I’ve never
been disdainful of self-publishing. I know it can work for many people, but I
have been more standoffish with it for a number of reasons. Foremost, I like
agents. They’re good people. They’re knowledgeable. They shoulder a lot of work
for writers, and they know how to navigate the potential hazards. I still want
one.
But other
aspects of self-publishing are not as daunting as they used to be. The idea of
self-marketing and promotion isn’t as scary as it once was, thanks in large
part to a marketing book more about marketing business than books (of course,
the writer is the business when it comes to self-publishing, so it still
works).
So I’m
beginning to entertain the idea again, but one thing still holds me back: time.
Marketing one’s self as a self-published author takes an immense amount of time,
and time is ever a luxury, especially with a small business emerging.
I think I’m
going to continue networking for a little longer while polishing some of my books,
and test the waters again. I’ll reassess after that.