MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - How do you choose which self-published works to read?

Elsi · 10-05-2009, 06:22 PM

I've read a number of self-published works since I got my Kindle. (I'm not willing to pay $15 or more for a print-on-demand paper book!) Most were pretty good. A couple were spectacular. In every case, the ones I ranked as "pretty good" would have been very good if they'd received some editing. One review that I wrote stated, "I have to give this book a strong B+ for plot and characters and a D for execution." There were spelling and grammar errors -- significant enough to distract from the book -- and a few continuity problems. Another self-published book that I read last year was brilliant from Chapter 1 to the end. But the book started with a very awkward prologue.

And, to be honest, I bought & read three children's books (written by a well-known and well-published author) which were much worse than any of the self-published stuff I've read so far.

Now, how do I pick? Like wayspool, I mostly follow recommendations. When an author joins MobileRead and participates -- as opposed to post & run -- then I'm favorably inclined to read at least one of their books. The other way that I'll give an unknown author a try is through a freebie. I've accepted almost every freebie that's been offered here -- with the exception of some horror novels and the erotica, since those are just not the kind of books that I read. I've read very few of the freebies I've downloaded, but they're sitting out there on my hard drive waiting for me to have time to get into them.

10-05-2009, 06:22 PM	#7
Elsi Wizard Posts: 2,366 Karma: 12000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas, USA Device: Kindle; Sony PRS 505; Blackberry 8700C	I've read a number of self-published works since I got my Kindle. (I'm not willing to pay $15 or more for a print-on-demand paper book!) Most were pretty good. A couple were spectacular. In every case, the ones I ranked as "pretty good" would have been very good if they'd received some editing. One review that I wrote stated, "I have to give this book a strong B+ for plot and characters and a D for execution." There were spelling and grammar errors -- significant enough to distract from the book -- and a few continuity problems. Another self-published book that I read last year was brilliant from Chapter 1 to the end. But the book started with a very awkward prologue. And, to be honest, I bought & read three children's books (written by a well-known and well-published author) which were much worse than any of the self-published stuff I've read so far. Now, how do I pick? Like wayspool, I mostly follow recommendations. When an author joins MobileRead and participates -- as opposed to post & run -- then I'm favorably inclined to read at least one of their books. The other way that I'll give an unknown author a try is through a freebie. I've accepted almost every freebie that's been offered here -- with the exception of some horror novels and the erotica, since those are just not the kind of books that I read. I've read very few of the freebies I've downloaded, but they're sitting out there on my hard drive waiting for me to have time to get into them.