Are self-publishers being looked down upon...Can we not express ourselves?

AndersonQueto · 02-22-2014, 08:35 PM

I believe that self-publishers has the right to express themselves in their writings using their own language to communicate their thoughts feelings and emotions without feeling like they fall behind the line of conventional publishers. We have our own unique voice.

Penforhire · 02-23-2014, 12:54 PM

The barrier to entry for self-publishing is lower. Therefore a lower signal-to-noise ratio is inevitable, meaning there will be a higher percentage of crap in the self-published pile. Your unique voice needs to stand out if you want to hear more than your own echo.

I'm a fan of independent publishing. It works for some of my favorite authors. But the self-published authors I follow all seem to have gotten their start in traditional publishing. Barry Eisler for example.

teh603 · 02-25-2014, 07:21 AM

I've argued for a while that we need some kind of self-pub writer's guild, if for no other reason than to help promote quality self-pub authors.

Lemurion · 02-25-2014, 03:12 PM

Maybe something like the Image comics model could work.

SteveEisenberg · 02-25-2014, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Penforhire

The barrier to entry for self-publishing is lower.

Right.

One way to increase the prestige of self-publishing would be to create barriers to entry, as did the USSR. Most of us would think the minuses outweigh the pluses there.

Lemurion · 02-25-2014, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveEisenberg

Right.

One way to increase the prestige of self-publishing would be to create barriers to entry, as did the USSR. Most of us would think the minuses outweigh the pluses there.

As a general rule, barriers to entry map pretty well to prestige in almost any field.

Katsunami · 02-26-2014, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveEisenberg

Right.

One way to increase the prestige of self-publishing would be to create barriers to entry, as did the USSR. Most of us would think the minuses outweigh the pluses there.

Creating barriers and an authority to guard them is not logical. If someone could prohibit you from publishing a book, then it wouldn't be self-publishing anymore, would it?

Having an organization that picks out good self-published work and promotes it to add prestige, will inevitably turn that organization into the same kind of institution that the trad publishers are now: work is only seen as "worthy" if it is endorsed or promoted by this organization.

Barriers to entry, control, and regulation are anathema to self-publishing.

Lemurion · 02-26-2014, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Creating a barrier and an authority to guard them is not logical. If someone could prohibit you from publishing a book, then it wouldn't be self-publishing anymore, would it?

Having an organization that picks out good self-published work and promotes it to add prestige, will inevitably turn that organization into the same kind of institution that the trad publishers are now: work is only seen as "worthy" if it is endorsed or promoted by this organization.

Barriers to entry, control, and regulation are anathema to self-publishing.

Absolutely, but they are one of the keys to prestige. Realistically, the only barrier should be the ability to write something to publish.

QuantumIguana · 02-26-2014, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndersonQueto

I believe that self-publishers has the right to express themselves in their writings using their own language to communicate their thoughts feelings and emotions without feeling like they fall behind the line of conventional publishers. We have our own unique voice.

You have the right to express yourself, you have the right to self-publish. But you don't have the right not to be looked down upon. Other people have a right to an opinion of your work, and they will express it - if you're lucky! If your work is criticized, at least someone is paying attention. Go ahead and self-publish, I'm seriously all for it. But you have to grow a thick skin.

jeremy young · 03-05-2014, 11:59 AM

Self publishing has always been looked down on.

I shouldn't worry about it.

erzebet · 03-19-2014, 03:41 AM

Some fields like academic science need peer-review comments in order for them to be taken seriously. Actually most topics would benefit from lots of feedback.
Yet after experiencing the politics of science, I admire self-publishers even more!

02-22-2014, 08:35 PM	#1
AndersonQueto Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2014 Device: Kindle	Are self-publishers being looked down upon...Can we not express ourselves? I believe that self-publishers has the right to express themselves in their writings using their own language to communicate their thoughts feelings and emotions without feeling like they fall behind the line of conventional publishers. We have our own unique voice.

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02-23-2014, 12:54 PM	#2
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	The barrier to entry for self-publishing is lower. Therefore a lower signal-to-noise ratio is inevitable, meaning there will be a higher percentage of crap in the self-published pile. Your unique voice needs to stand out if you want to hear more than your own echo. I'm a fan of independent publishing. It works for some of my favorite authors. But the self-published authors I follow all seem to have gotten their start in traditional publishing. Barry Eisler for example.

02-25-2014, 07:21 AM	#3
teh603 Autism Spectrum Disorder Posts: 1,212 Karma: 6244877 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Coastal Texas Device: Android Phone	I've argued for a while that we need some kind of self-pub writer's guild, if for no other reason than to help promote quality self-pub authors.

02-25-2014, 03:12 PM	#4
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	Maybe something like the Image comics model could work.

03-05-2014, 11:59 AM	#10
jeremy young Member Posts: 14 Karma: 511260 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Ilkley Device: tablet	Self publishing has always been looked down on. I shouldn't worry about it.

03-19-2014, 03:41 AM	#11
erzebet Book Author Posts: 23 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Bucharest,Romania Device: Prestigio PER3162B - busted; Kindle 3G - still working!	Some fields like academic science need peer-review comments in order for them to be taken seriously. Actually most topics would benefit from lots of feedback. Yet after experiencing the politics of science, I admire self-publishers even more!