Guest blogger Ben Drake wonders if self-publishing is delusional.
So I have been told. Some people believe that if your story isn’t good enough for a proper publisher then it should not be a book. I might agree, if the publishing system was a bit more fair, but I feel many stories are not taken on because the publishing firm can only take a few out of tens of thousands.
Luck isn’t the most dominant factor, but it has to play some part. Outside the quality of the story, I believe that there are other factors that help decide its fate as well. I would never suggest any back door deals go on. Can you imagine the pressure to produce that publishing firms are under? In my opinion, the reason publishers don’t like to take on self-published novels is because they have already been released to the public. That equals loss of sales.
But how is the author of a good story that is not taken on by a publisher supposed to find readers? I have read many self-published novels by different authors. I believe some of these are better than a lot of the crap that is in the book store. It makes me mad, I might even say resentful. Self publishing would seem to be the way to go if you have tried publishers, had no luck, and still want to be heard. In some cases, it may be your only option.
If you are a true writer then you will always write.
I can not agree more Dixon. I am new to your blog, from a friend who was one of your guest bloggers recently. I love to write and have done so for years and learned through trial and error that you can indeed self publish and still reap no rewards. I have a novel on Amazon I self published, I thought the story was solid its not for the faint hearted and I have sold maybe 5 copies as ebooks. Does it disuade me from writing. Not at all I love to write and while I have a story to tell I will write. I have a few stories at editors and the like and I hope one day to be a household name. Not likely but it would be nice to see a copy on a shelf that is mine and not others. I love your blog and keep writing mate, I know I will.
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