Comments on: Road to Publication, Part Two

By: Graham Wood

Graham Wood — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 14:04:35 +0000

I’d have to agree with self-publishing being sinful. I once cruelly likened it to having a robot girlfriend and going around saying “I’ve got a [robot] girlfriend, do you?” Nope, I’m single. Self-publication to me smacks of make-believe. Cheating oneself and preventing any chance of doing it “for real”. The persistance and self-belief of self-published authors is commendable in a way. I maybe wouldn’t have the guts to stand in a bookshop and accost strangers all day. But if they only put that much time and effort into a. writing something else, new, better b. reading and c. approaching agents. Then, as Mark says, they’d learn, improve. Most authors published today have unfinished, unpublished or “lesser” efforts that are crucial on the way to writing that breakthrough. The most famous self-published book to get attention and subsequent major backing was Eragon, but that’s the exception that proves the rule – it only got noticed because a successful writer’s nephew got a copy and loved it. Yes, flooding a local market with copies of your first ever book, saying “Hi there I’m an author” may get it noticed but chances are it will merely demonstate to commercial publishers that you lack the ability to write publishable material. (Not that a publisher would actually see or care about you harrassing customers and offending staff.) If it deserves to get a real publisher, why hasn’t it? What really offends me is the attitude of “Oh, it’s so hard to get published these days when i’m not a big well -known name like John Grisham with all his money.” Bullshit. Everyone starts somewhere. Successful commercial rich authors started off skint. Money pays for self-publication, ego massage and then dumping a load of copies on you,at your expense, taking the money and ripping you off. Not to mention they look cheap and bad, just on the outside. A friend of mine and fellow bookseller once said she hated the phrase “never judge a book by it’s cover” because “what else are you going to judge it by?” Write a book. Read lots of books. Write a better second book. Get people to read it and get constructive feedback. Yes it’s tough. Work hard, work smart. Putting your own money into printing shit quality copies of your first attempt at a novel then strong arming joe public and your mum’s friends into picking up a copy during your exclusive 12 hour appearance at your local Borders (sorry for the plug there but hey, publishing is business) is working hard, but not smart. It’s taken me years to finish anything I’d want to be published. I look back at my early efforts and cringe. But I learned from them.

The road to Hell is paved with self-published copies.

By: Road to Publication (Reprise)

Road to Publication (Reprise) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 08:43:47 +0000

[...] Read Part Two [...]

By: Road to Publication, Part One

Road to Publication, Part One — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:12:58 +0000

[...] ← Fairtrade Fortnight Road to Publication, Part Two [...]

By: Mark Newton

Mark Newton — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 22:03:27 +0000

Hi Rob,

Let me think: it’s late so this could be rambling and incoherent.

Yes, it’s a tricky one, isn’t it, but book publishing and music just aren’t the same industries. Generally speaking, you need to be able to connect words well to be a good writer, even an average one. From bestselling mush to arty stuff, you need a good grasp of language. I would say that people who can write well WILL be picked up by publishers at some point, that’s a fact. It might take some time, but it can happen.

Editors want to break new things as well as having a safety net. In fact, the big sellers help fund more experimental works. It’s a myth that publishing is totally about money. Readers are smart; a publisher would be a fool to keep ignoring that they want new stuff too.

Also, a great percentage of readers like to be shown what kind of book to read – be it in recommendations on TV/blurbs on the book / packaging that’s similar. They’ve read something they like, and want something that was a bit like it. That’s why genres exist.

When I worked in the book trade, we frowned a lot on self published authors. Back then, the books were poor quality and every one I saw was terribly written. It was horrible self indulgent stuff. Not always the case, I admit. It had a stigma to it.

Another thing: music is quick – to wrap up a tune, burn it to disc etc., to even gig, and note crowd reactions. Writing is slow, much slower. Great works may take generations to be realised.

What ordinary readers might not realise is the editorial input and guidance that goes into most publications. A self published author will not get that critical feedback, will not have a need to improve as a writer, will likely get no better than they are. Then they could be stuck publishing their own titles indefinitely, and not get a wide readership. I would say the aim for most writers is to be read by many people. Publishing is a business. Even experimental publishers like P.S. Publishing require high quality writers, not just anyone.

It is an interesting debate, and if it wasn’t so late I’d give a more thought-out response. Maybe if you find me at a convention bar, I’ll answer better! Mine’s a Guinness…