Entrepreneurs drive the economy. Every self-published writer is — like it or not — an entrepreneur. Our unique individual vision coupled with our can-do spirit translates into damn the torpedoes full speed ahead, I’ll do it my way. So there.
Self-publishers have a unique vision. We march to a different drummer. We have a different story to tell. And we tell it as best we can.
In the process we fuel a sizeable portion of the publishing economy. Think of it.
In 2007 fully a million books — 1,000,000 separate titles — were published in the U.S. Nearly half of them were self-published.
Not all came from Amazon and its subsidiaries, like mine. Many came — and come — from hundreds of different printers and self-publishing companies large and small, or they were joint ventures between the author and a small indie publisher.
Besides printers, online and on the ground, these people also made money from self-publishing. To get the book ready for prime time, book designers, graphic artists, editors, proofreaders all made a contribution to the product. Then the printers, and the people who saw the book through the printing process. Not to mention the programmers who wrote the software for printers and writers.
Then the distributors, and the shippers such as FedEx, United Parcel Service, and the U. S. Postal Service.
The books went into bookstores everywhere, and many went into feed stores, gift shops, and souvenir shops. These people made something from the books.
So be proud of what you do when you self-publish. Don’t listen to the nay-sayers and the people who gripe that a self-published book sucks — before they read it. You are a significant part of making this country work, and for that and a lot of other reasons America needs you.
Thank you, Cherie. In the last year I have read perhaps 55 self-published books, both as a reviewer for Self-Publishing Review and as a Spur judge. What you say is true, but I have to add that often the unprofessional design and layout, both of the cover and the interior, indicates an unprofessional approach to the writing and storytelling.
As a book reviewer and media person, I see hundreds of new books every year. And I read at least 80 of them. The reason self-published books are maligned is not so much because of the writing. It's because of the poor editing and the unattractive layout and design. If you want your book to get the attention it deserves, hire a professional editor and a professional designer. You won't get noticed by the professionals until you present yourself as one.
Thank you, Sharon and Heidi! I apologize for being so late to put your comments up, but I had to fix a problem involving Google and my password settings. It wouldn't let me into my own blog! (Computing security is wonderful — at times.)
Anyway, you have inspired me to write more along these lines. As the newspapers (used to) say, watch this space!
So true! And just think of all the creative, innovative ideas — for both stories and business initiatives — writer-entrepreneurs are forced to come up with to survive and thrive. Necessity is the mother of invention. Honestly, I have so much more respect for the writer-entrepreneur model than for the traditional publishing model still hanging in there today where even books whose stories or marketing don't stand out in any way are rewarded with cachet and advances. What ever happened to earning your title and your keep?
Good post, Carol! It's all very true. And, you have more control over your product too!!
Heidi
Thank you both. Good luck with your writing and self-publishing!
Thank you for the pep talk! They naysayers really can get you down.
Thanks for posting this. I self-published back in 1994, when I ended up doing everything except the printing, and I'm interested in all the "modern" takes on self-publishing throughout the business. Thanks!