Storm the Gates & Bang Your Own Drum AKA Resolution to Self-Publish

I didn’t exactly idly wait around while agents and publishers mulled over my manuscript and then concocted creative letters to let me down easily. I started to outline book number two. And then in the summer of 2009, I traveled to England and Spain to inspect the locations for my next literary adventure. I took my notes. I took my photos. And I even got robbed again. This time it was my digital camera in Pamplona. (I’ll tell you all about it in a future post.)

In 2010, I even started writing the second book while the first one stagnated inside cramped production company offices. It was, of course, pleasing to be creative again, but frustrating to have nothing to sell. So I started reading self-publishing manuals. Unlike agents and publishers, the books were extremely positive and hopeful. Why wait for rejection? Do it yourself. Why compromise your vision? Do it yourself. Why unfairly share in the revenue? Do it yourself. It would require a lot of work, and initially present a lot of confusion, but it seemed possible. I still don’t know if the book would sell, but at least it would be made available.

So at Christmas time I decided to self-publish the book myself. It was like one of those New Year’s Eve resolutions. I felt confident enough that I could do this, provided that I divided up the work into small sections. Let’s worry about hiring an editor today, and not how to convert the manuscript into a Christmas e-book. Let’s register the copyright first, before we start considering which shirt to wear for a TV interview. Baby steps with prudent organization and singular focus.

The one positive note from the long delay (since my first draft stage) was the evolving change of perception in self-publishing. It was once considered a big black eye on your book. “Oh, you’re self-publishing? Must be pretty awful then…” Now self-publishing is a legitimate threat to the rarefied air of the publishing palaces.

It’s well-known and obvious that there are just too many good authors out there, and not enough profitable companies to harness them. Profit margins are slim, companies are dying. Chances can’t be taken. Who has the stomach to try something new and challenging? They have to pump out the latest Grisham. He’s a known commodity. Or they have to jump on the latest Snooki. She’s a fleeting star. Her fifteen minutes of fame are almost up; it’s time to capitalize.

The publishers have to make fast and difficult choices and let many talented authors slip through their fingers. “There’s just not enough time to nurture you. There’s just not enough money to market you properly. Good luck. No hard feelings.”

However, now it’s fully acceptable to self-publish. It’s now a completely viable option, especially in the e-book world. Now people are applauded for taking the chance on themselves and getting their product to the marketplace—and let the audiences decide what’s good and what’s not.

The unforgiving catch is in the promotion. Big publishers spend big money and push hard. (For about three months. Then they have to move on to their next crop of books waiting in the wings.) The self-publishers just don’t have that marketing muscle. But we try. And we try a lot longer than three months!

The hardest part is breaking down the traditional gate keeping that still exists. All big city newspapers and almost all big name magazines still steer away from self-publishers. Perhaps it’s a decision based on the sheer volume of product. They simply require some basic parameters to restrict the relentless onslaught of more and more books. Perhaps it’s due to the demands of shrinking budgets and diminishing print space. Perhaps it’s due to the demands of their big name publishing clients. Perhaps it’s based on a lingering perception that self-published means lower quality. I don’t know. They won’t talk to me about it. I just receive the rejections. “Sorry, we don’t deal with self-publishers.”

“Quill and Quire” said that. “Quill and Quire” is arguably Canada’s bible to the book publishing industry. Wellllll, Canada’s bible to the book publishing industry that isn’t self-publishing.

Meanwhile, other publications take advantage of the seemingly desperate self-publisher and charge fees to list them. “Publishers Weekly” wanted $150 (big publishers list for free). “ForeWord” magazine wanted $129 to mention me in their digital e-zine (big publishers list in their regular magazine…for free).

I didn’t pay; less because of any budget concerns, and more because of my stubborn principles about being penalized for being a small company.

Hopefully, time and circumstance will change their minds.

And luckily, you can still get through the gates sometimes. There are people, programs, and publications that ignore the opinions of the establishment and take a chance on you…
 

For more posts on this self-publishing journey, check out:

https://www.johnmeyerbooks.com/validation-part-one/

https://www.johnmeyerbooks.com/validation-part-two/

https://www.johnmeyerbooks.com/the-tv-show-showdown/