tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33813337.post4144279902570232527..comments2023-09-12T06:18:38.552-04:00Comments on The World in the Satin Bag: Self-publishing Fail: Achieving Weak Goals is MeaninglessAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13571452656553970472noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33813337.post-69531347389636929242010-05-24T12:10:13.191-04:002010-05-24T12:10:13.191-04:00I wasn't saying that self-publishing is meanin...I wasn't saying that self-publishing is meaningless (that's a different argument). I was saying that having weak goals is meaningless. Being prideful of doing something that anyone can do is, in my opinion, pathetic. I don't think better of myself for waking up this morning, or eating breakfast, or drinking water, or putting on my clothes after showering. I think better of myself for doing things that require effort and which most people don't do (such as getting a degree, going to graduate school, creating a successful website for young writers, and so on). <br /><br />I understand that books aren't tangible until in print (or in a "printed" medium, such as an ebook), but there's nothing impressive about printing a book. If someone finds that as pride-inducing, then they're underachieving by a few dozen miles. They're essentially feeling better about themselves for breathing.<br /><br />That's my problem with the list I linked to. If you're going to self-publish, at least have better goals.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13571452656553970472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33813337.post-24597506510190885212010-05-24T02:42:37.011-04:002010-05-24T02:42:37.011-04:00I think self-publishing does have a place. It'...I think self-publishing does have a place. It's not a very comfortable place for anyone who wants to be recognised by the book-buying world as an author of fiction - there is an immediate assumption that you have produced something not very good, and the wall of indifference a self-published novelist will be trying to hurdle is near to insurmountable.<br /><br />But at the same time:<br /><br />- Not everyone can write a book. No matter what the quality, the mere act of stringing that many words together is a huge thing, and I do think any author should feel a sense of achievement for doing so.<br /><br />- To some people, a book isn't tangible until it's printed. And currently most people prefer to read paper books, not ebooks.<br /><br />- Some people are writing for themselves, not others, and I expect as an audience of one they'll be quite happy.<br /><br />So there is a certain level of value, and a level of pride and pleasure which self-publishing can give you.<br /><br />While there are scads - echoing, wallowing warehouses worth - of negatives to self-publishing as a fiction author who wants an audience, I don't think it's a meaningless option - just a seductive and potentially self-destructive one. Like so many other facets of the craft.<br /><br />[Self-publishing is also very useful to the niche non-fiction writer, and the established fiction writer who has dropped off the bottom of the midlist, but those are slightly different issues.]Andrea K Hösthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01535131780314094508noreply@blogger.com