A strange thing happened two weeks ago when I set out to query agents for my completed full length historical romance novel. I’d no sooner sent out seven query letters – this first batch went out to dream agents whose attention I imagine will be very difficult to snag, but I figured it was worth trying – than I abruptly realized I wasn’t sure if I still wanted to jump though all the hoops involved when one pursues traditional publication. You know those hoops: query widely to find an agent, edit your novel (again!) based on feedback from that agent, wait while your agent tries to generate interest in your work from a traditional publisher, sell!, then wait months for the book to be released after yet more edits. That whole process would take at least a year for a first time novelist, and more likely closer to two years.
When I wrote this novel, I always imagined I’d try to sell it to New York. I’m very happy to send novellas and short novels to digital-first publishers, but I always thought I would send my full length novels to New York. My ultimate dream was to be published though Avon. But now that the book is finished, I’m no longer sure I want to pursue that traditional path. I’ve heard too many stories about midlist authors who don’t make money beyond their very small advance. On top of that, I’m not sure I have the patience to wait months and months to learn whether my latest work has sold. I’ll also be honest and admit that I want to write the books that interest me, and not the books that my agent or editor think will sell.
Not too long ago I wouldn’t have had any choice in the matter – not if I wanted to get my book out there for others to read. The publishing landscape has changed so much in recent years, though, and now it’s much easier to self-publish your work and make it available to others. I have to admit I’m leaning quite strongly in this direction.
I’m a firm believer in putting out a professional product and if I decide to go ahead and self-publish this novel (the first in a three-book series) I intend to commission a professional cover and have my work edited by a freelance editor. I came into a modest inheritance recently that would cover most of the costs of self publishing this novel and I can’t help but think that perhaps receiving this inheritance was a sign from the universe telling me to pursue this path. I have very realistic expectations, and by no means do I think self publishing is a quick road to riches, but then again, neither is traditional publishing.
So here I sit, at a fork in the road. Will I pursue traditional publication or will I decide to strike out on my own and self-publish? I’m going to go ahead and start working on the second book in the series while I decide. If I do publish on my own, I’ve decided that I won’t be releasing the first book until the first draft of the second book is done, so I have plenty of time to decide.
I think you should go with your gut and your heart–but don’t forget your brain!
Very wise words, Evangeline.
That’s why I’m giving myself some time to think about it instead of just jumping right in.
Suzanna,
I agree with Evangeline. You can fine tune that fork in the road as you go. Good luck!
-Jillian
Very true. There are so many more options for writers now. Thanks for stopping by and for the luck!
Self-publishing for me, at least for now. It’s raising the money to put out the best product I can that’s hard. Like you, I’m not willing to publish until the MS has been professionally edited. Then there are the formatting and cover costs. Quite $$$
Yes, that initial outlay of money can be hard for many people, especially when there really is no guarantee you’ll make the money back. I do think it’s worth it, though, to put out the best quality product we can. Good luck to you!
Yup, I’m another one who took a screeching halt at the fork in the road and realized traditional NY was no longer for me. If an agent or editor were to come my way, I might reconsider, but I won’t be pursuing it with the same obsession as before. I’ve heard both good and bad about self publishing, some do well… others (even established NY authors) do horrible. But I look at it like this, my family does not depend on my writing for income. I make no money off of my writing now, so what’s the difference? I commissioned beautiful covers, but I was also frugal with it. I’ve kept my costs well below a hundred per book and if I can just break even, I’ll consider it a success.
But like you I won’t upload any books until I have a back list in place already. From what I’ve read it’s the authors with several books out that tend to do better. Either way you ultimately decide to go, good luck with this! It’s a huge decision and definitely not one made lightly.
I do admit the only thing that’s keeping me back from committing to self publishing 100% is that I still haven’t heard back from two agents, and one of those agents is one I’d have a very hard time turning down. She’s my number one dream agent. I’m half hoping she’ll reject me, though, so I can commit all the way to this path.
