oops, regarding D) I thought calling it “the new slush pile” was really derogatory at first. Now, I do not see it as an insult at all.

Why not talk about what self publishing actually IS? And, for once, putting a positive spin on it? Seriously now, everybody is entitled to their own opinions but the constant bashing (especially in the light of so many recent success stories) is a bit passe. Self-publishing is… A) Freedom of expression. Writers can tell their [...]

“professional” is an attitude and not a means of publication, my friend. I am self-published, but conduct myself as a professional. Everyone should, whether we are Anne Rice or some unknown writer. Nuff said. However, I’ll warn you that there is a rather ugly word for those who judge an entire group of people [...]

I agree that what she did was bad form–and why I have decided to cease to comment on reviews (both negative and positive) from now on. It’s a valuable lesson to learn. However, I agree that the “tomato throwing” at the author is completely uncalled for. Flame wars don’t do anything but bring out trolls [...]

You know I’ve been pondering the same thing. Every time I go to smashwords, I feel as if I’ve walked into a Pr0n bookstore in the 1980’s. hahaha. The “prude filter” works, but a lot of the covers of even “prude filtered” books are very sexy. I guess even us indies recognize the concept that [...]

Okay, well maybe not ALL about…but, …ya know what I mean.

The whole thing sounds kind of scammy to me. And, it seems like another “vanity” thing that would give self-publishing a bad name. Make us look like stool pigeons shelling out dough for some sort of “legitimacy” or stamp of approval. You shouldn’t have to pay for anyone’s stamp of approval. If your book is [...]

exactly! I write for passion first and foremost. Profit comes second. When I receive a profit it is an added blessing.

That’s how it should be.

Well this is the part of my reply that disappeared: LOL A) believe it or not some of us are not in it for the money. I am in it for the enjoyment, and for the passion of writing and having my stories read and enjoyed is its own reward. NO writer (whether SP or [...]

eek how did my reply get all screwed up?

>>Publishers also, very importantly, pay me an advance. This is how I live and eat. I like advances. I don’t get big ones, but I still get them, and that’s damn important. I do not like paying the equivalent of an advance to others in order to publish my book. Because then I wouldn’t have [...]

Exactly, Zoe! We didn’t start this supposed war between SP and TP. We’re not the ones giving into childish name calling, and labeling everybody who chooses a certain business model a “hack.” But the funny thing is, we are winning. I’m hearing more and more that readers not only don’t care who publishes a book, [...]

I know this sounds childish, but to those people I would just say “Takes one to know one!” LOL Then again, calling someone a “Loser” without even knowing the person and/or knowing why they chose to self-publish is pretty childish in itself. Somehow, to many people in the TP industry have it in their heads [...]

Here here, Scott! Give the readers what they want–Variety, diversity, something beyond the same old copy-cat formulatic stuff perhaps? I don’t need to be force-fed literature that somebody else deemed “good.” Because guess what…The “Gatekeepers” get it wrong about 90% of the time. It’s intellectually dishonest, to compare the huge number of self-published/indie books on [...]

Hate is a very strong word. I reserve my hate for those who deserve it: Rapists, murderers, and terrorist. I have had short stories “traditionally published” by small press periodicals, college presses, and ezines. I made very little money, had zero control, and also found myself nearly suing the editor of a small magazine…who was [...]

Well, maybe there are some traditional publishers with very poor taste? And maybe the quality of writing is subjective? >>BTW, high-advance celeb memoirs rarely earn back the advance, though most are net revenue winners. The high advances are paid because of imprint branding issues, not normal revenue considerations. The high-profile hoo-hah leads to spikes in [...]

Well said, Henry. Not to mention the fact that your description(s) also describe 90% of traditionally published sf/horror fiction. LOL Some TP fiction is very, very bad. the Pro-TP may claim “but it’s so bad it’s good” but that is a rather lame argument. Twilight is not “SO bad it’s good.” It’s a bad book [...]

What I continue to find ironic is that none of them complain when someone like Paris Hilton or Tori Spelling get commercial publishing deals, and dub themselves as authors. But let a talented, yet unknown writer independantly publish their own work and it’s the end of the literary world?! Tsk. They have messed up convictions [...]

Absolutely! The cream will always rise to the top, and it’s happening more and more with GOOD self-published fiction. Bad self-published fiction disappears, and the writer(s) move on to discover what they really ARE good at. However, BAD traditionally published fiction is out there for all the world to see; revealing that “The Emperor has [...]

First of all, this is a great post! You’ve made some really excellent points. The thing that I find ironic is that I consider traditionally published authors–as well as authors seeking that path–the ones who are truly vain. Indie authors, or as you’ve said enterprise authors, treat writing & publishing as a small start-up business. [...]