tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650080146272323615.post5897586910977763260..comments2023-05-22T10:56:58.915+01:00Comments on Chloe Tells Tales: Traditional or Self-Published?Chloehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00183206722136871230noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650080146272323615.post-51396916609180098962012-10-18T18:03:16.191+01:002012-10-18T18:03:16.191+01:00That's the point - s-p gives you an immediacy....That's the point - s-p gives you an immediacy. It's also great for people who (and I'm not suggesting you necessarily fit into this category!) love to write, are competent at writing, but in their heart of hearts know that they are never going to be quite at the level to get professionally published.<br /><br />I think the title doesn't matter so much if you've got a marketing strategy (or aren't too bothered how many you sell anyway). When I wrote that I was thinking about attracting an agent which isn't relevant to you!<br /><br />If s-p is something you want to do, you should do it - whether you're amazing, awful or indifferent!Chloehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00183206722136871230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650080146272323615.post-79781808341712100382012-10-18T15:52:28.921+01:002012-10-18T15:52:28.921+01:00Hi Chloe. I agree with so much of what you've ...Hi Chloe. I agree with so much of what you've said but I don't think I can wait to be 'discovered' at some distant point in time. I've got two novels that need a lot of work and one that I'm presently reading through in 'hard copy'. <br /><br />'TEN DAYS' is the romance story I'm almost ready to self-publish and now that I can see the interest from yourself and your followers I'll make a point of getting back to you on my progress ... or not. I accept what you said before about the publishers/agents attitude to 'number of days' titles etc, but since I'm not using an agent I'll take my chances. <br /><br />Although I'm also an artist I'm not foolish enough to believe I can produce sufficiently detailed artwork and typography to promote a book cover, so I've made enquiries and organised a professional photographer (with a background in graphics). <br /> <br />In the last couple of days I will admit feeling under pressure, so I've also got a proof-reader sorted out so hopefully I'm not going to make a total hash of it. <br /><br />I hope you'll still keep in touch if I don't make it! LOL<br />I like Martin's train of thought. Maybe once I've got the SP out of my system I'll just work even harder. Tom Bensonhttp://www.tom-benson-writer.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650080146272323615.post-39986242249179984042012-10-18T13:40:34.106+01:002012-10-18T13:40:34.106+01:00Experiencing both would be pretty amazing and defi...Experiencing both would be pretty amazing and definitely help improve writing skills I think. I admire anybody who puts themselves through self-publishing. But I guess we'd all love the validation that comes from being selected by somebody else.Chloehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00183206722136871230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650080146272323615.post-89848334115646791072012-10-18T12:19:01.387+01:002012-10-18T12:19:01.387+01:00Despite being self-published, I'd love to be p...Despite being self-published, I'd love to be picked up by a trad publisher.Martin Willoughbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05605554706836638988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650080146272323615.post-28412285162055960312012-10-17T05:50:40.860+01:002012-10-17T05:50:40.860+01:00I wish I knew who it was - maybe they could give m...I wish I knew who it was - maybe they could give me some tips!billybloggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06892046980111756373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650080146272323615.post-22872611920375898242012-10-16T15:43:39.662+01:002012-10-16T15:43:39.662+01:00So I won't become a terrible editor if I get p...So I won't become a terrible editor if I get published? That's good to know - I love editing!<br /><br />In a way I suppose it's encouraging that publishers are only taking on books which they know they can make a success of, even if it means rejecting authors they already know. <br /><br />But someone talented once wrote a post for this blog on the subject of writing across a wide range of genres, so I won't go into it now...Chloehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00183206722136871230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650080146272323615.post-8306108465355676262012-10-16T14:33:49.581+01:002012-10-16T14:33:49.581+01:00I don't think a published author would stay pu...I don't think a published author would stay published for long long if he or she left a lot of work for an editor to do! Maybe if they were a major, major best seller or celebrity author, but otherwise if your second book isn't up to the standard of your first it's almost as likely to be rejected as one from the slushpile.<br /><br />Maybe some publishers are more loyal to and patient with their authors once they've got them, but I know from my own experience that after having had several reasonably successful books published by an established house, when I submitted a different kind of novel it was rejected in a very short, 'It's just not for us' type of letter!billybloggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06892046980111756373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650080146272323615.post-40786856043093892392012-10-16T13:48:58.309+01:002012-10-16T13:48:58.309+01:00Yeah, my thoughts exactly! I don't like it whe...Yeah, my thoughts exactly! I don't like it when people dismiss self-publishers because there are a lot of good s-p writers out there. But I also don't like it when people go too far the other way too. The two processes are very different and you learn different things by doing them. <br /><br />Having a professional editor will make you a better writer quicker, in my opinion. BUT traditionally published authors can then become lazy and let editors do all the work with their later books - a luxury that s-p authors don't have and need to maintain high editing standards always.<br /><br />Looks like you've been writing for pretty much the same amount of time as me!Chloehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00183206722136871230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650080146272323615.post-59963075521435887192012-10-16T12:44:53.994+01:002012-10-16T12:44:53.994+01:00I think how you do. I still have that dream of get...I think how you do. I still have that dream of getting an agent. But I've only been writing for 2.5 years. And have only queried one story, which I realize was my starter/learning story.<br /><br />I have nothing against self publishing and would do it if I can't get anywhere with agents. My concern is probably due to a lack of confidence. I want an experienced agent and editor to tell me what I need to fix. So it can be the best it can be. And it's a lot more research. Like you said, formatting, cover design, 100% your own marketing. It's one more huge learning curve.<br /><br />And right now I'm not willing to pay for that editor on a self published book. Someday maybe, but not now.Suzihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16502606950280751205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650080146272323615.post-25983003885180802542012-10-16T12:21:16.651+01:002012-10-16T12:21:16.651+01:00Yes, if your books does well an agent would take y...Yes, if your books does well an agent would take you more seriously with your next book. Along with everybody else who'd done well. But that's rather missing the point about wanting to be traditionally published with this book! <br /><br />To do well in the eyes of the agent means selling thousands (you might be able to point to good reviews or something but with so many authors out there with friends and family buying their books, it's very easy to get good reviews!) which means a full time job marketing and selling your book. The market is already so saturated with crappy (and good) books, selling more than a handful is a job in itself, whereas you could be using that time writing and editing (i.e. becoming a better writer) and trying to sell short stories to prestigious magazines which I believe agents would think a lot more of than proving you're good at selling. Agents have already cottoned on to the fact that authors charge very little (or not at all) for their books so more people will buy them - so numbers actually don't mean all that much unless accompanied by impartial rave reviews which are unlikely to come your way unless you are very good - in which case you might as well try getting published traditionally first!<br /><br />Like I said, I wouldn't say never with self-publishing, but to me it is by far second best. At least if I do make it traditionally it'll make the "thanks" page of the book short. "Thanks to the two people who thought I might actually stand a chance of somebody else publishing this."Chloehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00183206722136871230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6650080146272323615.post-71827086508055067292012-10-16T10:28:41.998+01:002012-10-16T10:28:41.998+01:00If you can point to a self-published book that is ...If you can point to a self-published book that is doing quite well, might that not encourage an agent to look seriously at you next time? Might be an investment... (Ceve)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com