tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790495147597408531.post8404400088449186900..comments2023-09-29T06:29:58.353-04:00Comments on Pensive Sarcasm: Self-Publishing and Self-Flight TrainingMC Howehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135224394821535801noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790495147597408531.post-53294805142575717042009-12-15T11:16:48.406-05:002009-12-15T11:16:48.406-05:00That's all right Jade. Sometimes my mind vani...That's all right Jade. Sometimes my mind vanishes. And I don't have the energy to re-think.MC Howehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12135224394821535801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790495147597408531.post-10786361977376726452009-12-15T02:59:01.010-05:002009-12-15T02:59:01.010-05:00My comment just vanished. Sigh. I don't have t...My comment just vanished. Sigh. I don't have the engery to re-write it. The gist was publishing, good; self-publishing, bad.<br /><br />Great Post.Jadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02444920778218867295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790495147597408531.post-78497597672496839172009-12-14T18:01:10.940-05:002009-12-14T18:01:10.940-05:00Erica - Thanks for the support.
No one comes int...Erica - Thanks for the support. <br /><br />No one comes into my house and tells me how it's done.<br /><br />At the end of the day, I expect everyone to think like I do:)MC Howehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12135224394821535801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790495147597408531.post-2422871029779710002009-12-14T16:20:15.839-05:002009-12-14T16:20:15.839-05:00Way to tell him Matt!
Great post. It's takes ...Way to tell him Matt!<br /><br />Great post. It's takes balls to put it all out there. I don't think I could self publish, I think if an agent doesn't want to take on my work, there's a reason for it, and so I will keep writing until one takes me on.<br /><br />I don't begrudge anyone else from being able to self publish, and I really wouldn't care if what I read turns out to be self published. Truth is, I don't buy them anyway, but I never say never ;o)<br /><br />I believe in working for hard for what you get. That's the bottom line for me. <br /><br />I do however hope that when I get on a plane the pilot is experienced!erica m. chapmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14773306703153110737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790495147597408531.post-90688986035675354322009-12-14T12:54:52.509-05:002009-12-14T12:54:52.509-05:00I don't think I would ever self publish to try...I don't think I would ever self publish to try and sell to people. If my book doesn't sell then I would probably get some copies made to give to my family and friends. There's something legitimate about being paid by someone else that appeals to me.Pattihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00685341739870191402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790495147597408531.post-88669788985057339422009-12-14T09:52:00.809-05:002009-12-14T09:52:00.809-05:00Michael Marcus - Thank you for stopping by and rea...Michael Marcus - Thank you for stopping by and reading my blog. It seems we are in disagreement, and perhaps I should have been more clear in distinguishing my own views on self-publishing vs. vanity press. To be honest, I really didn't understand the difference before posting. It does seem clear there is a place for self-publishing, but I agree with Gemma Noon that it seems better suited to small printings, perhaps for local markets, rather than the masses. The fact is I know of no self-published books (without doing much research) that are on any legitimate best sellers lists. <br /><br />On your many blogs you tout your own book, a self-published book about self-publishing, as one of Amazon's bestsellers. Yet, of the many blogs you own, I found zero to only a small handful of comments on most of your posts. In addition, of the many blogs you own, you had only one follower on any of them. Yourself. <br /><br />If self-published books are so well written and so well received, I would expect a best seller such as yourself to have a great many fans. Yet the evidence is lacking. I might suggest you spend less time complaining about Sara Palin and more time working on your craft.<br /><br />Your argument that major book publishers choose a work based on potential profit rather than literary merit is bunk. Of course major book sellers are profit driven. I, too, am profit driven. If I wanted to write something no one was interested in reading, I wouldn't have this blog. To suggest you feel otherwise, seems, at best, ingenuous. I fear you have joined this discussion for reasons more self-serving than you might admit. I have serious reservations on the literary merits of a self-published book on self-publishing and can only surmise the reason for the many links in your comment is to drive up your own book sales.