Thinking back on my own publishing experience, and my current dilemma as to whether to self-publish my fiction works, I ran into one, viable, definable and perfectly valid reason NOT to self publish -- Memberships in professional groups.
Most professional writer's groups, Author's Guild, Mystery Writers of America, National Writer's Union, ASJA, Horror Writer's Association and many more, require publishing credits from national publishers. Almost every group specifically excludes self-published and vanity press works from being used for membership.
No judgement on whether it's the correct attitude for the times we're in, but it may be a compelling reason to NOT self publish. Or a compelling reason not to join those types of associations (Most don't provide functional benefits beyond conferences, awards and recognition).
Jeff
Most professional writer's groups, Author's Guild, Mystery Writers of America, National Writer's Union, ASJA, Horror Writer's Association and many more, require publishing credits from national publishers. Almost every group specifically excludes self-published and vanity press works from being used for membership.
No judgement on whether it's the correct attitude for the times we're in, but it may be a compelling reason to NOT self publish. Or a compelling reason not to join those types of associations (Most don't provide functional benefits beyond conferences, awards and recognition).
Jeff