Comments on: Everything You Thought You Knew is Wrong

By: Self-Publishing Review | Blog | Not Your Father’s Self-Publishing

Self-Publishing Review | Blog | Not Your Father’s Self-Publishing — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 01:47:32 +0000

[...] it should be very clear by now that the choice of whether or not to self-publish is, to quote Guy LeCharles Gonzalez, a business decision. [...]

By: Guy LeCharles Gonzalez

Guy LeCharles Gonzalez — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:12:33 +0000

“We live in a time where we can have a choice.”

Yes, that's the heart of the entire conversation right there, perfectly summarized.

By: miriam o'sher

miriam o'sher — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:29:08 +0000

Hmm. People put their own money up for movies, plays, inventions, political campaigns, cabaret shows, etc. … and no one minds or thinks them any the less “legitimate.” What's with book publishing?

The one thing you need to do this is…money. No doubt about it. Also control. Also keep your rights. All of them. However you can do that. So, if you can, I say go to it. If you can't, don't. In other words, traditional publishing is the poor sap's way out, right? Let's get that rumor started!!!

I think if any “traditionally” published (and actually “traditional” publishing is self publishing) author would have his or her druthers, they'd keep their rights and everything else, not succumb to an editor who has a distorted view of what a success might mean (for the house, not the author) and a lack of control over many important aspects pertaining to the book.

There are projects of mine that I think are good for a “traditional” book publishing route – frankly, I think there's money to be made that way. But I also have projects that I know are not currently marketable by any but very small companies that just keep closing down or saying, “We love it but we can't.” If you can put the money forth for printing and for marketing and learn from mistakes (yours and others) … why the heck not? We live in a time where we can have a choice.

By: Self-Publishing Review — Blog — Not Your Father’s Self-Publishing

Self-Publishing Review — Blog — Not Your Father’s Self-Publishing — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:00:01 +0000

[...] it should be very clear by now that the choice of whether or not to self-publish is, to quote Guy LeCharles Gonzalez, a business decision. [...]

By: Not Your Father’s Self-Publishing | Self-Publishing Review

Not Your Father’s Self-Publishing | Self-Publishing Review — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 02:22:48 +0000

[...] it should be very clear by now that the choice of whether or not to self-publish is, to quote Guy LeCharles Gonzalez, a business decision. [...]

By: This Week in the Blogs: Week of November 22 – 28, 2009 — The Book Designer

This Week in the Blogs: Week of November 22 – 28, 2009 — The Book Designer — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 09:02:14 +0000

[...] LeCharles Gonzalez on Loudpoet Everything you though you knew is wrong By almost any definition, last week was a PR disaster for Harlequin, but for authors, it was just [...]

By: Sunday Wash Up, 29th November « Shack's Comings and Goings

Sunday Wash Up, 29th November « Shack's Comings and Goings — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 23:02:13 +0000

[...] Everything You Thought You Knew is Wrong Guy LeCharles Gonzalez casts an eye on the new imprints from existing publishers and the changing attitude to self-publishing. Favourite bit “Publishing, whether traditionally or DIY, is a business decision” . [...]

By: Dan Holloway

Dan Holloway — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:58:37 +0000

Agree absolutely with both of you. I talked a lot about industry protectionism earlier this year (if we independent writers are so awful, what is there to worry about? We'll soon go away), and got the answer you allude to above – that people are looking out for the interests of writers.

I am, just to put it on record, quite capable of looking after my own interests wuithout someone to hold my hand. And if I'm not, well then more fool me. Please don't speak on my behalf – I have a big enough mouth of my own!! (That's aimed at those who do, not at you two, to be clear )

By: Guy LeCharles Gonzalez

Guy LeCharles Gonzalez — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:50:47 +0000

Ego and turf protection are probably the BIGGEST factors in anti-self-publishing sentiment, and why vanity publishing and indie publishing are often combined in the debate to muddy the definitions.

There's also the condescension of protecting the “innocent writer”, as if they're somehow an exception to the rules of caveat emptor and due diligence. Ten years ago, falling for a vanity publishing scam was easy; nowadays, though, there's simply no excuse.

By: Guy LeCharles Gonzalez

Guy LeCharles Gonzalez — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:43:43 +0000

You're also not the average writer. If we were all held to your benchmark, there'd be a lot fewer books being published, self or traditionally!

That's not necessarily a bad thing…