Quote:
Originally Posted by James_Wilde
I agree. And I suspect that many indie publishers use the method to get their work out there, even though they know it's going to be like peeing in the Atlantic. In the meantime, they're pushing their work down the list of agents in the Writers' and Artists' Yearbook to see if someone bites. The publisher's sole value to the writer is that he gets the book in front of the reading public, which indie publishing doesn't.
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I'd call it a primary value (and not to be underestimated) rather than the sole value. As a writer, I write to be read so you can't underestimate the importance of bringing the work in front of readers.
However, the other thing I value most about commercial publication is that the process does wonders to cure golden word syndrome. As an editor, I hate working with writers who believe everything they write is sacred. I don't make a lot of changes (other than obvious typos) but I do make suggestions, and any writer who isn't willing to listen to suggestions is going to have an almost impossible time improving their craft.
There's no impetus to improve if you're already perfect - and one thing the commercial process hammers home is that no manuscript is perfect.