And now for the news!
This week in the world of self-publishing:
Since there’s not much going on in the world of self-publishing this week, I thought it’d be nice to follow up on the article we covered last week entitled, “Self-Publishing: An Insult to the Written Word”, as Huffington Post just released an article with a counter argument titled, “Self-Publishing: An Insult to the Written Word or a Boon to the Industry?”
In this article, Samita Sarkar–a self-published author herself–defends the industry with anecdotal and researched defenses for the industry that Gough had spent an entire article belittling. Sarkar points to the more intimate connectedness self-published authors can achieve with their audience, the freedom they experience with regards to subject matter and the opportunity they have to become their own small-scale printing press.
What Gough called the “burden” of editing independent authors work, Sarkar calls a pleasure and an honor. “These authors are investing in their book and realize that they need professional help to improve on their work and make it more enjoyable for their readers and more marketable,” she says, “Why put them down for that?”
Sarkar finishes the article by critiquing Gough for her heavy focus on the idea that the art of writing itself “has been cheapened by self-publishing,” she goes on, “But self-publishing can help to give people a voice. It provides them an outlet that they may otherwise never have had so they can connect with other people. Isn’t that what art is all about?”
Of course it is. Art is about creative expression. Maybe you don’t prefer the cubist art of Picasso, but instead find yourself more drawn to the High Renaissance art of Leonardo da Vinci; whether or not you have a palate for a particular type of art does not mean that one or the other isn’t art by definition. There are readers that will prefer self-published books and there are readers who will steer clear of them, don’t ever silence yourself because of those who don’t like your work, but keep writing for those who will continue to love and appreciate it.
As a self-publishing author, you may find it helpful to stay up-to-date on the trends and news related to the self-publishing industry. This will help you make informed decisions before, during and after the self-publishing process, which will lead to a greater self-publishing experience. To help you stay current on self-publishing topics, simply visit our blog every Monday to find out the hottest news. If you have other big news to share, please comment below.
Self Publishing Advisor 