Publishing - self or traditional?

I tend to agree with the lady from S & S. But...publishing has changed out of all recognition in the last five years or so and the big boys have only recently realised it. Who knows what'll happen next?

I self-pubbed my first novel, fed-up of rejections. The second was picked up by a publisher, ostensibly on an 'ebook first then we'll see...' deal. Granted, I could have done that myself - I already have, once, and I told them so. But what I also said attracted me, and what I don't have, is their inside access to the industry. It was still a risk, though, on my part.

So - on Saturday I had an email saying, 'we've been showing your book around and had a lot of interest within the trade.'

It's early days yet. But just because you may not be offered an old-fashioned print contract with large royalty advance don't give up hope on 'conventional' publishing. There's more than one way to skin a cat ;)

I believe that all want-to-be authors should exhaust the traditional route to publishng before they consideri self-publishing.

Print-on-demand and paperback contracts based on a number of ebook sales are a rip off in my opinion. The publisher who offers those types of contract takes no risk. They do not invest any money in the promotion of a novel, but stand to gain if the novel is successful. Why let them earn money for doing nothing?

Beware requests for money. Any contract that requires the author to pay money up front is just another form of vanity publishing and should be avoided.

Good agents and publishers have their reputations to think of. They will see the potential in a fine novel. The agent will secure a good deal and the publisher will do what they can, to promote and maximises the earning potential of the novel.

It would also help the evolution in the publishing industry, if want-to-be authors exercised some restraint after completing their manuscripts. It is vital they exercise caution, instead of rushing off to get published and signing-up to any, or the first contract deal on offer. I believe many are doing this and will rue their impatience. They will be mortified to realise all their dedicated efforts have been wasted, when their dream fails to materialise. For many it will be a crushing blow and deter them from writing again.

I am talking about the serious and career minded author, not the author who writes for fun.

Kindle has a magnetic attraction for want-to-be authors who fail to attract an agent or publisher. Rejection is hard for many to deal with. Many want-to-be authors, myself included, believe their novels are good enough to secure themselves a living as a writer. That may or may not be true, but authors should seek professional literary advice about their manuscript before they consider traditional or self-publishing. Unfortunately not all have the financial resources to use a professional service or private literary editor.

Established authors can vastly increase their earning potential through eBook sales, by selling the backlog of their novels for pennies. They are the main beneficiaries of self-publishing and eBook sales.

What will mostly be left in the 'eBook Abyss', is a slush pile of bad quality novels that a Black-Hole would struggle to swallow. But somewhere in this dimension of want-to-be writers broken dreams, there will be some unpolished diamonds. How are these rare gems to be discovered, marketed and advertised?

Be warned. Research agents and publishers. If you are offered a publishing contract do not rush to sign it before you know what you are letting yourself in for.

Heed the words of P T Barnum - 'There's a sucker born every minute.'