self-publishing: pulling back the curtain

Hello everyone,

I'm new to this site, but joined up to gain some honest opinions about a project I've just started.

My general impression from chatting to a small pool of authors is that there is a pretty steep learning curve when it comes to publishing a book (a bit of a case of 'the more you know, the more you realise there is to know' ) not helped by the fact that as it stands the industry surrounding self-publishing seems
a) underdeveloped
and
b) where developed, pretty murky.

Received wisdom is still being forged, often by the very companies that authors are finding themselves needing to rely on for advice and assistance, and so the chances of being ripped-off are huge.

The idea is therefore to develop a comprehensive set of educational materials connected with a database of freelance publishing service providers (editors, cover designers, marketeers, publicists etc).

My work so far is available at http://www.scribis.com (happy to take this link down if it's against forum rules). Would love your thoughts on the idea in general, or the site specifically.

Thanks,

Tim

Hi Guys,

Sorry I didn't realise I had any replies!

Ok, so this is useful. Girlyswot, I think thats a good point and you are right - I don't think the site would somehow eradicate the misinformation on the net. And JournoWriter, I appreciate you're not being a jerk and it is a good question.

I guess the answers are, firstly, that I do have experience within the industry and so know it well, but, more importantly, would be looking to get information and posts from guests.

Secondly, my above post is perhaps misleading. The focus would be more on the provision of services in a transparent and easy way, rather than on the educational resources. They would be to ensure the people were informed on all the options so that they could decide what was correct for them, what is an appropriate price to pay for services, that kind of thing.

Hope that clarifies! Really appreciate your input.

Well, I did ask for feedback(!)

Ok, so I'll try and answer some concerns and queries.

I think it's important to note that the site itself would not be selling stuff to self-publishers. I see it more as a networking platform for writers to connect with service providers and vice versa. The information/educational side of it was conceived as a way of trying to prevent people being cajoled into getting services inappropriate for them or over priced etc.

The intention, therefore, is not to create a definitive library of reference resources, but to try and make sure that users of the site are as well equipped to make the best decisions possible. There seems to be some suggestion of a conflict of interest within a platform that provides both resources and services at the same time. I don't think this is the case. Ongoing use of it would depend on its being trustworthy, easy to use and transparent. If it can't meet that hurdle it will, quite rightly, fail. So there is a pretty strong incentive there. Smashwords is a good example of a site providing good and dependable advice whilst also relying on ongoing use from writers. There are certainly questions of how to curate such resources, but I don't think it is as difficult as people seem to be suggesting.

I am very, very aware that there will need to be vetting, author reviews and service provider ratings at the very least. This would be at the core of what the site is about. There are, of course, further questions of how you would stop this being abused should the site grow, but initially at least, I do not think this would be too difficult.

Anyway, thanks for all the responses and for taking the time to take a look at my nascent little project. I do appreciate it.