EditorEve.com

"F--- those New York publishers. Publish it yourself. I'll chip in. Just get it out there, get it reviewed, get it in libraries. Let the public decide."

-- Jack to Miles in Sideways (Alexander Payne, 2004)

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! What's the matter with you, man? SHUT UP!"

--Miles to Jack, a moment later

Happy first day of summer--or winter, to my Southern Hemisphere friends! I've been especially busy the last few weeks, so I beg your forgiveness for the long silence. So, without further ado...

You're considering self-publishing.

Pros:

• Complete control of every single word (including errors)
• Full control of marketing (as you're the only person responsible for its sale)
• Good if you want a single copy

Cons:

• Can be expensive
• There's a lack of respect from legitimate publishing professionals and many readers.
• It's hard to get your books into stores
• Scams aimed at people desperate to get their names into print abound

First, ask yourself why you want to do this.

• You haven't had luck with traditional agents and publishers but want to get your book out anyway?
• You want to see your name in print?
• You want to tell your story or get the word out on a particular subject?
• You need extra income?

Let's go over these, point by point.

You haven't had luck with traditional agents and publishers but want to get your book out anyway. That's fine if your book fits such a small niche no one will take it on. If you indeed have such a small audience and have no intention of making a profit, this may be not only your best option but your only one. But if your book is something along the lines of Wit and Wisdom of Grandma Clara or Tiger Pride: 50 Years of Central High School Basketball or The Springfield Ladies' Club Cookbook, go ahead and do it yourself, whether through a legitimate self-publisher (more on that soon) or with the help of your local copy shop. You have my blessing.

You want to see your name in print. Trust me, the thrill wears off easily, and self-publishing may or may not satisfy your need. I recommend trying your hand with local newspapers or magazines or, if you're extra confident and have an academic bent, university literary journals. Not only will publication give you the satisfaction of seeing your name somewhere else than on a bill or a piece of junk mail, it can also boost your reputation and self-confidence.

You want to tell your story or get the word out on a particular subject. Were you Angelina Jolie's personal assistant for three weeks and now you're dying to tell all since she forgot to have you sign a confidentiality agreement? Did you escape Hurricane Katrina with only an album of family photos and an heirloom clock with a mysterious background? Have you found a cure for the common migraine? Come on down! Again, these topics may not have much interest beyond small circles. (Well, maybe the migraine one will, but unless you're a doctor you probably won't get much mileage out of your treatment.) Give it a try, but always ask yourself the real reasons behind your desire to publish.

You need extra income. Ben Franklin self-published--literally!--and there are tales of John Grisham selling self-published early efforts out of his trunk, but if you're looking to get rich writing, you might have better luck playing the lottery. If you're writing, do it because you love it and not because you want to be rich. That's what my high school journalism teacher told me and it still holds true. (In case you're wondering, more than two decades later she's still a teacher. She does it because she loves to teach.)

Self-publishing can be expensive--and not just because writers fall prey to scams. Printing--even with current "on-demand" technology--costs money, and you may or may not ever recoup your expenditure. And yes, even with traditional publishing, not every copy of the first or even the twentieth printing goes sold. (Ever see those tables at the bookstore with a sign that says "Limited Quantities!" or "Book Bargains!" and a black line smudged across the bottom? Those are remainder tables--a place where even good books go to die. On the other hand, I've made some marvelous discoveries on remainder tables.)

And, are you strong enough to deal with being rejected or even ignored by reviewers, even from your local paper? (I recall a writeup of a local author's self-published historical novel with the headline, "HAM-O-RAMA," even though the book had nothing to do with pigs, meatpacking or lunch. It was clear that the author had pestered the reviewer into reading it, and she was not impressed.)

So, are you still up for this? Next time--and it won't be as long as last time, I promise--I'll show you the way to legitimate self-publication that won't involve you losing your self-esteem. And, if you still want to go the traditional route--fame and fortune optional--I'll definitely examine that in the future.

Labels: Free advice