To self-publish or not I have seen on several writers forums a raging debate about the best route to take for new authors. Do you find an agent and pray a big publishing house signs you on, or do you take the risk of self-publishing? Some people have made their decisions and chosen their route. Many, though, are still trying to make up their mind. This is written for them. As in every choice, there are pros and cons of each. Traditional publishing is much like winning the lottery. You might be a great writer, but can you catch their eye? So many manuscripts that are sent in go unread and tossed to the side. It can take years, if ever, to find the right agent/publisher combination. Even then, much of the publicity is left to the author, for book signings, etc. On the plus side, ten percent of a publishing house’s marketing efforts far outweigh 100% of a self-publisher’s efforts. They have contacts and venues already in place. A self-publisher rarely has the funds available for a major marketing campaign. Self-publishing allows an author complete control over the project, not just the story. Book cover artwork, formatting, sales price, etc. are all the individual’s decision. There is a stigma attached with POD (print on demand) and vanity press, however. Many new authors aren’t skilled in the craft and put out awful work, unable to even distinguish between active and passive voice. There is no quality control in place, like there is in a publishing house. There are some associations formed for self-publishers, much in the way of co-ops. Groups of authors purchase blocks of advertising and split the cost, or purchase a spot at a national book fair, again sharing the cost, making it a bit more affordable. I don’t know if there is an equivalent of the “Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval” for self-published authors in the U.S., letting the consumer know the book has passed at least basic quality criteria. If there isn’t, there probably will be soon. This blog doesn’t offer any answers, only some insight into the choices before new authors. We’d all love to be the next J.K. Rowling, but, short of that, we are all called to patience.