Why Self-Publishing Isn’t the Future of Publishing
Monday, July 5, 2010
|
I uncover some unusual sites and blogs because I have a Google Alert for “future of publishing.” I can’t imagine I would have found it otherwise.
Andrew Shaffer is the author of the forthcoming Harper Perennial Paperback Original Great Philosophers Who Failed at Love, to be published January 4, 2011. (Unusual exactitude for a big publisher. However the fact that a completed manuscript won’t be published for another six months is in keeping with one of the big complaints about traditional trade publishing from those authors who bring out their handkerchiefs). |
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Daniel Wagstaff, Thad McIlroy. Thad McIlroy said: Why Self-Publishing Isn’t the Future of Publishing: I uncover some unusual sites and blogs because I have a Google… http://bit.ly/dgnWm7 [...]
This post is silly and naive. There is no reason why a self-published book can’t have an editor. Every books should have an editor (and not the author).
I’ve just completed my tenth self-pubbed book. All ten have had professional editing.
Michael N. Marcus
– Independent Self-Publishers Alliance, http://www.independentselfpublishers.org
– “Become a Real Self-Publisher: Don’t be a Victim of a Vanity Press” http://www.amazon.com/dp/0981661742
– “How toGet the Most out of a Self-Publishing Company” http://silversandsbooks.com/booksaboutpublishing/selfpubcompanybook.html
– “Stories I’d Tell My Children (but maybe not until they’re adults)” http://www.amazon.com/dp/0981661750
– http://www.BookMakingBlog.blogspot.com
– http://www.SilverSandsBooks.com
Michael Marcus: I assume that your comment refers to the original posting by Andrew Shaffer, whose site is linked to above, and also available for comment. I don’t state in my posting whether I agree or not with the possible implication in Marcus’ posting that editors are not part of the everyday self-publishing process.
I understand that some self-published authors have bypassed the editorial step to save money, or perhaps not understanding the value that editors so often bring to a book or article.
I have seen some more militant self publishers perceive editors more as filters than enhancers of the text. That is a naive perspective; I support your observation. As a published author I cherish the editors who have done so much to bring clarity to my thoughts. As a some-time editor, I stand stridently on the professional editors’ credo that my task is to assist the author in the task of making his or her expressions gain clarity, without bias or favor as to their intent.
Returning to the original post I see two comments, the second being from Mr. Shaffer in response to the first. He writes: “Some writers who self-publish do hire editors and copyeditors, and some traditionally published books appear to have never been touched by an editor. I think you’re right that traditional publishing won’t be wiped out, but that we’ll see a blurring of the lines.”
So it appears that we are all in agreement. Isn’t that nice?