Poll #60: Self Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing

[Shaun]

Since this was a topic that cause a bit of a stir on my blog recently, I thought I would bring it to you guys. I'll do another poll related next week, I think.

Have at it!

[Bowie20049]

Too many kids doing self publishing because they are too lazy and impatient...I'd rather do traditional.

[Lykaios]

A traditionally published book is [generally] of better quality than a self-published book. There are exceptions like Twilight, but I won't go there. But I agree with Bowie, self-publishing lets in anything someone cares to write . . . Patokafus, for example, of shoddy quality and then the authors get high on their own egos which is never a good thing. :/

I'd go with traditional publishing any day, despite the billions of rejection letters. :P

[Bowie20049]

HAHA Patokafus!

[Gabby]

*Agrees with Bowie and Lykaios* Traditional publishing makes you seem more... Of a serious writer and more sophisticated...?

[Shaun]

Good lord I still remember that Patokofas guy. What a horrible example of self-publishing :P.

[Lykaios]

Hehe, whenever I feel my writing's crap, I wander over to Amazon, have a read of Patokafus and come back feeling a lot better about the rubbish I just wrote. :P

[Majyk]

I agree with Lily. Anyone can self-publish their stuff, so I'd rather go with the traditional way.

[Bowie20049]

Thank god this isn't a debate thread xD

[Meghan]

I'm not completely turned off to self-publishing, because I think it can be a very good and personal thing. I have a story I would never try to get published because it's idiotic and I wrote it because my friends wanted something interesting to read. If I ever published it, I would take the self-publishing route, because I could keep it restricted to a small group of people for sentimental value.

However, I personally think of traditional publishing as "real" or "official" publishing. Self-publishing is too easy and too personal. That's why I voted for traditional publishing.

[Shaun]

Ah, well see that makes a lot of sense, but that's not typically what SPing is used for these days. I don't see anything wrong with just printing a book to give to friends and stuff. Obviously real books are better than word documents.

[Avery_Rayne]

Actually, there are other places that you can print your novel/storts in book form, without having to go through the bother of publishing/self-publishing, especially if it's meant for a small group. My grandfather has several friends who own printing presses.

That said, traditional publishing is best. It entails good quality and attention to detail. And it also means you took the steps and were good enough to get there. Makes you feel more pride to hold a book in your hands published by Random House than PublishAmerica.

[Ace-Darkeyes]

I would prefer traditional but if I didn't get in that way I would go for self-publishing, some authors started out with self-publishing until they caught a publisher's eye and then went into traditional.

[Clawfire]

Traditional!!!

[FayGee]

Traditional is the way to go!