As you may know if you’ve been following me for a while– for months I’ve been sitting on a book, wondering how to go about publishing it. I’ve had a lot of people telling me I should e-publish for various reasons, and then I’ve also had a lot of people telling me that I shouldn’t and that doing so would be shooting myself in the foot. And so, for at least six months now, I’ve been sitting here trying to weigh the pros and cons and decide which option would be the best for me.
Then, two things happened. First, I saw this, and second, I realized that if I continue to sit around trying to decide how to publish it, it’s never going to get published. So, I’ve decided to commit to e-publishing. Here are just a few reasons for my decision:
- I Really Do Think This is the Future. I predict a future when books are akin to, say, CDs. They still make them, and people still buy them, but most people just download the mp3 and stick it right on their iPod or whatever. It’s just so convenient to have everything there in one spot, and owning a Sony Reader these past few months has made me acutely aware of how nice it is with books as well. There are other reasons for thinking this is The Future, but that will turn into a huge essay, I’m sure, so I’ll refrain from going into much detail.
- It’s What My Characters Would Do. That sounds cheesy, but it’s true. Why shouldn’t I create my book the way my book’s characters would want it to be created?
- I Learn From My Own Mistakes. If I’ve calculated wrong and e-publishing becomes the worst decision I ever made, at least it’s my fault and not the fault of a publisher or agent or bookstore or whatever. If there’s one thing I know for sure about myself, it’s that I don’t ever learn my lesson unless I’ve been through the fire and thoroughly embarrassed myself through my own actions.
- I Don’t Care About the Darn Ribbon. There’s a saying I’ve heard somewhere– I’d cite the source but I can’t remember where it was– anyways, the saying is that being traditionally published is like running in a big race, winning, and getting an official ribbon for it, whereas self-publishing or e-publishing is running a race alone and then printing out a ribbon for yourself. The connotation is that it’s silly and embarrassing and no one will take you seriously. Truthfully, though, I really don’t care about the darn ribbon. I’d rather ten people read and enjoy something I wrote than no one read it because it gets stuck at a gatekeeper somewhere. I do realize that the gatekeepers are there for a reason, and that if I keep trying and pushing and I believe in what I wrote, then it’s bound to get through the gate eventually. But how long might it take, simply because I’ve got the wrong word count or genre or something? And even then, how would a new and untested author be marketed? How much shelf space would a bookseller be willing to spend on me? Would there really be any more people who saw my book wedged between others on a shelf than wedged between others on a website? There are just too many variables.
Now, I know there are a lot of downsides. Believe me, I know, because I’ve been agonizing over this decision for months. I realize this is a risk I’m taking, a big leap of faith that requires me to be a little brave, a little hopeful, and just a little bit conceited– and that last one there is probably the hardest for me. But if I don’t try, then I’ll never know!
So, that is that. Once I do actually have the thing online, I’ll link to it pretty much everywhere, so I’m sure you’ll see it. It may not be for a few months, because I want to give the manuscript some final edits, but I’m pretty committed to all of this actually happening. We’ll see how it goes, eh?
I’m a little bummed, since I’d love to own a published copy of your work, but I’m incredibly unfond of e-readers as they currently are. But I’m glad you’ve made your decision, and I hope it works out well for you. 🙂
@ Carolyn – If there is enough demand (it wouldn’t take much, really,) I’d be very willing to look into a print-on-demand thing too. I realize the quality probably wouldn’t be the same as if it had been “really” published, but at least it’d be a book in your hands a good decade or so before I’m sure it would actually wind up being published, if I were to go that route…
Also bummed! I can’t afford an e-reader at the moment (probably because I keep buying dead trees, but also £111 is a big chunk when the 2 of you only get £200 between you for 2 weeks) and would have loved to own a printed version to finally be able to read this mythical book 😀 *nudge, nudge*
Pike, you knownI love ya. And I do applaud your decision to self publish your book. But please reconsider or if you haven’t chosen yet, consider all your options.
