Into the Fire

Self/custom publishing: a lot of people have opinions about it ranging from professionals in the publishing industry to novice writers to published authors to those people who have opinions about everything writing-related.

Some of those opinions are based on old facts. Some of them have limited knowledge. Some of them are just plain wrong. Others are correct.

So, since I happen to know something about this subject, having self-published two novels, I want to share some plain facts with you.

1.From the production end of publishing a book, if you want quality equal to that of royalty publishers, you need to find a quality custom publisher. Self-publishing outfits are not all equal. Not by a long shot.

2.If you don’t have plans to market the book but you just want the book for friends or family, and you still want quality, you should investigate your options for Print On Demand outfits.

3.Although it remains true that self-published books still have a negative stigma attached to them, the possibilities for them to be of higher quality than previously (years ago) self-published books are definitive because with certain outfits real professional editors are used and required with certain packages you purchase.

4.Depending on what outfit you use to publish your work, both publicity and promotional packages can be purchased in addition to the printing and production costs for your book.

5.The one factor that will continually cause self-publishing to keep its lesser status is the person who simply wants their writing to become a book regardless of whether or not they have any writing skills. Some custom-publishers will not print just anything because they are trying to establish a valid place in the publishing market, and they can’t do it with inferior material.

6.Quality custom publishers are expensive. There’s just no other way to say it. Yes, there are some who offer Print On Demand books for free, but what does that tell you?

7.The reasons to self-publish are as multiple as the rejection letters from agents and editors.

There was a time when I would have stated that royalty publishing is the only option. The reason for that statement would’ve been based on a belief that those publishers produced the “real” quality writers. Well . . . yes, they do. And, no, they don’t. Both.

You see I’ve read enough books to know they publish superior and inferior writers. Some of that depends on platform. Some of it depends on the intangibles of what they believe they can promote and sell. And, really, it isn’t much more complicated than that.

I must admit I get mildly amused at the unintentional arrogance of newly published authors who dispense advice about “great” writing getting published. I’m somewhat less amused with agents who tout their clients as the “best” when some of their writing is frankly less than impressive. I also grit my teeth over the “keep honing your craft, persevere, and attend writers’ conferences” to get over the hump and earn publication.

Still, it’s assumed that if your work is contracted by a royalty publisher, you’ve risen like cream to the top, and you are now “better” than the self-published slobs who had to settle for paying for their work to be published because, of course, no one would even give it a sniff.

Here is my criteria for considering self/custom publishing.

1.Write a few novels before you even think about it. You need the practice. You need viable test readers for your work who can give you reliable reports. Not critiques but rather how did they relate to the stories. (And of course we’re talkin’ novels here.)

2.Make sure these novels have been given the “wait period”. You wrote them, you had them test read, you put them away. Then you take them out again and go through them with an editing perspective to prune away that which no longer works. It might be a little, it might be a lot, but at least you’re reading it with fresh eyes.

3.Research the custom publishers. I heartily recommend WinePress Publishing Group. Visit their website before you go anywhere else. They do it all. They’re totally professional. They keep you in the loop every step of the way. You can make an entire book via emails. It’s fantastic. You can also meet and discuss custom publishing with their owner or representatives at all the major writers’ conferences.

4.One of the more common reasons I’ve heard bandied about for self/custom-publishing is if your work doesn’t fit comfortably in the CBA or ABA—why not self-publish? It’s a good reason but certainly not the only reason. It could be you just don’t want to jump through all the hoops required by royalty publishing. It’s not a matter of being lazy or unmotivated. It might simply mean those hoops have become somewhat meaningless to you because of what you’ve seen produced. The bottom line is if you decide to self-publish you’re going to have to accept that some, maybe even most, in the industry—even wannabes—are going to assume that you’re talent-less and unworthy of royalty publishing or someone would’ve picked up and contracted your book. So get used to it.

5.You simply want to do it yourself, be responsible for your own failures/successes. Perhaps this is the best reason of all.

6.You want to write at your own pace without being pressured by deadlines or opposing opinions.

7.This is the road God has chosen for you. Go ahead and roll your eyes. I know it was the road for me. Whether or not I will ever be published by a royalty publisher rests in His hands, not mine. Quite honestly, if I had the funds, I would self-publish all my remaining completed novels—there are five left so far.

Oddly enough, I’ve only read one other self-published novel, and the production quality wasn’t particularly well done. (It wasn’t a WinePress book.) The story was historical which you know is not my preference, but I read it because I exchanged my first novel for this writer’s first novel. It was quite entertaining actually and certainly not poorly written. Written well enough to appear in a royalty publisher’s library. This particular author had the means to self-publish and simply decided to go ahead and do it when he tired of the rejections, I assume.

One advantage to self publishing for me personally is the cover design and layout input for my book. Covers are very important to me including the colors used, the design, the font—everything. So it’s nice to be allowed to participate, to present your ideas, to keep your title, and to do each level of proofing. (You can view my two book covers if you click on “My Novels” over in the left sidebar.)

And you don’t have to reign in the word count when your story wants to linger.

So, I’ve given you some facts about the current state of self/custom publishing as it exists today. It’s an option that’s available, and it’s come a long way, baby.

Father, thank you for providing the means to self-publish my first two novels. I know it’s the journey you have ordained for me. I’m grateful for it. Please continue to help me on my specific journey—your ways are so much higher than my own. I want to follow you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.