Self-Publishing

A stirring in the blogging community regarding e-publishing has brought the pot to a frothy boil.  This isn't a new debate for any novice writer attempting to break into print.  In fact, I have posed this question to myself for many years now.  Is self-publishing actually breaking into print?  For me personally, the answer has always been no.  Landing a publishing contract seemed like the only way to earn the right to share my work.  Self-publishing felt like cheating...until recently.  A few days ago, I came across a posting (Are Publishing Agents an Endangered Species?) that changed my perception.  As I read, I began to see my writing from a business perspective rather than an emotional view.

A while back, I worked as a real-estate investor.  I discovered I had a knack for predicting trends and seeing the hidden potential in an under-priced market that was ready to inflate.  My real-estate agents were great at their jobs, but they couldn't work my properties with the same vision or enthusiasm.  Bottom line: they weren't as invested, both financially and emotionally. If I listed a house, months would pass without a contract, but if I put same house up for sell by owner and I showed the property, a buyer would be under contract within a week.  I flipped several properties over the years and everyone won.  But most importantly, I learned a valuable lesson I use in all aspects of my life today.  When someone stands in the middle, you lose the personal connection and both parties are unable to communicate their needs effectively.  The direct path is always the best way.

You might be asking "What does any of this have to do with self-publishing?"  And the answer is... everything!  Just like selling houses to the perfect fitting family, marketing Copper Descent on my own terms would give me the freedom to sell the way I deem fitting.  Taking this step would also give me much needed insight into the green pasture that lies beyond the rejection fence.  This also a controlled way to test for grass allergies before I wade in too far without an antihistamine.  With all of this under consideration, I have decided that if Copper Descent fails to retain a contract by the start of the new year, I will jump the railing and take my novel directly to the consumer.  This decision was not easy and I still get butterflies even thinking about what lies ahead, but the choice feels right for this project.  When I started writing Lucien's story several years ago, I knew publishing would be difficult, but I can see the hidden potential once again.