Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
And we’re revving up IWSG Day to make it more fun and interactive! Every month, we'll announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
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September 5 question - What publishing path are you considering/did you take, and why?
I'm in the process of making this decision. I'm close (not there but close) to thinking that I know enough to consider publishing my stories.
Now I have to decide if I want to query or self-publish. There are many advantages to both.
I am definitely a bit of a control freak, but I also like having experts in my corner and there is lots about the process that I don't know.
Covers and formatting are 2 examples of things I don't know much about. Can I learn to do them? Probably. Will they be at a professional level? Not sure.
So, even more decisions to make, things to learn. I'm glad I like learning new things!
As many of you know I have a family member who has recently required emergency surgery and is now in the long recovery process. This is going to take up a lot of my time for the next several months so my publishing choices will be on the back burner for a while. No worries, though, I'll get there when the time is right.
How about you? Are you a control freak too? Isn't nice to have experts in your corner?
52 comments:
I'd try querying first! You might gain insight into where you are at and what needs to change for the better before you self-pub. Or you might be surprised with agent requests!!
I'm glad he's recovering. Focus your energies there now.
I prefer experts in my corner.
Covers and formatting are very important. Best to hire someone if you're not 100% certain.
I hope the recovery is going well, Jemi. :) FYI: Not sure if I've mentioned this before, but your gravatar isn't being directed to your blog. I mention it because you'll get more Wordpress users returning your comments if you login to Gravatar and add your blog link.
Keep on writing and you will get there.
It's hard to argue with the experts and it's nice to have knowledgeable people in one's corner doing the work that you or I would have to learn to do ourselves.
So many good arguments for either approach and I think decisions are best made according to one's personality, resources, and personal goals.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Total control freak here. =) If only you could control how many people bought and read your books too. ;P
Both ways have their good points and bad points, and neither is more right or wrong than the other. Hang in there!
Keeping you and your loved one in my prayers. When I decided to self-publish, I didn't know how to do anything. I found experts, though, and I couldn't do it without them. And yes, I am a little bit of a control freak, too :)
If you do go Indie, I'd say hire some experts for the areas you're not savvy about. Covers for example. Good luck, Jemi.
I've tried self-publishing and there are some very talented cover artists out there. I'm not sure what the rules are but if you'd like a link to one, send me a message.
Other than that, I hope that your family member gets well soon and that you can get back to your writing.
I'm a bit of a control freak too. You can always hire out what you don't know how to do, such as covers and formatting. It's helpful to know formatting, though, even if it's just enough to make updates to your file.
I hope your family member recovers well.
Hi,
Why not check out both possibilities? What does your heart say?
Don't not do because of a hardship that you're going through and the same goes with traditional. There is a time process regardless of the way you choose. Processes run slow instead of fast. So, don't put yourself under a burden that you don't have to carry. First gather the information you need about both processes, self-publishing and traditional and then wait until everything clears in your mind before you make a decision.
Wishing you all the best and be gentle with yourself. It's okay to stand still and wait until things calm down.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
As long as the work get professionally edited and a professional cover... no worries. I'm too cheap and when the (indie) traditional route. ;-)
And marketing is easier with a crew. Good luck!
Anna from elements of emaginette
I also like having professionals in my corner. Covers and formatting are things that I don't know about either. With short stories that'll only be eBooks, I could manage with hiring a formatter and doing a simple cover myself. And with my mom's picture books, the illustrator does the covers and then I have a formatter. But bigger projects? I don't feel confident in myself to do all the work.
I'm definitely a control freak. And fortunately, there are many talented independent professionals for editing and cover art. Although I like doing my own cover art, so that may not even need to be factored in.
Hope all is well with your family member and that they are recovering nicely.
You have a great attitude about publishing and you are right- there are pros and cons to both sides of publishing. :)
~Jess
That's a great idea! I might just do that :)
Thanks Alex - taking care of him is definitely the plan :)
That's what I think I'll do if I do self-publish - definitely don't want to look like an amateur!
Thanks Raimey - it's slow but steady which is all good!
Hmmm - I wonder why that's happening - very strange. Thanks for the heads up, I'll look into it!
You too, Teresa!!
I agree. I like the total control idea ... except when I think about how much there is still to learn!
Wouldn't that be awesome! We'll have to work on a potion for that one! :)
Thanks Tonja! I agree - it's such an individual decision!
Thanks Carol - I appreciate that!
I do like that path - self pubbing with expert assistance!
I think that might just be the best path!
Thanks Louanne! I'm not at that stage yet, but I'll keep that in mind! :)
Thank you - he's healing but it's going to be a long haul
Good point on the formatting! I use Scrivener, so I think that will be helpful when I get to that point!
Thank you for the good wishes :)
Excellent advice! I am definitely going to follow it :)
A lot of things are easier with a crew - but I've still got time before I need to decide :)
That's where I'm at too Chrys. There is so much to do as is, I don't really need to add anything else to my plate!
You're lucky - my attempts at learning Photoshop have not gone well so far! :)
Thanks Jess - he is making progress daily - although there's a long way to go!
There are - and I've got time to decide! :)
Emergency surgery is scary...so glad he's making progress and know he appreciates you!
Oh, I'm such a control freak. Apparently, there are plenty of us around! You're in good company. :)
You sound like you are at crossroads and have conflicting thoughts similar to my own. Yes, sometimes you have to step back when family needs you. That's so important. Hope your family member recovers from his emergency surgery and underlying condition.
LOL - yes I am! :)
It has been very scary but things are looking good!
Thanks Natalie - he's showing improvement every day :)
It's so difficult to know the 'right' path, probably because there are so many of them :)
While I am kind of a DIYer, and things like cover design and formatting and marketing sound like fun, I'm too slow a writer to have much time to spend on them. So I'm pretty sure I'll be farming some of that stuff out. I'm sure I'll be going indie though. I like the control.
Taking care of family is definitely the priority. I'm decided on the trad route for now-- and once it pans out, I'll see if going indie would make sense, or not.
All the best with your writing this September!
Damyanti at Daily (w)rite
I'm definitely a control freak. I hope things go well with your family member.
I am a control freak at times which is why self-publishing appeals to me. All the best with your family member - hope s/he is getting better.
I do too - and hiring out might be the best answer of all :)
Thanks Damyanti!
I'll have to finish the projects and then make the decisions!
Me too - thanks Shannon.
Many of us definitely like that control! :)
Thanks Ellen - he's showing good progress!
That's a big part of the appeal of self-pubbing!
HI, Jemi,
I hope you loved one recovers swiftly. With your love and help, I'm sure they will!
Like you, I am considering all options. I had wanted traditional, but with the lack of luck securing an agent, I may just change my thinking.
Take care of you... Caregiving is very strenuous on a person. Don't wear yourself out. Make sure to get rest and eat right. We don't want you getting sick....
Thanks Michael - it's going to be a bit of a long haul but things are progressing well so far! :)
There are lots of options for publishing, I'm sure you'll find the right option for you!
I think the traditional path appeals more to me because of the experts. Expert agents who know editors, expert editors who will make what I think is an awsome story even better, and experts to design a super cover.
Yes - those are all powerful people to have in one's corner!!! :)
I’m currently thinking that continuing to self-pub my novels is a good idea, but that shopping short stories around to other publishers is the way to go. That’s brought me to needing to consider the balance between publishing flash fiction on my blog (the idea being, of course, to make readers think they’d like to buy my books because I write so well :D ) and holding stories back to submit.
I like that balance - but it's hard to write some for interest and keeping some for submitting!
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