a decent ROI, but, hey that’s their prerogative. POD books make great holiday gifts (seriously) for family and friends, and maybe even, colleagues. For a writer who knows what he or she is doing and/or has the wherewithal ($) to hire people with the requisite skills to package a book, POD can and does work. Check out my new testimonials. I didn’t waste even one promo copy to get them. I’ve been marketing nonstop for months. That’s what it takes whether you POD or you have a traditional publishing company doing the “heavy lifting” up to the point of marketing (which is where they invariably drop the ball.) No time to market? No marketing skills? No money to hire anyone to market for you? Peter, you are right: resign yourself to ordering your 150 copies and accept reality.

Good job, Lynne! Congratulations, I guess POD isn’t such a bad word after all

I have been a book reviewer for the past 5 or so years. The kinds of bilge that is printed out these days is so very depressing. I jump with joy when I find a book that is truly worth reading and placing carefully on the book shelf to be enjoyed again next year or the year after. Some of them I cannot get past the 1/2 way mark and since I must review it, I skip to the last couple of pages. What astounds me are these authors which have 20 or more published works in bookstores, yet the editing is atrocious, the research is apalling, the storyline has holes, and the characters should go on strike for lack of development. Why?

Has the publishing world become so complacent? Has our language deteriorated to the point that we don’t use real words any more? Does the blame belong to the editors or the agent or the acquisitions person who believed the agent who gets paid for selling the piece? Or does the blame rightfully belong to the readers and buyers who believe the blurbs on the back cover and buy the things, get disappointed when they read them and do nothing about letting the acquisitions editor and/or publisher know they were disappointed?

Please forgive me, Lynne, for going off on this rant. I am very delighted for you!

Note from The Wicked Witch of Publishing (TM): Isn’t it the truth, Gina? There’s such dreck out there being self-published and traditionally published. One of the reasons I like my Kindle is that I can download a sample of the book before purchase. I reject about 25% of the sample downloads. [Gina is a grant writer, author and graphic designer located in Picayune, Mississippi.]

The word ‘DUH’ comes to mind.