Don't just do it, do it properly

Chuck Wendig wrote about self-publishing and it’s the best thing I’ve read on the internet this year.
You see, I have a problem here on Write for Your Life. Most people who read the site know that I have an agent and that I’m trying to get my novel published via the traditional route.

Which is smashing, but it does makes things tricky when I want to talk about and have an opinion on self-publishing. There seems to be an assumption that I am naturally anti-self-publishing. But that’s not the case.

Anyone who’s been paying any attention over the last couple of years can see that, for some writers, self-publishing is a fantastic option. The best option. And that’s totally aces.

The problem I do have is that many writers are being sold a dream. New, inexperienced writers. I can’t put it better than Wendig does in his piece:

Self-publishing ain’t an easy road to walk. Oh, it’s sold that way. A lot of the self-publishing advice out there amounts to all the fucking wisdom of a Nike slogan: JUST DO IT, they say.

So when I have concerns about the average writer’s technical skills, or when writers are encouraged to write novels in no time at all, it’s because I think the Just Do It approach is disingenuous.

If you’re going to publish anything, on your own or through a publisher, you need to do it properly. You need to care about and cover every single detail to make sure your work is presented in the best way possible.

You can’t, and should never, Just Do It.

Anyway, go and read Wendig’s post in full. He is published traditionally and has self-published. He advocates both and says lots of sensible things. Like I say, it’s the best thing I’ve read all year.