I recently read a book from an author whose work I generally enjoy. I’m going to call the book I just read “Early Work” even though that’s not the real title. I was aware when I bought the book that it was one of this author’s older books–you know one from before the best-selling books that came later. Early Work was pretty bad. In fact, I doubt I would have bought another book by this author based on Early Work. After reading it I can certainly see the glimmers, the sparks, that would come out in this author’s later work. Still, I’m not sure I would have ever gotten there based on Early Work. Obviously, a publisher believed in this book enough to publish it–either that or they released it after this author’s other books really became popular. I’m not sure which is true.
I know there are a lot of writers who are either self-publishing to print-on-demand or straight to ebooks. The above scenario really got me thinking about this. I wrote a book called Visions of Justice. It was professionally edited by an editor who works with published authors–many of whom are mid-list or higher up the publishing food chain. The editor really liked it. (Of course, I did pay them to edit the whole book so it kind of reminds me of that line from Forgetting Sarah Marshall, “You probably think strippers like you too.”) Also, it was good enough to snag an agent. It didn’t, however, snag a publisher.
Part of me keeps thinking about just putting it out there as an ebook. At least that way it will get out there and people can read it. Maybe people would even like it–that would be really gratifying to experience. Still, another part of me thinks what if it just wasn’t quite good enough to get published? If that’s the case then do I really want to put it out there? I think about the scenario I described above with Early Work. If that had been the first book I read by that author I wouldn’t have given them another chance.
I think fiction self-publishing is a risky thing because of this very issue. Whether a book is “good” or “bad” is so incredibly subjective. Maybe “good” or “bad” aren’t even the right words. There are a lot of best-selling books out there that I haven’t like at all. There are other books that have gotten poor reviews that I really love. I think it’s incredibly hard for authors to be subjective about their own work. Someone tweeted recently that thinking that your book doesn’t suck any more than what’s getting published shouldn’t be the criteria by which you write or judge your writing. I agree. I also know that most published authors have anywhere from 2 to 10 books tucked away at the bottom of a drawer that were never published. I’ve heard many writers say that in retrospect they are very glad those books were not published—even though at the time they thought they were good books.
I think part of the issue is that it can take so long to break into traditional publishing that writers get frustrated. They start to think why not just put their work out there. What difference does it make?
I’m wondering what other writers think about this issue. Do you think the ease of self-publishing, especially ebooks, is a good thing? Do you think it’s okay for writers to put their early work out there for the world to see? Do you think writers risk losing long-term fans by self-publishing early work that may not be all it can be?
As you can see I don’t have any answers, just a lot of questions.
Photo Credit: Flowery *L*u*z*a*
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Mary-Francis ~ I enjoyed the excerpt from Visions of Justice that you posted for all the world to see/hear. So much, in fact, that I wanted more. Reading, as you noted, is a subjective exercise. I’m a voracious reader, but the truth is that I start more books than I actually read to completion. If an effort doesn’t grab me in the first couple of pages, I’ve no interest in continuing, as there’s so much out there yet to tackle on my to-read list.
For this reader/writer, “self-publishing” is no longer a negative that equates with “vanity press.” The taboo is gone. If a writer grabs my attention, I’m certain to buy. The world of publishing has changed, and thanks to the emergence of the Internet , my preferences are no longer directed by traditional publishing’s notion of what sells.
What do you really have to lose by self-publishing? I’d say you’ve only much to gain.