Wednesday, September 5, 2018

IWSG & Publishing Paths

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh. He, his clones, minions, friends, and fellow authors make it an amazing event every month.




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:

Jennifer Hawes said...

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!!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I'm glad he's recovering. Focus your energies there now.
I prefer experts in my corner.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Covers and formatting are very important. Best to hire someone if you're not 100% certain.

Raimey Gallant said...

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.

T. Powell Coltrin said...

Keep on writing and you will get there.

Arlee Bird said...

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

Crystal Collier said...

Total control freak here. =) If only you could control how many people bought and read your books too. ;P

Tonja Drecker said...

Both ways have their good points and bad points, and neither is more right or wrong than the other. Hang in there!

Carol Kilgore said...

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 :)

cleemckenzie said...

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.

LouannePiccolo said...

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.

Cherie Reich said...

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.

Pat Garcia said...

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

emaginette said...

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

Chrys Fey said...

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.

Anonymous said...

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.

DMS said...

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

Jemi Fraser said...

That's a great idea! I might just do that :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Alex - taking care of him is definitely the plan :)

Jemi Fraser said...

That's what I think I'll do if I do self-publish - definitely don't want to look like an amateur!

Jemi Fraser said...

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!

Jemi Fraser said...

You too, Teresa!!

Jemi Fraser said...

I agree. I like the total control idea ... except when I think about how much there is still to learn!

Jemi Fraser said...

Wouldn't that be awesome! We'll have to work on a potion for that one! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Tonja! I agree - it's such an individual decision!

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Carol - I appreciate that!
I do like that path - self pubbing with expert assistance!

Jemi Fraser said...

I think that might just be the best path!

Jemi Fraser said...

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

Jemi Fraser said...

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 :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Excellent advice! I am definitely going to follow it :)

Jemi Fraser said...

A lot of things are easier with a crew - but I've still got time before I need to decide :)

Jemi Fraser said...

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!

Jemi Fraser said...

You're lucky - my attempts at learning Photoshop have not gone well so far! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Jess - he is making progress daily - although there's a long way to go!
There are - and I've got time to decide! :)

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

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. :)

Natalie Aguirre said...

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.

Jemi Fraser said...

LOL - yes I am! :)
It has been very scary but things are looking good!

Jemi Fraser said...

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 :)

Chemist Ken said...

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.

Unknown said...

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

Shannon Lawrence said...

I'm definitely a control freak. I hope things go well with your family member.

The Cynical Sailor said...

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.

Jemi Fraser said...

I do too - and hiring out might be the best answer of all :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Damyanti!
I'll have to finish the projects and then make the decisions!

Jemi Fraser said...

Me too - thanks Shannon.
Many of us definitely like that control! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Ellen - he's showing good progress!
That's a big part of the appeal of self-pubbing!

Michael Di Gesu said...

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....

Jemi Fraser said...

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!

mshatch said...

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.

Jemi Fraser said...

Yes - those are all powerful people to have in one's corner!!! :)

Rebecca M. Douglass said...

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.

Jemi Fraser said...

I like that balance - but it's hard to write some for interest and keeping some for submitting!