Slef - pubilshing is the dark and stormy night

So I just read a fun little blog post on self-publishing:  http://www.themillions.com/2011/11/reasons-not-to-self-publish-in-2011-2012-a-list.html .  He makes some very valid arguments against self-publishing and quotes some top-notch authors on why to stick to the big publishers.  The big argument that still moves me is that of Refinement.  Editors and Copy Editors that can help you refine your story to be the best that it can be.  I've heard stories about having to remove characters, change plots and rewrite your favorite scene.  But even Harry Potter and Twilight had Editors.  These people read a LOT of stuff and they are pretty good at knowing what works and what doesn't.  That is a big plus for making your book a hit.

But what if you can't get it in to them?  What if the first couple of pages aren't as gripping and they round-file it before it gets good?  What if you send something in and you have no contacts in the industry?  What if it just plain sucks but your friends and family are too nice to tell you but you can't bring yourself to submit it for fear of rejection?  Self-publish.

There is nothing like a bunch of faceless people who can reject you immediately and forget you until your major hit comes out as opposed to someone who might create a file on you, make notes that other Editors can read when your next manuscript comes in.  I can handle a faceless reader dumping on my stuff.  I think.

The other advantage to self-publishing is that I can release my story in pieces.  The first one I plan on putting out there will come in 3 parts.  That's the way it was meant to be.  Will it ever be published as a whole book?  I don't know.  But this way I can publish as I finish each part.  I doubt a major publishing house will be willing to do that. 

So let it be written.  So let it be done.

This is the Novel Mage saying, *POOF*

When it rains, you get wet.

And NaNoWriMo has started.  My friends are headlong into it racking up word counts like an elephant and peanuts.  It's amazing, inspiring.  Not me.  My sum total of writing for the month consists of writing down the dream I had that would make a very surreal book.  My wife says I should write it.  Maybe that will be for next November when I don't have two group projects and other stressors actively assailing me.  December can't come soon enough.

This is the Novel Mage saying, *POOF*