Our question this month is What publishing path are you considering/did you take, and why?
When I decided to be a writer back in the 90s, traditional publishing with an agent and a publisher was the only real option. Today, I consider myself a hybrid author. Although I'll still publish most of my work independently, I'll participate in anthologies if I find them interesting.I enjoy having control over my projects, and while I obviously want to find a steady stream of readers for my work, I can also write "projects of the heart" to keep my passion for writing alive. I'd rather retain full rights for my novels, but short story markets take fewer rights and introduce my work to new readers. No matter if you pursue traditional publishers/agents (remember: there's no guarantee they'll choose you) or take on the publishing role yourself, writing is a business, and there's no easy path to success. It takes time to develop your craft and find an audience.
What's your writing path? I would love to give you some choices here like the old "Choose Your Own Adventure" books, but I'm afraid there's only one place for comments for this post.
8 comments:
It does, and it takes a lot of work no matter which path you take.
Hybrid is good.
Either way, it's a lot of work. It is nice to have both options.
Teresa
Hybrid all the way. I think that's pretty much the way it works for all authors these days--except the slaves--I mean traditionally published, deadline driven authors of large publishing houses.
The thing about having control over my work is important to me. My current project is meant to be the first part of a series, a very long series. I'd be very upset if I went with a traditional publisher and, for whatever reason, they didn't let me finish the series or made me skip parts of it.
Honestly if someone wanted to pay me tens of thousands of dollars for it I'd sign over my book in a heartbeat. :-P
IWSG September
It seems like there is something for everyone. ;-)
Anna from elements of emaginette
No guarantee at all they will choose you. I remember meeting an author who'd self-pubbed and I had to chuckle when she said she was hiring an agent for her next book. Sorry honey, they hire you.
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