Monday, January 11, 2010

The rise of self-publishing

Another article about the rise of self-publishing, this time by Helen Brown in the Telegraph.
Although there is no way of breaking down the types of book being self-published, [Jane] Rowland [editor of The Self Publishing Magazine] estimates that it’s 60 per cent fiction and 40 per cent non-fiction. With the growing number of self-publishers comes a new public respect for self-published authors. So commentators who once derided “vanity published” writers are now beginning to acknowledge an empowered DIY culture. It’s no longer publishing for rejects, but “alternative publishing”; a bold stance outside the homogenised mainstream.

4 comments:

  1. In the first place, self-publishing shouldn't be treated as a place for rejects. Writing is an art. And as complex as it is, i think it just knows no boundaries. But of course, it still has to adhere to professional writing standards.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Does anyone have access to a book scanner?
    Here's a description. http://www.diybookscanner.org/

    http://scitedaily.com/googles-book-scanning-technology-revealed/

    Suited for writers who have books they want to republish.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous2:00 pm

    A 'Salutary lesson'.

    My brother-in-law telephoned - "My wife has written a book and it's being published."

    Good for her! She kept at it until it was finished - not easy as we all know.

    The book arrived. All 800 pages. A crime story.

    I don't know the details but they were 'Robbed'

    Notwithstanding the story needed serious editing to make it flow better - the book was unreadable. Spelling mistakes. Virtually no punctuation, inverts in the wrong place or omitted, phrases repeated....

    In the first three pages over 50 errors.

    Try as I might, it was impossible to read and that's a shame because she obviousley put their heart into writing something that is never going to be read - and all for the sake of a little judicious 'subbing' and a better printer.

    Beware the 'RIP-OFF' self publishers.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Self-publishers like Lulu.com do not include proof reading or editing or anything other than simply printing. Other services are offered at an extra cost.
    The London School of Printing http://www.lcc.arts.ac.uk/printing_publishing_school.htm does courses for writers who want to learn self-publishing.
    I have a Writer's Data Base on www.makemovies.co.uk/blog/index.html that lists many services to writers.

    ReplyDelete

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.