Quote:
Originally Posted by Lemurion
I want my books released by a company that's looking for money from someone other than me.
I've noticed people saying that one advantage of self-publishing is that they can get the book out immediately, without the normal 12-18 month delay; and then start work on the next book. That's how commercial publishing works too, you finish one book and start the other. The differences are that you've been paid for the book long before it gets into the bookstore, and that you can devote your time to writing because the publisher is doing the work of making sure your books are available for sale.
As a rule, self-published authors have much less time for writing than commercially published ones. Much less time.
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This. I can understand the appeal of some wanting to go the POD route, but I seriously can't get my head around the idea that anyone would choose self-publishing over commercial publishing - or indeed would think it's a better way to be an author.
The fact is commercial publishers will publish a book they think will make them money. It's the same with the acting industry and the music industry - hell, it's the same with any part of the entertainment industry.
Provide a great, commercial product and you
will get representation and you
will get published. You can't guarantee huge riches or massive success - but the chances of being able to make a living as writer are made possible by a relationship with a traditional publisher - who don't want to make a cent off of you, but do want your books to make them a fat chunk of change from the public.
Self-publishing should be for people who either don't really care about being full time authors and just want people to read their work - or, and let's be frank here - for people who's work just isn't good enough to be commercially published, but might find a small, niche audience through self-publishing.