Hey Folks- I have been mulling over this project for well over a year and have run into a point where my ignorance of publishing and the rate of change in information delivery have left me stumped. In the process of writing my thesis about communication I found that the use of the same ideas in my business resulted in a significant and directly attributable rise in income. I don't feel that these rules and ideas are in any way magical, they simply require awareness of them and some practice in their use. They could be presented in a variety of ways from print to seminars. I admit to my capitalist leanings and would like to generate a little income from the presentation of these processes and ideas. After reading and talking with many folks in the publishing and writing field it seems the industry is in a state of flux in which the print readers and the electronic sampler generations have formed opposing camps to the benefit of neither. Unfortunately the current times are times of the sound bite and "Dummy" books. No one seems to want in depth information or anything that requires them to do any thinking. Figure that today's top headlines are about the new .xxx domain names for porn sites and you have the current wind direction. With these things in mind the options that I see currently are; 1. Self publish in print. Yes Cogito, I will be sure to pay for proper editing and review. I did send out these ideas to about a dozen agents, all of whom felt it would be too niche for them. Yes, they were agents that worked in that area. 2. Publish as an ebook. Unfortunately ebooks are already being taken over by the ebook scammers who are cobbling together garbage in hopes that you won't reverse your Paypal purchase. 3. Publish online through a website as a series of articles/chapters/presentations which folks can read and link to. Springboard from this to marketing seminars, speaking, or ebooks. In the end I am trying to balance my passion for the field with my desire not to waste my time. A friend said to do it just to get it out there but I wouldn't see the point of investing the time in something with no response. I welcome your thoughts and am sure there will be some great questions to help me expand my thinking on this. Hopefully you all can help me find North and get moving from this mired spot. Paul
I never recommend an unpublished writer paying for a professional editor. Professional editors are for well-established writers who must meet deadlines for existing contracts, can afford the cost coming out of their profits, and have carefully chosen an editor who understands and respects the writer's style. There is no substitute for being your own proofreader. If your spelling, punctuation, and grammar skills are sub-par, put the effort into improving them. For a new writer, paid editors are a waste of money, and a poorly chosen one can ruin your book. If you wish to make a profit, stick to traditional publishers. As attractive as self-publishing and ebooks may seem, they are rarely profitable.
Sorry C, on another thread you had commented on unedited work being self published. Having edited for others I know better than to edit my own writing with high expectations.
as a professional editor myself, i agree with cog in toto ... that said, i now do for free all i used to do for $150/hour, so if you want some help deciding which way to go and/or with the development of your book/whatever, feel free to drop me a line any time, paul... love and hugs, maia