I’ve been very fortunate to have meet and become friends with some very and not so very authors. And all of them have self-published and made available via an electronic version of their work.
That said, the one major lesson they all have said success (meaning getting the most eyes to read their work possible) relied on making it available to the as many people as possible.
That said, please make sure the publisher you select allows for mutiple formats and distribution models for you. This way all of us who love your work will be able to enjoy your book as well.
Good luck luv! May your inkwell be forever full and your quill always sharp.
@Carolyn @Jaedia It’s worth noting that, while it may not be comfortable for you to read on a computer, Amazon has Kindle reader software that works on Windows, OSX and several smartphone OSes, allowing you to access the whole Kindle store catalog and read anything it offers, as well as anything else you get ahold of that’s in a .MOBI file. So, you can probably still read Pike’s work if she goes this route, without shelling out for an e-reader device.
Kindle Reading Apps at Amazon
@ Brigwyn – I’ve been looking into Smashwords, which puts the book on every major online publisher out there (bar Amazon) for you. If I were to go that route, I’d do that, plus do Amazon myself. This will ensure that everyone with an e-reader or other similar device can get whichever format they want. Still, nothing is set in stone yet– I want to do this the best possible way I can, so I’m still rooting around for the best way to do it.
@ Ithato – thanks for the tip!
@Pike Then luv you’re way ahead of the curve! I can’t wait to read it and review it! 🙂
I definitely support your decision and can’t wait to read your book. 🙂
The environment of traditional publishing has been changing, some literary agents are less author advocates than they used to be, contracts are getting more dangerous for authors, and publishing houses still have no idea how to deal with ebook sales. It’s all sorts of a mess. It can be rewarding for some, but if you more just want your book out there and read, then I think it’s an excellent idea.
Good luck! Hopefully editing goes smoothly.
Wooo! Like Ithato said, you don’t have to buy the e-reader devices, you can download the software app, for free, to your computer. I use it a lot and can’t wait to add your book to my collection.
I actually like that you’ve gone down this route. I love books, I love the smell and the feel of paper, but, not only is it nice to know that I can save a tree, I’ve run out of places to put my books. So, Kudos and good luck!
@Ithato @cyberbat I appreciate your suggestions, but it’s not thrift that keeps me away from the e-format – it’s that the little joys I love in books (the smell of the paper, the turn of the page, the thick bundle of paper in my hands) are non-transferrable. I already have an entire library of e-books that I downloaded back when they were just starting to go mainstream…and I haven’t read a single one of them. I owe more to Pike than letting her story sit unread, untouched, unlent on a virtual shelf.
I have several different thoughts on this e-publishing business, more than I could have expressed in that brief Twitter message I sent you the other day, but since you’re serious about this, I’ll go ahead and post more extensively about it. (To clarify, in this context by e-pubbing I mean independant publishing.)
Pros
1) E-pubbing doesn’t require you to have a publisher. You can do it all yourself on your own terms.
2) Royalty rates are extremely favorable.
3) You can start earning and putting your book in your audience’s hands within a few days rather than a year or more (typical lead time for traditional publishing after they buy your book).
Cons
1) Difficult market penetration. How are people going to find you? Each book in stock at a brick & mortar store is not just a product, it’s an advertisement to let readers know that author has something to buy. Traditional publishing gets you on distribution lists so any bookstore can order your stuff. E-pubbing does not. If you want to be sold at Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords you will have to format your work separately for each of them. There is no standard.
2) Time. Time you spend formatting your book, copy-editing your book, promoting your book, etc. is time you could be writing something new. If you’re primarily interested in having something for your friends to read, then this isn’t a problem, but if you want to look at this as a business venture, then that’s something to consider.
3) Book runs the risk of looking amateurish. It might not be a con if you do it right, but do pay good attention to your cover. Readers can tell almost immediately if a book doesn’t look “right” and was probably done independantly. It hurts, but a good cover makes a good first impression, especially when you’re not a name author where people are actually looking for you. I’m releasing one of my novelettes as an e-book in the near future and I’m paying an artist to do the cover to make sure it’s done right.
