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Gatekeepers in publishing
I'm on a panel at next week's Weston litfest discussing Why DIY? It's on indie v trade publishing. One of the things we will be discussing is: Now that anyone can self-publish quickly and cheaply are there still gatekeepers?
Obviously agents and publishers exercise a level of quality control but how do you distinguish the best self-published books? Blogs, reviews, word of mouth? Any thoughts?
Comments
A chap who was extremely good at selling cam into Waterstones a few years ago and sold his book from a table. I read the first page and it was like a catalogue of writing errors - all tell not show, grammar errors, spelling errors... but he was good at selling and despite my frantic signals to OH he bought the book. He had spent a lot on the cover which was fab. He had 10,000 printed. I felt so sorry for him. Waerstone's had it on their shelves and I complained - I said that if you go into Waterstones you expect a certain standard from the books on the shelves and if they were going to sell self-published of such a poor quality they should be clearly labelled as such and not mixed in with the other books.
Now I only buy books by people I know. I can trust you lot.
I think there should be a gatekeeper for indie books which picks good quality and could give some sort of guarantee.
The Alliance of Indie Authors tries to promote a positive image for indies. Some authors are ripped off and believe they are producing a quality book because, well, someone's told them it is.
https://selfpublishingadvice.org/allis-self-publishing-service-directory/self-publishing-service-reviews/?affid=2339
Someone in another group said she wasn't paying to have her book proofread because she's a former teacher and another 'former teacher' has read it and only found one error. The free sample is stuffed full of errors. She's on top of her marketing and doing very, very well. It's a rubbish product. It's in shops. It has a good cover - it's the covers that fool people.
Unfortunately it's not just indie books. Traditionally published books are also lacking in quality control.
Is there a way to ensure only good quality books are published? No. Honest reviews on Amazon would help but you can't force people to leave a review.
https://selfpublishingadvice.org/opinion-if-indieland-must-have-gatekeepers-by-dan-holloway/?affid=2339
I don't know what can be done about it, TN. Reviews are only helpful if the reviewer is honest and you share their taste.
I have not found a children's book that is badly produced in for instance Waterstones. I have noticed the odd error in some books by high profile authors. But not huge ones.
Nothing like the vast and energy sapping indie products I have scanned here and there.
Absolutely the covers fool people!
He had also given up his day job, Baggy.
And I also know children's authors who have gone indie as they get a better return - once they have a following, it's easier to sell your book, plus of course children's authors sell in schools.
They're chasing their own books that fit the latest trend.
Self-publishing is hard work, and have costs involved to produce a good product, but you can get the right cover rather than the cover style that is the publishers/marketing favourite designers produce/it's the latest cover style/colour for the trend- like the black covers for FSOG- they started using it on any erotica book coming out.
But such is life...
Even a budget book would cost £3 to produce – plus the set-up fees.
I also think that writers constantly forget that the general public don't see any difference between self-publishing and vanity. I've said this before. My OH is a good example of a member of Joe Public who sneers at self-published books and won't countenance reading any. He won't even read the anthologies I've been published in because he thinks they must be crap, vanity books if they're not worthy of 'real' publishers.
Sorry - but that's how it is. I've bought and read quite a few tber's books and some have been good, but some have not. I don't tend to advertise the fact when I buy a tber's book because if I don't rate it I don't have to say anything. I made the mistake some years ago of leaving an honest review of a member's book and that person blanked me thereafter. (Not a current member I hasten to add.)
Submitting a book to gain a badge isn't the same as a gatekeeper.
Also, what incentive is there to submit a book? I've just gone to another forum and the consensus of opinion is that it doesn't help with sales. However, it adds a nice sentence or two to promotional text. That's from authors on the site.
The problem (IMO) isn't that potential readers think 'oh it looks like it might be self published and therefore rubbish' but that potential readers don't even know the book exists.
Indie authors are more likely to attend local events – fairs etc. and sell locally. Also, giving talks to local groups will help with sales. The WI circuit (if an author passes their interview) is also a good seam to mine.
I have a spare room and my home is JC friendly.
So, I went to Amazon and found them. I looked at one. All of the content – ALL! – is centred. Also, the font size changes for no obvious reason.