posted
Recently, a rather thoughtful post was written in the forum boards of the web comic CRFH. In it, the person (Lothos) made a comment, and I found it rather fascinating, and thought I'd bring it over here for consideration.
quote:As I understand it, there's some intercaste snobbery going on in publishing circles currently, where e-writers and artists are not considered 'real' writers and artists. That to go to a 'real' publisher and mention that you've had work published on the web is to be the knell of doom for your hopes at that publisher.
Have any of you sensed anything to this effect? That e-writing makes it more difficult to become published (if you let it be known you've done this)? I know of several rather talented writers who work on the web to get more exposure and practice. And our own esteemed Orson Scott Card has published several chapters of several novels on the web before publishing it. Though with Mr. Card, he *does* have the benefit of being a well-established writer.
So. Does e-publishing harm your chances of publishing on a non-electronic format?
posted
What we're facing here, of course, is that nasty thing that everyone hates with a vengeance: change. And since computers and the internet are curious things to the older generations, it's not really surprising that they bristle when people produce e-books and the like. Since an e-book is nothing like the hard/paperbacks many people are used to, they're hostile towards them. I know that I much prefer a book or magazine to an e-story, if only because you can hold it in your hand, put it down, not have to print it off yourself, and spill tea all over it (well, perhaps I don't like that last one). In the end though, publishers will be less likely to pick up an author who's e-published because of human nature. But look at it this way, do you want to give your work to such a narrow-minded editor? The best ones surf the Net looking for good e-published authors, anyway, so the hostility only comes from the worst editors. No cause for concern! JK
Posts: 503 | Registered: Sep 2000
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posted
I think part of the issue here *might* (and I'm speculating here) be due to most electronic markets not paying pro rates, and therefore that to say "I've been published on the Web" is similar to saying "I'm an amateur." Of course there are exceptions, but even in OSC's case, the fiction published here is seems to normally be of a teaser nature: That is, try it out and you may well be inclined to purchase the (printed) book.
If that's all there is to it, then there's certainly no Knell of Doom -- therefore, if there's a Knell of Doom, then there's more to it than that.
posted
I don't know why it would be a Knell of Doom... although I do agree with the above poster that publishing online tends to sound like 'vanity publishing.' You know, those people who can't get published anywhere else and for $199 you too can publish your novel!
That's not to knock people who do it, and I know that there are some who-- having done this first-- later get a 'real' publisher to back the book because of the success of the success of the self-publishing.
Anyway, I think the problem comes in with the perception of e-zines not having strict guidelines and publishing anything and everything... An e-zine/book that actually has an editorial staff actually reviewing work is a completely different matter, and I would think in those instances, having a publishing credit to your name-- online or off-- would help.
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