…or the signal to noise ratio.
(Self-publishing a book: 25 things you need to know by David Carnoy)
Self-publishing promises to be the great hope of would-be authors to make their millions without getting put down by the mainstream publishing “man.” The problem is, there are a lot of people who do not write well, and they have they are willing to take advantage of the ability to get their words in book form.
But that’s not all bad. There’s something to be said for being able to hold a real book, sit in your chair, and savor the time spent in its world, and if it scratches a vanity publishing itch, so be it.
Where I think the self-publishing world really shines, though, is for niche markets. Large publishers don’t necessarily have the incentive to spend their professional resources on otherwise good books that only have appeal for a very small market. That niche appeal is the point that grabbed me in David Carnoy’s list of 25 things you need to know about self-publishing.
The rest of the article is worth your time, too, if you’re considering it.
Now go write that great American novel, or that highly technical book about flux capacitors, or …