Self-publishing used to be a last resort for writers, now there are several success stories surrounding self-publishing. The increase in e-books and technological tools has influenced the conversation during the panel Self-Publishing in the Age of E. The panel was lead by Rachel Deahl from Publishers Weekly and featured an author, Hugh Howey, literary agent, Kirby Kim and a professional editor, Erin Brown.

Hugh Howey began his writing career through traditional publishing and belgoned to a small agency. However, over time he began to realize that he could self-pubilsh by leveraging the same tools used by his agnecies but at a lower cost of business.

In terms of which publishing route to take, there are several considerations writers need to keep in mind. Brown recommends going the tradtional route first. “It’s a good way to see if people are interested in your work.” Kim discussed the different factors that agents look at whend deciding on publishing a work.

Regardless, content should not be a high concern for writers. Readers are always looking for good content and writers should product the best work they can and be happy with it because there will always be a market to appeal to. Those in the publishing industry are realizing that people are becomming interested in new genres mostly commecial fiction. These types of books, may not be high quality literature but they are extremely popular among the masses.

“We are still able to bring literary treatment to commercial genre, a book can have a sci-fi premise but we can add additoinal chacter dimensions,” said Kim. On the other hand, good writers can still publish commercial work.

Writers should keep in mind several misconceptions about traditional and self-publishing:
Agents are not hearless. There may be bottom-line but they love books and want authors to be happy.

• Just because you take a traditional publishing route, doesn’t mean you will make a lot of money.
• An agent doesn’t mean you have a career.
• There are huge success stories for those self-published, but the odds are stacked against you.
• You won’t necessarily find readers just because you put something out there.
• You need an editor. Don’t put something out that has not been reviewed and edited.
• Agents are in the business because they love it and like discovering new talent and helping them.
• Your job is not done just because you are published. Success means doing more, always write.