Association of Christian Writers » The self-publishing debate – add your comment below

Last year, US publisher Harlequin decided to break into the lucrative self-publishing market. They set up DellArte, a new Harlequin imprint for the authors whose manuscripts they had rejected for ‘proper’ publication. those authors had the option of paying for the printing of their manuscript, and would have the respected name of Harlequin behind them.

The cheers of the rejected authors were immediately drowned by the uproar from the publishing world. The Mystery Writers of America promptly de-listed Harlequin as an approved publisher, saying that authors might not use Harlequin books as their basis for membership, and that their books would no longer be eligible for awards.  The Romance Writers of America and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America followed suit.

MWA rules state that publishers may not charge fees for publication. Why?

When readers see a publisher’s name on a book, they have a guarantee of quality. The manuscript has been assessed by a professional as worthy of the investment of publication: the text has been properly edited, the cover and layout designed. The only reliable assumption that can be made about a self-published book is that the author could afford to pay.

Organisations serving professional writers use mainstream publication as their gateway, and Harlequin were blurring the distinction. Faced with their authors’ exclusion from these organisations, the company capitulated within days, and removed its name from the imprint.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that self-published books are second class. Many are of the highest quality, and authors may have a variety of reasons for choosing the self-publishing route.

Two members, Iris Lloyd and Simon Baynes, have written in the Spring edition of Christian Writer about their experiences of self-publishing. Faced with repeated rejections, they decided to publish for themselves.

Other writers hope that getting their book printed and bound will make it more appealing to agents and publishers. They are encouraged by success stories like that of G P Taylor, whose self-published Shadowmancer was taken up by Faber and Faber.

Have you self-published? do you have a view?

In case you missed it, click here for Chair Lin Ball’s article on self-publishing in Christian Writer.

Leave your comments below and add to the debate.

Association of Christian Writers » The self-publishing debate – add your comment below

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