<br /><br />I'll thank you not to push your wares on my site.<br /><br />Good day sir.MC Howehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12135224394821535801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790495147597408531.post-61665705481904284622009-12-14T04:51:44.106-05:002009-12-14T04:51:44.106-05:00Lost Wanderer said: "But I am not willing to ...Lost Wanderer said: "But I am not willing to waste my time or money in taking that chance, when there are millions of books that have gone through the channels, waiting to be read."<br /><br />That's a narrow and self-defeating view. <br /><br />There are many excellent and many lousy self-published books, and many excellent and many lousy books that "have gone through the channels."<br /><br />A major brand name on a book is certainly no guarantee of quality. Major publishers choose books based on potential profit, not on literary merit. Major publishers produce books with factual errors and typos.<br /><br />The fact that Sarah Palin's "Going Rogue" got the backing of a major publisher should finally kill the notion that traditionaly-published books are superior to self-published books.<br /><br />Major publishers guess wrong most of the time. Many books that are rejected by one publisher later become money makers for other publishers. Most books from major publishers end up on the buck-a-book table. <br /><br />It make no more sense to reject a book because it was self-published, than because the title is printed in blue ink. <br /><br />I strongly believe that most vanity press books are crap that should be avoided. But a growing number of authors are establishing their own companies to self-publish their books, and hire professional editors and designers, and produce books that are as good as -- or better than -- "Going Rogue."<br /><br />Michael N. Marcus<br />author of "Become a Real Self-Publisher," http://www.amazon.com/dp/0981661742 <br /><br />author of "Stories I'd Tell My Children (but maybe not until they're adults)," coming 4/1/10. http://silversandsbooks.com/storiesbookinfo.html <br /><br />http://BookMakingBlog.blogspot.com <br />http://www.SilverSandsBooks.comMichael N. Marcushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14572325935572298962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790495147597408531.post-56593053298528188452009-12-12T19:12:51.780-05:002009-12-12T19:12:51.780-05:00I used to work for Airbus, and the one lesson I le...I used to work for Airbus, and the one lesson I learned was that the less I know about airline industry, the better for my peace of mind, because I like flying and I like to travel.<br /><br />Anyway so leaving flying aside, regarding self-publishing, I am on your side. I would definitely wait to be published the traditional way.<br /><br />Also, I personally wouldn't consider self-pubslihed books as "published." They are "self-published" and that's the difference. I don't care if people go ahead and do it to satisfy their own ego, but I am sure as hell not paying a penny for it. They might be good. But I am not willing to waste my time or money in taking that chance, when there are millions of books that have gone through the channels, waiting to be read. That's my little contribution to the traditional publishing. I will spend my hard earned money on those books (bought 6 today).Dollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08144739453424963436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790495147597408531.post-19499606473673240652009-12-12T18:03:31.543-05:002009-12-12T18:03:31.543-05:00Gemma - I wondered what kind of response this woul...Gemma - I wondered what kind of response this would get. I agree there is a place for it. I just think people should be up front about it, rather than accept the accolades that should accompany a publishing deal.<br /><br />As to that executive lounge, if you find it, let me know where it is, because I've sure never been in it.MC Howehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12135224394821535801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3790495147597408531.post-90938765556058692332009-12-12T17:53:58.218-05:002009-12-12T17:53:58.218-05:00well, other than scaring the hell out of me re: fl...well, other than scaring the hell out of me re: flying, I totally agree. If my stuff isn't good enough to be picked up by a publisher, then I need to work on something else, write something else, or give up.<br /><br />Having said that, there is space for self publishing - family histories, memoirs, some poetry, specialised works with a small audience, etc. In these instances, then yes, I see the point. It is vanity publishing that I have the real issue with. Sadly, there's always going to be people who will pay to get their book into print just so they can claim the "author" badge.<br /><br />Mind you, if I pay to get the "pilot" badge, does that mean I get to sit in the executive lounge at the airport?Elizabeth Bramwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01693182585136055698noreply@blogger.com