Comments on: When self-publishing can work

By: RfP

RfP — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 08:04:00 +0000

“Non-fiction has it a bit easier. … although you yourself do not have a platform, your subject already does.”

True. Isn’t that part of why so many fiction authors have bios that correspond closely to the storyline? “Mavis Insecta, author of The Bee and I: A Love Story, was an apprentice beekeeper in college and is married to the love of her life.” None of that need be mentioned. Including it is in part an attempt to give the author a nonfictional platform.

By: Declan Stanley

Declan Stanley — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:28:00 +0000

I always think it’s so unfair (Because life is so fair) that if you’re an independent band, or film maker, or artist you are expressing yourself without the corporate suits telling you what to say, but if you are an independent (self-published) author it is because you’re not good enough to get signed by a “real” publisher.
A quick search on YouTube will show that there are as many bad musicians and “film makers” out there as there are bad authors.
As for selling out I’d be more than happy to sell out, for the right price

By: laughingwolf

laughingwolf — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:33:00 +0000

good stuff sells well, and the best help is from happy readers/users who tell their friends of their ‘finds’

By: December/Stacia

December/Stacia — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:15:00 +0000

Lol, Bernard, exactly! That’s exactly what it’s like. I see self-pubbed authors all the time, joining online forums just to post about their book, or thinking of ridiculous ways to promote their books; it’s really sad.

Right, LW! Good point. That’s another good idea for self-pub. My BFF bought a self-pubbed book on potty training and it was pretty helpful; the woman who wrote it seems to be doing great business with it, especially as when you buy the book you get free consultations with her by email, anytime.

By: laughingwolf

laughingwolf — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:01:00 +0000

exactly so, dee… how-to books also work in the self-pub area

By: BernardL

BernardL — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:29:00 +0000

Unless a person has a secret desire to be a carnival barker, self-publishing is not the way to go. As you point out, either keep submitting, or write another one they’ll accept. No comment on punk rock.

By: December/Stacia

December/Stacia — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:27:00 +0000

See, I want to agree, but I just…can’t. Even though I know I should. It’s the memory of that Cobain person and his stupid “Corporate magazines still suck” t-shirt on the cover of Rolling Stone, like he was somehow above all the pandering and ass-kissing he was doing.

But I do consider publishing to be a different story. It’s simply not possible to make a living self-publishing fiction (hell, it’s extremely difficult to make a decent living writing fiction for the big houses), whereas a top indie band can make a quite comfortable living without going corporate.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:20:00 +0000

"SELL OUT! SELL OUT!"

Some of the greatest ever have been accused of "selling out" -The Clash, Metallica, Van Halen (o.k. Van Halen really did). I think it was James Hetfield (Metallica) who answered the accusation best, “Yeah, we sold out: every show, every night, every building”.

You do what you do but be true to you. -V95