A self-published author. Hold on and hear me out.
Not too long ago, what I do was called vanity publishing (insert sneer). The meaning of the expression was pretty clear. It was for authors who couldn’t get a publisher but were vain enough to think they were great writers and that the traditional houses didn’t know what they were missing. You paid for x number of books and had to sell them yourself. It was a practice that was ridiculed and looked down upon by “real” writers and publishers. I recall comments in Writer’s Digest back in the eighties warning against vanity publishing.
I imagine the lack of marketing left many cartons of unsold books in attics, basements, and garages the world over.
Times and technology have changed, but attitudes remain pretty hind bound. We are still considered by many to be nothing more than wannabes.
Like I care.
A group of us dirty wannabes had a discussion at the Grey Wolfe Scriptorium (Clawson, Michigan) last week about these attitudes. For newcomers, the Grey Wolfe Scriptorium is a bookstore/publisher here in southeast Michigan. In addition to used books, they feature and support local self-published Michigan authors. Walk in the front door and our books are the first ones you’ll see. They carry some 250+ titles, including mine. The Scriptorium has become my new favorite place. They offer seminars, host book signings, link writers with illustrators, and are just all around passionate about local writers. Led by the fearless and intrepid Diana, there’s nothing they won’t do to help an author succeed, including opening up space in the store for us to just sit down and work on our manuscripts. You can even bring your dog.
Recently, a man entered the bookstore and inquired about the focus on local/self-published authors. He felt if we were any good, we’d be published by one of the big publishing houses. He was getting pretty loud about it and as the store was filled with kids attending a book launch for a local author, he was invited to shop elsewhere.
One of our “Idea Lab” members wondered if our critic expected every NFL player to have won the Super Bowl.
He makes a valid point.
Writing seems to be the only art form in which you aren’t considered a legitimate artist unless you have a contract with some faceless entity.
Remember that musician playing the local club last week? Did they have a contract with a record label? How many Grammys have they won? Did you ask for these credentials or just sit and enjoy the music? Would you have walked out of the venue if these credentials weren’t produced?
Or how about the local art fairs you enjoy every summer? Did those artists have showings at the Guggenheim? Do their paintings and sculptures sit in the homes of prominent people? Did you turn up your nose and walk away when you found out they had no wealthy patrons?
If you can enjoy the work of artists in other fields without asking who “allows” them to create and sell their art, why don’t you give writers the same courtesy?
Granted, there are bad writers out there. There are also bad singers, songwriters, painters, and sculptors. Sour apples, I grant you, but none of that would stop you from listening to or purchasing what better artists offer. Nor would you malign all artists as wannabes who can’t make it, simply because they work out of their garage and personally hawk their wares to the public.
In fact, we even have a name for these unknowns. We don’t call them wannabes or losers. We call them local artists and they are given at least a modicum of respect.
Writing is an art form, no less so than painting or playing music. It’s difficult; and maybe bad writing is glaringly obvious in the sense that we expect stories to be told in a certain way, following certain rules, while the appreciation of other art forms is more subjective. I get that. But how will you know unless you give us a chance?
I made the decision a few years ago to stop banging on doors that were never likely to open to an unknown. I realized that I could spend the rest of my life trying to get some faceless (and sometimes soulless) publisher to consider my work, reaching zero readers in the process, or I could take that leap into self-publishing and sell a few books.
I haven’t sold many yet, but I’ve sold a lot more than those writers who are still waiting for the publishing gods to cast them a crumb.
Your stories are your art. Do your best and put them out there. You don’t need permission.
still largely considered to be wann
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