What is the point of publishing? Would you publish your story?

[Deleted member 84247]

If you publish to Amazon, you take all of the loss yourself. You have to pay for promoting and advertisement. If you went to a traditional publisher, they will take the losses on them, but they won't promote you or publish you if you aren't already proven. Either that, or you have to know somebody.

Say that you were big enough online for a traditional publisher to want to do it. At that point, why would you? You are just giving over rights for free. The best thing you get other than losing money is a printing of your book. Is that the reason? If the reason is that you want a printed book, can't you go to a printing shop and get one for family/close friends?

 

[RiaCorvidiva]

It's worth noting that there are indie pubs out there, so you're not just limited to 'self pub' or 'big five tradpub'.

The tradeoff is that they will eat the costs for editing, cover art, and will market you (through their branding, if nothing else) in exchange for a cut of the profits. And often they are going to pay you an advance. So I think saying that you're giving away the rights 'for free' is a bit unfair to publishers. They are paying you advances or royalties in exchange for the right to exploit your copyright for a number of years.

(And if any publisher charges you for the right to be published, they are a scam and should be avoided.)

I still wouldn't, but that's because I'm not good with rejection.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

No.

 

[Glitched]

You aren't always giving over rights to a traditional publisher. Not everyone has predatory contracts.

 

[Empress_Omnii]

At that point, why would you?

Because of the resources they provide you, such as editors, but mostly the printing, warehousing and distribution.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Yes, I would, because I feel it is the goal of an author to get people to think and talk (it doesn't even matter if they're thinking and talking about "deeper issues" or "how the heck did this schmuck get this rubbish published?" at least they are thinking and talking), and traditional publishing has greater reach, and thus greater potential for more people to do both.

 

[Deleted member 84247]

Yes, I would, because I feel it is the goal of an author to get people to think and talk (it doesn't even matter if they're thinking and talking about "deeper issues" or "how the heck did this schmuck get this rubbish published?" at least they are thinking and talking), and traditional publishing has greater reach, and thus greater potential for more people to do both.

That's the point. They won't publish no names, unless you know somebody.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

If I am big enough, there is no reason to do it. Doesn't matter how lenient the contract is. Ok, if they say, "Let us publish it, you get 99% of profits," I would obviously sign the contract. Other than that, I don't care. If I am big enough, I can pay for everything myself. I'm not greedy.

 

[Lysander_Works]

I feel this all the time, and the stress of it is real. It's a situation of what used to be true versus what is true now, a sad reality where good authors just never get paid for their work unless they get stupidly lucky, and even then, you do sign away some rights with traditional publishers, depending on which route you take.

When I was young making my series for the first time, I fell into the trap thinking I was going to make it big, but I never overcame the issue of discoverability; I had no money to put into advertising, and even to this day am not in a well off financial position to try it. Even if I were, it's hard to trust anyone, with all the scam artists running around asking for thousands of dollars to "increase your popularity and sales!" SMH.

In the end, even though I still ask for donation money on my page here, I don't expect much, as it is no longer the focal point. I had to ask myself not that long ago what would happen to my series if I were to leave this world. Ultimately, I still want people to read and enjoy what I create, even if I never hear a single thank you, even if I never get paid a cent. One reason is, writing is and always will be fun for me; it should be just as much fun writing as it is reading. The other is, I still want something to leave behind, something that isn't going to be locked behind a total paywall.

Every story is worth publishing in one way or another, and if you have to take the time to make it as perfect as you can get it, go for it. If you've done everything right, even when you leave, people will still have the ability to enjoy what you've written down, imperfections and all.

 

[georgelee5786]

I'd rather use an agent, but yes, i would publish. It gives my book more reach, which is what I care about, and makes me more money. Webnovels or self-published novels have a sliver of the chance of gaining traction as publisher published books. I ultimately want to try to become an author of some minor note, and self-publishing is very unlikely to do that.

 

[Deleted member 84247]

I'd rather use an agent, but yes, i would publish. It gives my book more reach, which is what I care about, and makes me more money. Webnovels or self-published novels have a sliver of the chance of gaining traction as publisher published books. I ultimately want to try to become an author of some minor note, and self-publishing is very unlikely to do that.

Is this really true? If you put as much effort into trying to publish your story into marketing or advertising, I feel like you would have the same odds. At least Webnovel would accept most anyone, but traditional publishers will not.

 

[Corty]

I just want to hold a physical copy of my story in my own hands one day.

 

[Deleted member 84247]

I just want to hold a physical copy of my story in my own hands one day.

What about the printing shop idea? You can pay to print your novel.

 

[Corty]

What about the printing shop idea? You can pay to print your novel.

Honestly, most options are out of my budget anyway. I’m too poor to consider any kind of physical publication.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

It's interesting that people use either reach or money to justify publishing. Oh, and there's purehearted Corty.

 

[Bartun]

Hopefully one day

 

[theInmara]

Posting here is a form of publishing your story.

 

[Deleted member 84247]

Posting here is a form of publishing your story.

I knew someone would do it. I was waiting for a brat.

 

[theInmara]

Is this really true? If you put as much effort into trying to publish your story into marketing or advertising, I feel like you would have the same odds. At least Webnovel would accept most anyone, but traditional publishers will not.

It's really, really hard for a single author, who is also writing more novels, to put in the work that a publishing house can do. With traditional publishing, you have a team of people working on your book, from your agent and editor, to the copyeditors, graphic designers, prepress tech, printer, publicist, warehouse and shipping workers, etc.

And then, also, a single person who has been in the industry for a while and has all the contacts necessary to get the word of a book out and sell it to reviewers and bookstores is going to have a lot less work to do than an author just starting out in figuring out how to do that. A publishing house that's established? It's got even more market leverage. You as an author just can't match that.

I knew someone would do it. I was waiting for a brat.

Name calling is entirely uncalled for.

Also, there's nothing bratty about the statement. It's true. It's not like you made any sort of distinction. Grow up.

There is a reason that the whole industry uses specific terms: self-publishing, print on demand publishing, vanity publishing, mixed publishing, and traditional publishing.

 

[Deleted member 84247]

Name calling is entirely uncalled for.

I wasn't talking about you. I was talking about @ElliePorter but you fit the description, too.