If It Is Not Your Best - Don't Publish It Just Because You Can

So, let's talk about self-publishing for a quick second. I hear a lot of writers who, after being rejected over and over again for their manuscript. And yet, they still seem to believe that the publishing world is full of "you know what" and clearly "those editors and agents couldn't find their way out of a hole." So, what do they do? They scream "screw it" and self-publish that story. They know their story is the next greatest thing.

But is it?

If you are getting that many rejections, it might be time to consider what you are doing? If those editors and agents are telling you something about your writing, then the odds are, this is not your best story.

And yet you still are determined to put that project out there to the public.

Several years ago, I heard an author at a workshop openly admit, during a workshop they were leading, that "even bad publicity is good publicity." Really? 

Let's think about this. Do you really want readers to see your first piece of writing, or any for that matter, as something that is representative of you? 

I get it. All of you want to have your writing published. You want to be able to go to a conference saying you are a published author. The reality is that you are nothing more than a "printed" author. 

I get that you loved that story. I get that you put your heart and soul into that story. I get that your CP thinks it is better than that bottle of Chardonnay you had at the last writing group. But honestly, if you talk to successful published authors out there, they will openly admit they have stories that should "never see the light of day." These might of been one of their first stories. Still, they were smart enough NOT to publish it. 

Maybe you should consider doing the same thing!