The problem with big name publishers is sometimes the content of their selections. When looking for a really good book, most readers turn to the major publishers. After all, bookstores are crowded with books by Simon & Schuster, Random House, Penguin, etc. But, readers should be aware that the major publishers are not the only venue for good books. In fact, much of what qualifies for publishing by the major players are formulaic novels. This is not to say the books aren’t good, but so many of them tend to follow a formula that it sometimes feels they were put out by a literary cookie cutter rather than an author slaving away in the dark of night over a keyboard.
Independent and small press publishers offer another alternative. While some of their books are formulaic, there are also some that branch out into non-predictable zones for discriminating readers. And if you add self-published books, you open yet another world of possibilities. Self-published books have gotten a bad rap; sometimes deserved, sometimes not. Certainly there are those self-published books that should never have made it into print. But there are also gems out there waiting to be discovered.
Whatever genre is your preference, you may be getting tired of the predictable. I know I am. Therefore, I have decided to give self-published books a chance.
Books are expensive these days and any discerning buyer is loathe to lay down hard earned cash on a potential drag of a book with poor grammar, incorrect spelling, lack of plot, and a mishmash of dribble. However, I am so tired of the major publishers tying up the market that I am willing to risk a few bucks to find out what else is out there.
Many readers prefer a smooth easy read. While literary novels have their place, their pages are sometimes filled with the very types of writing our English teachers warned us about. Fragments. Lack of clarity. Disjointedness. Some books are so very “literary” that they are an effort to plow through. While they might be masterpieces of literary merit, they do not resonate with the masses. At least, not until a movie is made from the book. And oftentimes the author’s intent or meaning is so obscure, it’s anyone’s guess what he or she is trying to say.
So, give some thought to trying a self-published book. Just check one out. You might find the worst writing on the face of the planet (although I must say I have found awful writing in some releases from so-called major publishers), or you might find a treasure. Step out of your comfort zone!
The market is crowded with thousands upon thousands of books. When it comes to fiction, it’s sometimes difficult to tell from the blurb whether or not you will enjoy the book. All you can do is try it.
I, for one, am very happy to see the proliferation of self-published books. The publishing industry is not unlike the music industry where a handful of elites at the top make the decisions for the rest of us about what we should like or not like. I prefer to make those decisions myself, in my reading and in my music. That’s why I frequently shop lulu.com and cdbaby.com. It’s time we give independents a fighting chance!
-kw
