shootseven wrote: ↑07 Mar 2017, 11:53
I would strongly recommend finding an agent or traditional publisher, unless your book is geared toward a very niche market, or you have a big following from other books. Don't let ego (ie, I want to control every aspect) get in your way of doing what is best for your book. Publishers can open up many doors (for one thing, with reviewers who might not touch self-published books).
I couldn't be more grateful to all the publishers of my first two books have done for me. Now, in those cases, they were history books, so that might be a little different than your situation, since just having an academic publisher adds credibility in those cases. Just a little of what my publisher did: Peer review before accepting the manuscript, which did help improve both books, advertising and opening doors in both markets and with reviewers, very aggressive library sales (my first book is in 1016 libraries world-wide).
My first novel is with a small publisher, which means I'll have to take on a lot of the marketing. But again, they were great to work with with the cover and editing, and they are opening some doors, but I'm too early in the process to judge the current experience (the book just came out a week ago).
Hope this helps.
I woudn't say that self-pubishing is a matter of ego. No, I'd say that it has more to do with someone's capabilities, especially financial. So if finances are tight, it's easier to go the self-publishing way in the beginning. Some publishers do ask for a lot of money upfront, you know?
I think that it's frustrating to wait for a long time for a traditional pubisher to give a response and work on one's book. And especially so when there are faster options available.
I still think it's about the quality of production, and understanding one's market very well.
But at the end of the day, it goes back to the author's goal. Is it about reaching as many people as possible and being famous, or is it about reaching the people who really need your book? Where are those people? How many of them do you want to reach? Do you therefore really need a traditional publisher?
I'd ask myself these and other related questions.