Quote:
Originally Posted by derangedhermit
Publishers, I would hazard, are not ideal gatekeepers. The Internet is a wonderful communications medium through which much better filters, gatekeepers and quality monitors can be created and used. There can be many of them, and people can find ones they like and trust, and contribute to them as they wish, etc.
Most of the posts in this thread (besides the off-topic posts  ) have discussed the situation as a false choice: publishers, or no filter/gatekeeper for readers. That is absolutely not the case, and everyone here knows that. |
I have a feeling for books published in the traditional manner. Not saying that feeling is correct or that I trust any publisher more than another, and some/many publishers I avoid. Still it is a more known quantity in my mind.
I am not that keen on the term gatekeeper as it seems to imply that the gatekeeper is keeping things out and letting only the priveledged few through. I don't actually think the publishing industry does that. They may be falling all over themselves to get best selling authors published, but I am pretty sure they publish many books that are by first time authors as well because they need more bestselling authors as the current crowd dies off.
You seem to be privy to another group of gatekeepers. I would be interested in several examples and how you feel that they have served your interests better than the publishers of yore.
Helen