Comments on: Of House Slaves, Fame and Fortune http://indianajim.net/main/?p=237 Writer, Podcaster, Amateur Voice Actor Fri, 30 Mar 2012 19:45:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Saul Garnell http://indianajim.net/main/?p=237&cpage=1#comment-6497 Saul Garnell Fri, 25 Nov 2011 14:51:06 +0000 http://indianajim.net/main/?p=237#comment-6497 This really was a good post. You've taken many arguments filled with emotion and put them down in a logical easy to consume package. The only thing I might add is the pleasure one gets by avoiding the trad. model's submission merry-go-round. That's what drove me towards Indie. I think many authors are face with a big choice. 1) they can start submitting, for what seemed would be 'forever, and then hope all the rejections and false promises of others mean something. Or 2) They can do more writing, editing, designing, marketing, and other useful stuff that goes into the content. When I thought about these two options, I just couldn't see going down path 1) for almost all the reasons you stated above. And even if things don't work, you still have something to show for all your hard work. Everyone needs to make their own decision. Both models work, but at the same time, both also fail. One has to balance the facts and estimate their chances of getting lucky too. So...taking everything into account, I'll take my chances with Indie for now. Thanks for making me think it's the right choice. This really was a good post. You’ve taken many arguments filled with emotion and put them down in a logical easy to consume package. The only thing I might add is the pleasure one gets by avoiding the trad. model’s submission merry-go-round. That’s what drove me towards Indie. I think many authors are face with a big choice. 1) they can start submitting, for what seemed would be ‘forever, and then hope all the rejections and false promises of others mean something. Or 2) They can do more writing, editing, designing, marketing, and other useful stuff that goes into the content. When I thought about these two options, I just couldn’t see going down path 1) for almost all the reasons you stated above. And even if things don’t work, you still have something to show for all your hard work.

Everyone needs to make their own decision. Both models work, but at the same time, both also fail. One has to balance the facts and estimate their chances of getting lucky too. So…taking everything into account, I’ll take my chances with Indie for now. Thanks for making me think it’s the right choice.

]]> By: Jim http://indianajim.net/main/?p=237&cpage=1#comment-6490 Jim Wed, 23 Nov 2011 14:19:57 +0000 http://indianajim.net/main/?p=237#comment-6490 Thanks very much for your comment, Joe. I have the benefit of seeing the issue from the outside. I have just one modest novella out on the market through a small press. Each part of publishing has its benefits and its drawbacks. Indie publishing makes sense on a limited scale, and you have to be a talented writer and a savvy marketer. For now, the traditional route means you sacrifice some freedom with your property for the opportunity to get more eyeballs. One way publishers are starting to modernize is they're coming around to the idea of print-on-demand tech to avoid huge print runs. However, as more and more people turn to the convenience of Amazon or Barnes and Noble's website, and as ebooks take on further market share, the viability of bookstores becomes increasingly more bleak. Bookstores will end up with less and less space, and publishers will spend their money on print runs for the big sellers, so real shelf space may not even matter in five years. Thanks very much for your comment, Joe. I have the benefit of seeing the issue from the outside. I have just one modest novella out on the market through a small press. Each part of publishing has its benefits and its drawbacks. Indie publishing makes sense on a limited scale, and you have to be a talented writer and a savvy marketer.

For now, the traditional route means you sacrifice some freedom with your property for the opportunity to get more eyeballs. One way publishers are starting to modernize is they’re coming around to the idea of print-on-demand tech to avoid huge print runs.

However, as more and more people turn to the convenience of Amazon or Barnes and Noble’s website, and as ebooks take on further market share, the viability of bookstores becomes increasingly more bleak. Bookstores will end up with less and less space, and publishers will spend their money on print runs for the big sellers, so real shelf space may not even matter in five years.

]]> By: Joe Vasicek http://indianajim.net/main/?p=237&cpage=1#comment-6489 Joe Vasicek Wed, 23 Nov 2011 06:00:53 +0000 http://indianajim.net/main/?p=237#comment-6489 Excellent post. I think your approach to this issue is spot on: writing is a business, and anyone who wants to write seriously needs to treat it like one. Also, the dichotomy between indie and traditional publishing is entirely false, and the ongoing argument between the two only hurts writers in both camps. You've got to evaluate your current position and do what makes sense--and in so many ways, indie publishing just makes sense. Excellent post. I think your approach to this issue is spot on: writing is a business, and anyone who wants to write seriously needs to treat it like one. Also, the dichotomy between indie and traditional publishing is entirely false, and the ongoing argument between the two only hurts writers in both camps. You’ve got to evaluate your current position and do what makes sense–and in so many ways, indie publishing just makes sense.

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