Also, just because you’re e-pubbing doesn’t mean you can’t get a print version available for friends and family! Createspace on Amazon will allow you to sell print on demand versions of your work as well.
@Ithato I know, I can’t read large amounts of text on screens. Not sure why it just makes my eyes go funny, tis why I waited this long to even want an e-reader and even that was only because I heard how awesome the Kindle is 😮
I’m very excited to finally read your novel. It’s a huge gamble either way. If you try this method and it doesn’t work out – well at least your friends and fans get to read it.
I was originally in the prefers-physical-books camp until my husband got a Kindle. The idea of carrying around hundreds of books in a single device was just too alluring, especially given that I tend to read epic fantasies which weigh a ton. The screen doesn’t even hurt my eyes as I feared. It really is “the future”.
I’m proud that you’ve made a decision. I’m sure you’ll hear plenty of people still trying to talk you out of it, but I’m thrilled at the opportunity to help promote it when it comes out.
I know someone that is using Smashwords to e-publish and she loves them, absolutely loves them. I have another two friends that have published both in anthologies and now stand-alone e-books and they actually have preferred the process for e-books. If you market carefully to your niche, you could be very successful.
Best of luck, Pike!
Good luck! This sounds like a large decision for you. But it sounds like there are definitely a lot of positives, and, as you say, you can and will climb any hurdles that might come when you get there.
I don’t know the whole ins and outs of it all, but my thought is… if a publisher is interested enough in you at some point in the future to complain about the e-publishing, then hey, awesome, there’s a publisher interested in you!
To me this is actually good news as part of my committment to reducing my personal space by disposing of uneeded material possessions and the like was to stop buying real books. I don’t have an e-reader, I’m quite happy reading books on a laptop and I’m well on my way to being able to pack everything I need to survive into a backpack and everything I own into a (very) small car. I’ll really look forward to being able to add your book to my datastore and finally get to read it!
I had to comment on this as both sides of this argument are extremely valid. My point of view on it, for what it is worth, is that you should totally go for e-publishing! If for no other reason than you have enough fans that are really excited to read your work, and future works for that matter. The only down side I see is the fact that I won’t have the actual copy of it in my hands, I really enjoy a physical book to read, the more hardcover the better! That of course doesn’t take into account of the real life situation of the author or the difficulty of actually getting published, so it isn’t as valid a point in my mind. I just have to finish with Good Luck Pike, you will succeed in this endeavor.
I fully support your epublish idea. While it is becoming a crowded space, it also means you can carve out your niche and find your own audience. I have already seen this happen in the music world with self publishing. I see no reason why authors cant do this as well. As far as getting the word out, I’m sure you know a few related podcasters who would be cool with mentioning your book. As for cover art, I don’t really pay that much attention to cover art when it comes to ebooks. Its more about reading the description and customer reviews.
Are you a little conceited? Yes, but you have to be to convince yourself that your matarial is worth exposing to the public. In this case, you have to feel it is worth it to risk the trouble. Being a little conceited as a good thing. How else would anyone decide their work is worth is someone’s attention?
THe Kindle and other devices will become cheaper to the point that it will be impractical to buy actual paper books over an ereader. Also, I love my Kindle for various reasons. Besides being able to store about half a library of books, reading on the Kindle gives me more privacy (no one else can see what I am reading) and I like little touches like instant word lookup. Only die hard book lovers will by physical books just like there are a small but devoted group that still buys records. This is coming from somone who spent most of his free time as a teenager reading instead of socializing.
The short version: You are awesome Pike! I know you will do well. Just don’t doubt yourself.
Oh yeah, One last thing. As far as the ribbon connatation you mentioned, that link about Kindle books outselling all of Amazon’s physical books combined tells you that idea is going away.