Self Publishing: Should I Self-Publish?

I get emails, based from my blogs. Not the spam kind, but a lot of questions about writing, and publishing. I've written a blog for more than two years now, and people know my email address. So I do get some questions. Some of them ask me how to self-publish a book, other ask me what went wrong. One stood out in my mind, and i felt it important enough to give it some thought and a hub. ( I haven't changed anything in this email... spelling and grammar as is)

"I have an number of books I wrote, and wanted to pbubilsh. I wote a ton, I mean a ton odf query letters and sent them and hte entire book out to agents, big time publishers and the littel itty bitty guys as well. No responce is gotten yet. I want my books publsihed and I want them now, This whole trational publsihing thingy is bunk. I'll get millions thru going to hte self-publsihing industry. I should self-publsih but what do you think?"

I have read and reread this email. I believe I have come up with an appropriate response to them. I don't know if they will like it but it is what I think.

In this case I feel that they made three very large and very big/ crucial mistakes. There are others but I will focus on three. Yes I know there are others, but three is good enough to work on, and if this email-er truly wants to publish; three is also workable.

They wrote a number of books, now they don't give me many details, in this email, in terms of how many or how long, but "number" to me usually means three or more. Now, if I am a literary agent and receive this type of email or letter or fax written in this way, I would certainly not read the query letter. I wouldn't read the manuscript no matter how good the plot line or outline is. In this business you only have one shot to impress. Make it a good one. Spell check is on most emails now, and people who don't use them, and are writers leave a bad impression. If they write a number of books, I would ask did they edit them?

Editing can take time, but it is needed. No chance to be published in a traditional publishing house if it is not. Go online to an editor is needed and necessary. Better yet, pay for an editor-- a professional editor-- whom you can speak with.

They mention that they wrote a "ton" of query letters. This to me signals that this person did not do any research into what their books target audience was about. Marketing plan are needed for a reason! The industry while it may seem large and hard to break into is also small. If there is a person who sends out mass query letters agents and publishers will talk with one another. If the query letter is bad, they do talk even more. I have an editor for some of my work in progress books; ( I have a non-fiction and a fiction book, and short stories. all WiP phase) and I have been working with her for more than a year now. This gives me an insight to the publishing industry. People (editors and literary agents and people from teh publishing houses) will write about it on blogs and emails to each other. In this case, this person made a rather large mistake by sending mass query letters and unsolicited manuscripts to agents and publishers alike.My suggestion: Buy Writer's Market, open it up, and read it.

Also,take an online course on how to write a query letter. For what they probably spent on sending all these query letters and manuscripts, a good course would be about the same price. It is one of the biggest pieces of writing for a writer, it needs to be perfect and personalized. It also needs to be clear. If it's not clear or if it's not meant for this particular editor, it will likely be rejected. Grammar, spelling, clarity, and information in the query letter are must.

The final main mistake I want to point out is this: self-publishing isn't for everyone, and in this case I would advise against them going the self-publishing route for two reasons: One should go to one of the "larger" self-publishing presses or vanity presses, such as Author House, IUniverse or Xlibris, they will be wasting their money. (I use the term vanity press with them as well, due to the definition of vanity press) This is of course based only upon the email. I can not say for certain but if they sent this email without checking, it makes me assume that there are mistakes on the manuscript. I do know from subsequent emails that there is no change in the spelling or grammar. They have not told me how many books they have written.

If they go the self-publishing route which is harder for some, as the responsibility is on the writer/author, I fear that they will wonder why they did not make the money they expected. A million dollars is harder to achieve in both the traditional publishing industry and the self-publishing industry.

It is harder to do so if the books isn't at it finest. To self-publish would give that industry another writer who could make the argument that self-publishing is for people who can not write more strength. As I have published as a self-published author, and have the goal of traditional publishing, I do not want any more "black" marks on self-publishing.

So, In answer to this email of Should I Self Publish? My Answer, after careful thought:

No, go back to your manuscript polish it up do the marketing plans and research send it out to some literary agents, and editors, and if they still say no, then and only then go and self-publish. Go into everything with your finest work and you will succeed anywhere, this will only make you money if you do three things: One edit your work, two get a professional editor, and three have other read it who will give you honest feeback.

If you really want to self-publish, you need to take a good hard look at your manuscript and then above all do your research into self-publishers.