MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Willing to answer questions of publishing - small press, big-six, and big-six.

gmw · 07-14-2012, 05:09 AM

Hi Michael,

Given your diverse experience, what sort of advantages do you see for new authors in traditional publishing paths (small press or big-six) over self-publishing?

I ask this particularly from my own perspective (as a new author of a contemporary fantasy novel, first of a series) still undecided about how I want to publish it. From my participation here (and related reading), I think I have a reasonable feel for the ups and downs of self-publishing. What is much less clear to me is whether the perceived advantages of traditional publishing really exist.

For example: I know that I'm not good at marketing, my hope would be that a traditional publisher would help get me past that (I understand that they still expect some effort from the author). Also, there was a time when traditional publishers used to take an author under their wing, so to speak, and assist them with a lot of back of forth improving their work, but I get the impression this doesn't happen any more; that it is now up to the author to get it right for themselves.

Any thoughts you can share in this regard?

07-14-2012, 05:09 AM	#4
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,809 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	Hi Michael, Given your diverse experience, what sort of advantages do you see for new authors in traditional publishing paths (small press or big-six) over self-publishing? I ask this particularly from my own perspective (as a new author of a contemporary fantasy novel, first of a series) still undecided about how I want to publish it. From my participation here (and related reading), I think I have a reasonable feel for the ups and downs of self-publishing. What is much less clear to me is whether the perceived advantages of traditional publishing really exist. For example: I know that I'm not good at marketing, my hope would be that a traditional publisher would help get me past that (I understand that they still expect some effort from the author). Also, there was a time when traditional publishers used to take an author under their wing, so to speak, and assist them with a lot of back of forth improving their work, but I get the impression this doesn't happen any more; that it is now up to the author to get it right for themselves. Any thoughts you can share in this regard?