http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2004-03-22-vanderkam_x.htm

This article in USA Today is about self publishing and how the publishing industry will have to change in order to survive. Good article in 3/23/04 issue.

Good article. Thanks for sharing. It is especially insightful for those of us who are on a learning curve with publishing.

JJ

Gar, you make some great points. Thanks for adding to the discussion. I'd like to add my 2 cents as well, if I may.

People who choose self publishing do so for a number of reasons. One: They haven't been able to crack the traditional publishers (TP) market. If they haven't tried to go the traditional route, they really should first before choosing SP. Unless their books is so niched that the only market is family and friends who want to purchase a book of memoirs.

Two: They've become so successful in TP that they want to cross over into a totally different genre and have control over their book's process and content.

Three: They just don't understand the publishing process and think they must pay to have their book published or have given up too fast after a few rejections from TP.

There may be other reasons, but those are the three most popular, in my opinion.

Self Publishing does serve a need for those authors who want total control over their book, their content and marketing. They don't mind forking over thousands of dollars to have that control. My hat's off to them!!

My advice to those writers who are looking to publish a genre novel is to work hard on your manuscript, submit to traditional publishers as much as you can, take their advice if given and polish that piece. Take writing workshops, join a writers' group, or find a critique group that can help you make your manuscript something marketable.

Peace.