Comments on: Self-Publishing, E-books, and Legitimacy: Fin http://mispeled.net/2009/09/18/self-publishing-e-books-and-legitimacy-fin/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=self-publishing-e-books-and-legitimacy-fin Writing, Games, and Technology Sat, 31 Jul 2010 05:01:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Passing the Hat? « Anthony Stevens’ Weblog http://mispeled.net/2009/09/18/self-publishing-e-books-and-legitimacy-fin/comment-page-1/#comment-130 Passing the Hat? « Anthony Stevens’ Weblog Sun, 04 Oct 2009 09:24:11 +0000 http://mispeled.net/?p=252#comment-130 [...] here’s a series of essays on self-publishing that also generate some good [...] [...] here’s a series of essays on self-publishing that also generate some good [...]

]]> By: mispeled http://mispeled.net/2009/09/18/self-publishing-e-books-and-legitimacy-fin/comment-page-1/#comment-102 mispeled Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:31:31 +0000 http://mispeled.net/?p=252#comment-102 Sure. There is a lot of craptent out there. And some of it is mine. I mentioned in my first post of this series that I'm still learning. We're all still learning. I'm also not trying to charge for my learning exploits - I give away my craptent for free. But it's not just about bad writing - it's more than that. The face of publishing is changing - I just want to make sure it changes for the better. Sure. There is a lot of craptent out there. And some of it is mine. I mentioned in my first post of this series that I’m still learning. We’re all still learning. I’m also not trying to charge for my learning exploits – I give away my craptent for free.

But it’s not just about bad writing – it’s more than that. The face of publishing is changing – I just want to make sure it changes for the better.

]]> By: Jason http://mispeled.net/2009/09/18/self-publishing-e-books-and-legitimacy-fin/comment-page-1/#comment-101 Jason Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:52:39 +0000 http://mispeled.net/?p=252#comment-101 Anytime I come across someone complaining about traditional publishing not being fair and skipping over so many good books, I try to track down examples of their writing. So far, I havn't come across one single person on the self-publishing side of this debate who is good enough to be published traditionally. See folks, there's a reason you're not getting an agent or getting that book deal. You're just not good enough... Yet. Keep at it for another ten years, learn how to craft a scene and create tension and write dialog that doesn't seem so plastic. In other words, work on the craft. Sure there are books in the stores that you don't like, but I read writing samples from people linked to in this post and what I saw was much worse. Just because you and your close friends think you're great doesn't mean you are. If everyone could write and publish a novel, then everyone would have a novel. That right there is the problem with self-publishing. It takes zero talent to do it, so anyone who wants to can do it no matter how bad they are. Anytime I come across someone complaining about traditional publishing not being fair and skipping over so many good books, I try to track down examples of their writing. So far, I havn’t come across one single person on the self-publishing side of this debate who is good enough to be published traditionally.

See folks, there’s a reason you’re not getting an agent or getting that book deal. You’re just not good enough… Yet. Keep at it for another ten years, learn how to craft a scene and create tension and write dialog that doesn’t seem so plastic. In other words, work on the craft.

Sure there are books in the stores that you don’t like, but I read writing samples from people linked to in this post and what I saw was much worse. Just because you and your close friends think you’re great doesn’t mean you are.

If everyone could write and publish a novel, then everyone would have a novel. That right there is the problem with self-publishing. It takes zero talent to do it, so anyone who wants to can do it no matter how bad they are.

]]> By: Dan Holloway http://mispeled.net/2009/09/18/self-publishing-e-books-and-legitimacy-fin/comment-page-1/#comment-84 Dan Holloway Sat, 19 Sep 2009 21:16:17 +0000 http://mispeled.net/?p=252#comment-84 Hi, I'm sorry I missed this - found you through Levi M. I couldn't agree more. There was a great article about punk publishing oevr on www.publetariat.com recently. The point is to do our thing and engage with our readers and set up a community alongside the mainstream - then watch their relative size change. I think you've got your analysis SPOT ON. What we need is to be read. And free e-publishing is the wy to do that (I blogged on the importance of being read and the freemium debate over at http://loudpoet.com/2009/09/03/freemium-for-writers-is-two-debates/). Can I ask you to get in touch. I run the Free-e-day festival (www.freeeday.wordpress.com) celebrating indie art, music, literature and film through free downloads, as well as offering practical help workshops and debates. I'd love to have you on board. Very best Dan Hi, I’m sorry I missed this – found you through Levi M.

I couldn’t agree more. There was a great article about punk publishing oevr on http://www.publetariat.com recently. The point is to do our thing and engage with our readers and set up a community alongside the mainstream – then watch their relative size change.

I think you’ve got your analysis SPOT ON. What we need is to be read. And free e-publishing is the wy to do that (I blogged on the importance of being read and the freemium debate over at http://loudpoet.com/2009/09/03/freemium-for-writers-is-two-debates/).

Can I ask you to get in touch. I run the Free-e-day festival (www.freeeday.wordpress.com) celebrating indie art, music, literature and film through free downloads, as well as offering practical help workshops and debates. I’d love to have you on board.

Very best

Dan

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