I wish him luck but don’t envy him. He’s going to have some hard work ahead of him cause self publishing still has that vanity taint about it.

Not sure how this is new. There are dozens of people self-publishing these days. Sure, some are doing it the vanity route, but many are becoming small, independent publishers. Now that publishers seem to expect authors to sell half or more of the print-run for much less than half of the profits, it may make perfect sense for some authors to become the publisher and sell all the books. The ones who are most likely to succeed are those who understand that this is a business and either have a background in publishing or are willing to be educated. Of course, it helps if they have enough money to throw some away, since there are no guarantees in this business.

The most interesting thing about this post was the demeaning attitude of the wacked-out agent. I’ll bet she’s a failure who hasn’t had one best-selling author in her whole miserable career. Too bad Andrew Smith didn’t give her name so we could all have a big laugh But having said that I don’t think writers need agents. They’re just peripherals to the process, looking how to make a buck without expending too much time and effort and in the process hobnobbing with some poseurs on the writer’s nickel. I can see actors needing agents because they can’t keep track of all the casting calls but authors do not have casting calls. If you have finished a novel just send it around to some publishers who are accepting manuscripts over the transom or e-mail enquiries to the computer literate. If they figure it’s saleable, you’re in print.

Ageism is a dirty little secret in the Canadian publishing world. I know at least a couple of people who generated a great deal of interest from publishers (HarperCollins was one; can’t remember the others) until the acquiring editor asked (yes, actually asked) how old they were. Suddenly the flirtations were dropped and all promises pulled. Pretty cold, and massively hypocritical, for a bunch of companies that claim they want to develop relationships with authors above all else.

There are so many things wrong with the Canadian publishing industry. On top of their inability to discover and promote genre authors whom everyone wants to read, they’re now involved in the treachery of age discrimination. I am disgusted!

Leave it to authors, agents and publishers to tag those who entertain notions of self publishing “vain” in their desires. The cynical label speaks volumes about the industry and those in it, I am so sorry to say. I was thinking of self publishing, but I only now realized I am vain, and I stand corrected. Bravo for the encouragement. I look forward to visiting the next blog and the one after that. I’ll no doubt be confronted with the dilema of either manifesting my vanity for all the world to see or leaving my hard work and my great passion behind. I suppose people who open a small business are vain as well. Indeed, anyone who tries to succeed must surely be vain–there’s no other explanation for their self-motivated efforts. Ugh. I’m disgusted.

I just self-published and released my fourth, full-length novel.

While it would be wonderful to have a major publishing house behind me (from a financial standpoint) I accomplished the entire publishing process (except the actual writing!) in less than four month. That includes an original, eye-catching cover, three rounds of editig and proofing and the interminable bureaucratize of ISBN and other industry and government requirements.

Standard book publishing or self-publishing is clearly a case of time vs. money.

If you have the money, have (or acquire) the publishing industry knowledge, ingenuity of marketing and patience, by all means, self-publish. Many of the leading self-publishing houses virtually produce a complete book for you … at a fee!

If, on the other hand, you have the time and don’t mind the edless string of rejections by agents, publishers before someone accepts your work, are prepared for dealing with lawyers, accountants, publicists and more, then go ahead and wait for that chance at a small advance.

Be prepared either way for that inevitably fickle response by the great (washed or unwashed) readership out there!

“I know at least a couple of people who generated a great deal of interest from publishers (HarperCollins was one; can’t remember the others) until the acquiring editor asked (yes, actually asked) how old they were. Suddenly the flirtations were dropped and all promises pulled.”

John, without naming names, would you tell us a little more? What age groups did the writers fall into? What year(s) did this happen (i.e., is it the result of a contemporary trend)? Did the writers already have agents?

p.s. When I ask if this is the result of a contemporary trend, I guess it sounds like I’m asking a question whose answer is obvious. What I mean is, did it happen within the last five years? Since the new millennium? Or farther back?

With reference to my writing blog at:
http://www.asailorsstories-arlommoen.blogspot.com
I self- published A Sailor’s Stories because I am 89 years old. I am in good health, have the right genes and the determination to produce and market at least 2 more books and more if T am still aeound. I am just starting to get the second printing ofmy first book into bookstores and on the internet.
I am aiming to have my second book ready for market next year and a book of poetry the following year, at age ninety-one. So, am I too old and vain?