Recently, I have found one question beginning to consume me almost as much as writing itself does: do I hold out for traditional print publishing via an agent, or do I go with an epublisher first to try and get my name out there with a couple of books under my belt before querying more agents?
This question has been much on my mind due in part to Amanda Hocking, but due also to my own tendency to always be behind the times. I’ve always been the one who assumes a fashion or trend just as it’s morphing into something else. If the fashion is bell-bottom jeans this year you can bet I’ll be wearing them–next year.
With more at stake here than just a raid by the fashion police, I am very antsy about putting off the pursuit of epublishing. As I told someone recently, “If epublishing is the wave of the future, I’d much rather ride the wave than drown.”
I am not usually an impatient person. You will probably laugh in my face at that statement when I say that I have only been aggressively querying my historical romance to agents since early February. And I have had several requests for partials and fulls. Responses have been fairly good, but there’s been no offer of representation. And even if I get an offer, that’s only hurdle no. 1. The agent still has to sell the manuscript. Which could take years in the current economy and climate of publishing.
So as I sit teetering on the fence, along comes an article from Kristine Katherine Rusch’s blog that pushed me over the edge.
http://kriswrites.com/2011/04/06/the-business-rusch-promotion/
Granted this article is about promotion. But it also encouraged me to think that if I can get my work published via epublishers, whose turn-around is much quicker than traditional publishers, then by the time I do break into traditional publishing (ever the optimist, I believe I will eventually), I will be able to use the model Kristin suggests because I will have built up a readership via the ebook.
Does it matter whether my first book is published traditionally or by an epublisher? I’m beginning to think the answer is still yes. But the preference will be for the epublisher. A statement I never thought I would make. Just like my husband thought I would never request a Kindle.
There is one other big upside to the model Kristin outlines in her article. My job as writer becomes streamlined. I don’t have to get a Facebook or Twitter account and spend hours a week on them. I don’t have to write a blog (but I will because I do enjoy this type of writing). I do, however, have to write. I have to keep producing novels, and novellas, and short stories. Which is a fantastic task for a writer! Permission to write like the devil was on my heels has been granted.
You won’t have to tell me twice!
If you have ever asked yourself the “traditional or epublisher” question, please share your answers with me. Which wave will you ride? Or are you already cresting on one or the other?
Jenna Jaxon Romance--because passion is timeless. 
Excellent post. I honestly feel you can find quality and not-so-quality work in both arenas. I am currently leaning toward e-publishing due to several factors, a couple being that I want to learn more about the editing process and I am also not sure I have the time for traditional publishing. Even in traditional print publishing, you aren’t guaranteed to make a salary to support you. Right now, I need that and I am very successful at my day job. I don’t believe it fair for the agent who would get me as I couldn’t give them 100%. Now, this may change and if I happen to write something I feel knocks it out of the park, I will go for the stars. Until then, I want to grow as a writer and continue writing stories I love.
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I think it’s true that there are sub-standard books both in traditional and epublishing. I had an editor tell me than last September–a lot of not-very-good crap gets published along with the brilliant stuff. And some brilliant stuff doesn’t. So it boils down to you take a chance with either type of publishing. But I’ve decided to expand my pool of prospects to epublishing, because as I’ve been told before–if you send your material out to enough people, you will find the perfect agent/editor for your work. In the meantime, I’m with you: continue to perfect the craft by writing the stories I love. Thanks for sharing, Toni.
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Before I started writing, I never wanted an e-reader and felt that authors in the e-pub market weren’t good enough to get published traditionally. What a crazy myth. The opportunities in e-publishing lend themselves, like Patrisha said, to niche markets and you can find a good story about anything imaginable maybe even two. I think it’s amazing that you can get stories for every holiday or occasion.
Thanks for the post, Jenna.
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The opportunities seem to be growing in leaps and bounds, Kary. We’re going to be like kids in a candy shop soon, with so many sweets we don’t know which one to pick first! Thanks for your comment. 🙂
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It’s difficult to chose for most. I say follow your heart and follow your dreams. I for one want to aim for the highest star and work my way down. I just feel I have to at least try first. 🙂
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I do too, Mart. I’m actually sending out one last query blitz for Scandal. And if I get an offer of representation I’d probably go with it (depending on who the agent is). But I have other works, in the planning stage, in progress, and awaiting revision, that could be sent out to other venues. I guess I’m trying to hedge all bets. And I have no idea how this is going to work, but I’m giving it a shot! Thanks for coming by!
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Jenna, very good post! You know my take on this subject. While I would love to be traditionally pubbed, I’m not going to hold my breath. I actually read this article a few days ago and was very surprised that online media wasn’t stressed as a ‘must do’ for authors. The time drain of social media can’t be denied, so this was good news for me:)
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That’s the reason for the title of this post. Think of the books you could write instead of friending on Facebook and following on Twitter. Time is a writer’s most precious commodity. We need to use it to our best advantage. Thanks for commenting, Lisa!
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When I was first published in 1993, it was by a traditional publisher. When they went out of business (not my fault!), I made a decision to move to ePublishing simply because I saw it as the way of the future. More than a decade later, I remain pleased with the ePublishing decision. Every publisher, whether e or t, is looking for something unique. The ePublishers are not only competing amongst each other, but against traditional publishers as well. The competition is fierce and you can get rejected by the e crowd just as readily as by the t. (Not that you will, JJ. I think you’ve got excellent chances.) But the beauty of ePublishing is that the niche markets are so defined. Consumers go to certain publishers over and over again because those publishers have consistent lines of particular genres/sub-genres. Find the one that has the right niche market and you’ll do just fine.
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Thanks for your comments, Patricia! The idea of “niche” publishers makes me heave a sigh of relief–some of my works are rather non-traditional to say the least (especially for historical romance). Good to know I can perhaps find a place for them.
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I’m no expert, but I think that unless you publish with Dorchestor, Carina or the new Avon line, there’s still somewhat of a stigma about e-publishing. And I think all of them are almost as hard to get into as the trad houses. Amanda Hocking is one in about a trillion. I also think selling to an e-pub to build an audience that moves to trad pubbing is a myth. Could be wrong, I have been before.
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Thanks for your take on this topic, D’Ann. I don’t think it’s so much selling to the epub to build an audience to move to traditional publishing, so much as its getting more of your works out electronically, create a backlist so when the traditional publishng comes through and the traditional readers love your work, they can have more of it! Great discussion!
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Thanks, Robin, It’s a questions a lot of us are asking ourselves right now!!! Lara
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Thanks, Lara. And I’m all ears when it comes to everyone’s answers!
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I too have thought about the epublishing avenue. I have had my Nook for almost 2 years now and since then I have not read an actual printed book (hanging my head in shame).
All the other steps have to be done, such as editing, cover art and such but one major bonus, skipping the rejection emails. I also like the idea of getting your name out there with a few books and then trying the traditional publishing route.
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Hi, Angie. I love my Kindle too. I like the idea/possibility of getting my book into readers’ hands as quickly as possible. Epublishing just seems the most expedient these days. Not even talking about indie publishing (or self-publishing an ebook), epubs have editors who will make sure your work is the best it can be (hopefully).
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