Is it vanity to self-publish?
Written by Free Audio Books - Free audiobooks on February 8, 2010 – 6:05 am -Is paying to see your work in print always vanity? I don’t think so. That’s self-publishing, albeit still based upon a degree of vanity or at least self-belief. But surely that’s a business model, a standard template for ambition? The conviction that what you’ve got is good enough to release into the wild and stands a reasonable chance of selling is at the heart of launching any new product. Guardian
Tags: vanity publishing
Posted in Publishing, authors | 5 Comments »
By Edia on Feb 8, 2010 | Reply
No,of course not. The word, “vanity” has a basically negative connotation,however,so it is time to invent a new word for this publishing act. I think that inside the “yucky flavored” outside of vanity publishing, there is a delicious heart. Vanity publishing is the ancestor of on-demand publishing. It has helped to push an old business idea into newer, more democratic models. Like the proverbial “old wine” in new bottles, publishing as it used to be has to make its way out and go the way of the Franklin press. Publishing has changed. Writers have to change how they think about publishing. In reality, writers have a ground floor opportunity to seize a new found liberty and remake publishing.
By Maralyn D Hill on Feb 8, 2010 | Reply
What many fail to realize is that many successful authors are independently published–Dan Poynter, Brian Judd, just a start.
Are there a lot of poorly written books, yes. But, more and more authors are discovering the importance of having their work edited and formatted correctly.
With only 6 major publishers left, the independent publishing is an answer.
I agree that one certainly feels great to see their book in print, however, it can also be profitable.
Maralyn D. Hill
2009 Indie Finalist, “Success, Your Path to a Successful Book.”
By Bob Lamb on Feb 8, 2010 | Reply
Songwriters and other musical composers think nothing of pushing their own creations. Ditto for independent movie-makers. Same for singers. In fact, peddling one’s own wares seems to be okay in every activity, both creative and non-creative, except (for some) in book publishing. I’ve not self-published, but I see nothing wrong with it. Countless literary classics were self-published, and many a best-seller began as a self-published work.
By sharon hobbs on Feb 10, 2010 | Reply
Marilyn,
I have recently finished my first Novel, I would like to have it edited and formatted,any recommendations as to who would do that?
I have also been looking into self publishing, but haven’t figured it out. Any recommendations there? Who would be the best to self publish a fiction YA Genre?
I’m all new to this industry and need some help! Please!
Thanks,.
Sharon
By Amy Lou Jenkins on Feb 12, 2010 | Reply
No matter where we publish, their is a certain amount of vanity in wanting our words to widely read. My book Every Natural Fact: Five Seasons of Open-Air Parenting will be released by a small literary press this May. I can’t shly hide away and hope someone buys it.
It does feel uncomfortable at times to be name dropping my book, talking about my blurbs, writing bylined article, and setting up readings. If you self publish or not–you still self promote. This all requires a certian amount of vanity, because we want the public to think well of our work which is an extention of who we are.