I really like how you’re handling your self-publishing journey, Linda, and find your enthusiasm infectious.
I think it’s great you’re considering self=publishing, but…
I think you need to really sit down and consider WHY you’re leaning toward it.
I made the decision to go entirely independent (self=publishing) for many reasons. I wanted absolute and complete control over my own work, from the words, to the cover, the description and the marketing/promoting of it. I knew I was takling a huge mountain by doing it this way, but felt ready to do so. I researched every avenue, every publisher out there I could find, from the “Big 6″ to the littlest independent publishers.
In some part, yes, getting the “lion’s share” of my royalties is appealing to me, but it’s not one of the reasons I decided to self publish. I knew that I wanted to publish work that isn’t “Mainstream” (Lesbian Erotic Romance, Lesbian Erotica, Non-Fiction, Memoirs.) These are hard sells. I realized that I don’t work well under the stress of “time constraints” that publishing houses give. I need to be able to write when I feel well enough. (I stay ill quite often.) I can’t write every day, even if I wanted to. I write in spurts. I may sit down to write tomorrow and write about 5,000 words, and not write for another month, then write about 30,000 words in one sitting. [Yes, I've done this more than once.]
Questions to ask yourself if considering self-publishing.
1. Am I ready for the loneliness of doing this without a publisher to help, to tell me job well done? An editor to say, this needs some work, a cover artist to do the cover…and I can just write?
2. Am I prepared to do the marketing and promotion necessary, not just AFTER I publish the book, but BEFORE. Am I willing to set aside my writing time on my books, to do tweets, Facebook posts, blog posts, media kits, etc?
3. Am I prepared to spend the money necessary to publish this book? To pay for quality editing, cover design, etc? (You already answered yes to this, just one of the questions I ask others to think about)
4. Do I work well on my own? Do I have what it takes to be self-motivated and to write even when I don’t feel like it? (Not due to illness, but just, I don’t want to type of don’t feel like writing.)
5. Do I have a support group of friends, writers, fellow authors to turn to if I need some hand holding, some encouragement, some kudos, etc? Do I have the support of my family to do this? Does it matter to me if I do or not?
Okay, so those are some questions I suggest to people considering self=publishing. You’re the only one who knows the answers.
Now, YEAH you! If you do, I wish you the very best. You’re always welcome to drop by at my blog to do promo, guest posts, etc. I’ll help ya get the word out any way I can.
Now, go get ‘em, TIGER!
Thanks for stopping by, Angel. You raise some very good points, and I agree that the self-publishing route is not an easy one. Not if you’re serious about making it a career and putting out a quality project. I hope that people reading this post take the time to read the comments, because these are all questions one needs to ask themselves before going this route.
And thank you so much for your support! It means the world to me.
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I’ve been called a “hybrid” writer because currently I am working productively in both the traditionally-published field and as well through an e-book publisher – however, I am about to step into the realm of digital self-publishing in a fairly big way.
It is a very exciting prospect and at the same time very nerve-wracking. Am I doing the right thing? I dunno – but I know of only one way to find out.
The way I see it the publishing world is undergoing a revolution of tsunamic-proportions and if I want to keep up with it I need to be out there, riding that wave.
Or at least that’s the plan. It might work for me, or it might not. Some folks are selling e-books by the bushel-load and making buckets of money at it. Others are just scraping by. Milage will vary.
So – do I think that you, Suzanne, should follow the self-publishing route?
The only way for you to know for sure is to jump on in and try it. What works for one writer might not work for another.
Still, I’ll leave you with this one bit of encouragement. Just this morning over at the Mobile-Read forum – (where I tripped over your blog link) – I read one thread entry from a reader who spoke of the “hassle” of reading a traditionally published paperback as opposed to the “convenience” of reading an e-book.
There is a whole new generation of e-reading customers out there just waiting for your next release. Go get their money, girl!
I’m right there with you, Steve. This is such an exciting time for authors. There are so many options now open to us
Good luck with your foray into self-publishing!
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