Please take a moment to participate in the following survey. Thank you.


Getting Published

1) On a scale from 1 to 10, how hard is it to get a book published?
2) In general, do you think it’s hard to get published? Why—what is the primary reason?
3) Have you ever considered alternative methods of publishing? What do you think of self-publishing and the like? Why?

1) 10 being the hardest
2) the work sucks, or there is bias on gender, race, nationality from the publishers
3) no; if you are self-published you are not a true writer

1) 10
2) Even if you do manage to be accepted you have to go through ages just fixing the book.

3) Self-publishing is far too expensive but maybe email publishing is alright. Self-publishing is usually only helpful to attract the eyes of proper publishing companies.

1) 10
2) yep, cause other people will be better
3) www2.xlibris.com is quite cheap for there basic and there Executive Service $6000/£3500 is dam nice

1) On a scale from 1 to 10, how hard is it to get a book published?

10 (maybe a small fraction less).

2) In general, do you think it’s hard to get published? Why—what is the primary reason?

Because there is a lot of competition out there (One major publisher, for example, that does still accept unsolicited submissions get about 50 completed novel packages a day. Simply, there are far more writers are submitting than publishers have slots for.

The second reason, in my opinion, is that many aspiring writers don't have the high level of skills required (some even lack basic grammar and story telling ability), and are unwilling to take the time and put forth the effort needed to learn/improve to be competitive with the top tier of writers submitting and getting the notice of publishers (and works on the shelves).

3) Have you ever considered alternative methods of publishing? What do you think of self-publishing and the like? Why?

Nope. But it depends on your writing and your goals. You don't have to pay to be published (or not much) with some printers like lulu.com. Other places offer varying packages. Realize that the notice, availability, and distrubution of your work will very likely be quite limited in comparison to other avenues (ie. having a major or even a respected smaller house accept and publish your work).

Terry

could've sworn i answered this yesterday...

1) On a scale from 1 to 10, how hard is it to get a book published?

...for a first time writer, around 12!

2) In general, do you think it’s hard to get published?

...yes...

Why—what is the primary reason?

...there are so many poor writers sending in their stuff that it's hard for the good ones to even get their work seen, much less considered...

3) Have you ever considered alternative methods of publishing?

...no!... and wouldn't recommend it for anyone who wants to become a real 'published author'...

What do you think of self-publishing and the like?

...any of the vanity publishing routes are only ok for those who don't write well enough to get paid for their work, but are desperate to see it in book form and are willing to pay the cost... or, for writers of non-fiction that has a very narrow market and who can market it well enough themselves...

Why?

...because the serious writer should be paid for his/her work, not pay someone to publish it... and because going that route does not make you a published writer, in the business world of publishing... when any of my mentees insist on doing it, i urge them to use a nom de plume, so as to not taint their real name, in case they want to pursue paying publishers later on...