Scott, I have a question based on the past couple days blogs. If someone wants to go the slow route to print but wants to learn more about the industry and the publishing/editing process (beyond researching blogs and reading books/websites) would you say attempting e-publishing is a good way to learn this?
IMHO I would not recommend this approach. Although e-publishing a book still requires many of the same editorial steps we would have in a traditional approach to publishing (art department, copy editors, story editors and so forth) the way an e-publisher goes about getting that story out there, the marketing and the like are different. Sure, both are books, but the differences are still there.
I would also argue that this would also depend on the e-publisher out there. With many (unfortunately) the stories that are released might not be as strong as we would normally see in a print market simply because of the publication process and the marketing approach. There are some places that use writers as editors. Again, this might sound great since it "has people who are currently writing reviewing your work." The problem though is knowing if your editor really does understand it. You might have someone who really doesn't know how to put out a really good product. In essence, it would be like getting feedback from some of those contest out there when you had a judge that really was clued out.
I would simply have to say, if you want to go with a traditional publishing approach, stick to your goal and do that. Don't try to deviate from your goal and your target.
Scott
Scott,
ReplyDeleteFirst, let me say I find your blog to be one of the most useful put out by an agent. There is a reason you are held in such high regard at QueryTracker.
Now that I have buttered you up, I am an e-published author trying to break into traditional publishing and I agree with your comments in this post. My first book came out with several ‘errors’ not caught after a third round of edits. I love the publishing company, but there is a rush to get materials to market because no one gets paid until the book sells. I have found some fantastic e-print stories, but you really have to know the business to be successful. Everything from edits to marketing falls on the author.
Thanks for sharing this.
Ann
Let's say an author did start in the e-publishing route. How would being an e-published author affect his or her chances of breaking into the traditional publishing market?
ReplyDeleteI know some in the publishing industry view self-published authors as being too impatient to go through the system. Are there similar views for e-published authors?
Thanks,
Reena
Scott,
ReplyDeleteThanks for answering my question and Ann thank you for sharing your experience.
I can see the appeal of an e-publisher in the excitement to get published but as someone who took to writing within the past few years, I continue to learn so much about the industry. I hate to admit the ignorance but before I started to take writing seriously, I never really thought of the actual process like a business but more and more I realize this is like any other job, the networking, the presentations skills, the ability to articulate, etc. The only difference is this is a job I love.
Thanks again.