VP Profile #14: E. F. Kelley (part 2)

As promised, here is the second part of the E.F. Kelley interview. This part focuses on self-publishing, e-publishing, and indie publishing, and helps clear up a lot of the terminology for me. I hope you find it similarly useful.

Tamago: I know you have an interest in indie publishing. Can you talk about what you see as the virtues of epublishing?

Eric: First, I need to straighten out a couple of terms. 'Indie Publishing' and 'Electronic Publishing' are different than 'Self Publishing.' I know that there has been a lot of mix-and-match recently, but let me clarify.

Self-publishing is when you put a work out for publication without going through a publishing company. You are the publisher. Even if you have a publishing label, it's still you doing it. You're entirely responsible for the writing, editing, cover, formatting, publication, distribution, and marketing.

Indie publishing is done outside of the 'Big Six' conglomerates. The 'Big Six' (according to the all-knowing Intertron) is Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, MacMillan Publishers, Penguin Group, Random House, and Simon & Schuster. If your company doesn't fall under one of those umbrellas, it's considered 'Indie'. Note that your own imprint for publishing your own work is still self-publishing. Putting a label on it doesn't change that fact.

Electronic publishing is doing any of these things in a digital format. The Big Six e-publish, indies e-publish, and self-publishers e-publish.

So, yes! I am very interested in self-publishing in many different formats, and I can talk about the virtues (and dangers) of going it alone. In fact, it might be better to speak on the dangers and responsibilities. Any self-publishing blog will go on and on about the virtues (speed to market, high royalty, greater control). Joe Konrath and Dean Wesley Smith have days and days of writing on the subject. So, if you'll let me, I'll talk about what exactly you're getting yourself into.

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Mirrored from Writer Tamago.