What is your opinion on people who put in the effort to write and self-publish a book, but just don’t have the greatest writing skills? Like, the intention is great and there is always a certain vulnerability when you’re putting your thoughts out there to the world. But without a legitimate editor/professional support, the effort oftentimes just falls flat (at least to those of us who enjoy well-written books full of depth and character building). I want to be supportive of potential budding writers out there, but it also can turn into a situation where someone self-publishes, and then their friends who would never dream of doing such a thing shower them with praise to the point where they don’t necessarily step back to see what could be improved in the future. Honestly curious, especially when it’s a friend or family member doing the self-publishing 🙂
by financial_freedom416
7 Comments
I’ve been in this position a couple of times and I’d like answers too ^^’
Acquaintances know that I “technically do something with publishing, right?”, so I get a lot of more or less veiled requests if I can help them get their book published, which I can’t. But even if I could, none of the books I’ve gotten this way were ever good? Like, I’ve become so jaded, but with at least 95% of that stuff I can very clearly see why it wasn’t published by an established publishing house.
I guess I don’t have an opinion on them, per se. If it’s something they want to do, then I don’t see why they shouldn’t do it. Even if it’s not the best book in the world, maybe someone will read it and enjoy it. Also, there are plenty of traditionally published books that I hate, so I think my reaction to their publication would be the same either way.
I hate lying, though, so I avoid reading the books of people I know, because I would feel terrible if I didn’t like it and they asked me about it.
Sturgeon’s Law states that “ninety percent everything is crap,” and I feel that is true for both traditionally published and self-published books, really. I think publishing a creative work, no matter the scale, is something to be commended in its own right. But commending something for its effort doesn’t mean you should shy away from offering honest criticism. Constructive criticism allows for the author to hone their craft as well as gives them direction on how to lead their future projects or improve upon existing ones.
That being said, there is discussion as to how this criticism should be tempered given the expectations of a self-published book. If you find yourself diving deep into the realm of any independently-published media, you will often find caveats and leniencies given because they don’t have the full budget and crew of traditionally-published works and nobody expects them to. We expect indie video games to slightly buggier than their AAA counterparts, because they’re made from a smaller team with less experience and less time to devote to the project. We expect an independent movie to not look or sound as professional as a Hollywood production. And to a certain extent, we expect that the writing in any narrative medium because these projects are usually though not always the products of people with less experience.
I don’t really have an answer as to where the line is drawn there, or if it should be. Basically tl;dr, it’s good to support self-published/independent authors. But a commendable effort shouldn’t also dissuade people from giving honest and constructive feedback. You can do both. As for friends and family members singing of the praises of something because their friend made it, yes that’s annoying and is really not helpful to anyone. I can see why some might be tempted to do it, but I don’t like it.
To the friend’s question. If someone’s writing isn’t good, you are doing them no favor, heaping praise on them. I see advice all the time to sandwich criticism. Bull. You do someone a lot more good by being honest. You don’t have to be nasty or forceful, but they need to know where they stand as a writer if they are ever to improve. Unfortunately, most writers are seeking nothing more than accolades. I guess you need to determine who is a poser and just wants praise and who is looking for real critique.
It’s certainly an issue! On one hand, I applaud the effort and courage it takes to write and self-publish a book. It’s a vulnerable act, putting your work in the hands of the many, and the intention to create and share a story is admirable.
It’s true that without professional editing and support, the quality can sometimes fall short. Can’t be the most objective person when it comes to your own writing. You either over edit or don’t edit enough and think it’s the greatest thing ever. This can be particularly frustrating for readers who appreciate well-written books with depth and character development.
Finding the right balance between encouragement and constructive criticism can be tricky, especially when dealing with friends and family.
Celebrate their courage in writing and sharing their work. Offer specific, constructive feedback to help them grow, but remember your experience may differ. Encourage them to seek professional help or join writing groups to further develop their craft. True support is about helping them improve, not just offering empty praise.
The goal is to be there for them while also offering constructive feedback that can help them improve their writing. The journey of becoming a skilled writer takes time, dedication, and a willingness to learn. Something, something, “the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step”
I just read books. If the story & prose is good, I could care less who publishes them.
If the book is good, Yay. If not, it’s a DNF and on to the next.
I have never *ever* read a self-published book that was worth tuppence. They have all been bad – ungrammatical, dull, cringe-makingly self revealing and largely unedited.
I write genre fiction and have been asked to read some eye-watering junk. I now refuse to have anything to do with them. I’m sure there is good stuff out there but a more flagrant example of Sturgeon’s Law is impossible to find and life is too damn short to spend it wading through dross to find the very occasional pearl.