Self Publishing vs Traditional Publishing

The debate is raging. With the coming of the internet and Amazon's pioneering efforts to make it so much easier to publish yourself, why do traditional publishers still exist? What is their purpose? Why, oh why, do we let them run off with all that lovely money we as writers so greatly deserve?

Well, dear reader, it's because they have skills, resources and knowledge that we as writers don't necessarily have.

There is a certain amount of ego involved in wanting to be published by a traditional publisher, and quite a bit more credibility. A reader knows that a book published by a traditional publisher is held to a high standard - from content, to editing to formatting.

With a self-published work, the reader just doesn't know what they're going to get. The cover is a pretty good indicator. If you're looking at something that's clearly been slapped together in Word, you can generally assume that not much more care has been taken with the content. In some ways, a professionally designed jaw-dropping cover is more important with a self-published title, because it lends your book credibility.

Self-publishing can be lucrative - it's a rapidly growing sector. But if you choose to self-publish you have to do all those things a publisher would normally do for you. You have to get your book professionally edited, you have to have it laid out, illustrated and designed by professionals. You have to put ten times as much effort into marketing your book as you did in writing it. You can't skimp. These things are what dictate the success of your book.

It doesn't matter if you've written the most heart-achingly wonderful story since the dawn of time, if your presentation is bad, it will not sell.

So while self-publishing is certainly an option, if you don't have the skills or the bank roll to make sure every element is covered, then find a publisher to do it for you.

I'm an aspiring writer - what now?

So you're an 'aspiring writer'?

No, you're not. You're either a writer, or you aren't. And do you know how you can tell? If you write, you're a writer. What you are, is an aspiring author. (Or possibly journalist. How would I know? I'm just a keyboard monkey).

To make the leap from 'writer' to 'author' you need one thing - to be published. Of course there's plenty of steps between the two, and plenty of ways to get lost and distracted on the way.

But where do you start?

By writing, silly.

There are no set rules for how to hammer your book together. I personally prefer to just power through the first draft, figuring out plot lines and characters as I go, without worrying too much about the gaping plot holes I leave in my wake. Others prefer to work out their plots meticulously, point by point, then cobble them together in a first draft later. Still others work on their characters long before the story even starts to evolve, and let their characters tell them where to go.

How you work is up to you, and your first step is probably figuring out what works best for you. Do you draft? Do you plot? Do you dream up characters? Do you mess around on the internet hoping fairies finish the book for you?

That last one doesn't work. Trust me.

I take it back, there is one set rule for writing. WRITE! Every day. Whether it's 100 words or 3 000, write. Because before you can get your book published, you have to finish it. And we really want to see that finished manuscript. Go write. We're waiting.

Why do we exist?

It's simple. South African writers just don't have the resources and support that they deserve. There is a wealth of talent in this country, but no one knows what to do with it. The publishing industry is small, and the good men and women within the industry can only do so much.

Self publishing is becoming more and more relevant across the world. The mistrust that many have for a self published work is starting to fade - because there have been so many successes in self publishing. Stick around, and we'll be profiling a few of these in the future.

ePublishing is not just becoming more relevant, it's the preferred form of publishing internationally. SA is so far behind on this trend, it's embarrassing. The publishing houses still fear it, to a large extent, or just don't have the time and resources to get in there. There is some great work being done by a few imprints. For example, the RHS imprint eKhaya is a purely electronic publisher and has given a few SA authors their big break; authors such as Christine Porter, Celia Bayliss and award winning S.O. Kenani.

But the real power comes in self publishing electronically. Electronic publishing has made it so much easier for writers to just get out there and do it themselves. But just because you're a writer, doesn't mean you have your head wrapped around every aspect of the industry. And it's a complex one, from finding the right editor, designing the perfect cover, to marketing. Oh, marketing, thou dark and twisted mistress.

That's where eReads comes in. Our team has the industry savvy to help you through the rocky paths of publishing. Whether you're an author seeking a publisher, or seeking to self publish. Whether you're a publisher trying to break into the world of electronic marketing, eReads can help. It starts with this blog, so keep an eye.

If you have any questions, drop us a comment. We'll get back to you personally, or in your very own blog post.