E-book vs. Paper

I’ve been slowly picking through FAQs that aspiring writers have sent to me. Me being a person who still aspires to write herself.

And believe me, even with a couple books to stand on, the digital revolution within the publishing industry has made it a place of Frequently Asked Questions for all of us.

So people have asked and asked and asked the following:

1. Should I go with a publisher or should I self-publish?

2. If I self-publish, should I go with an e-book or a print copy?

While no one–not even this ridiculously skinny white girl–can predict the ups and downs of the industry, here is my two copper coins worth of advice.

Don’t lay out your choices on either side of the word “OR”. Lay your options on both sides of the word “AND”.

Traditional publishing and self-publishing. E-books and print books.

It sounds like an easy out, but it’s the wise one.

Think about it.

It stands to reason that some traditional publishers are not going to weather the digital revolution well. Some will make great calls, reorganize well and find opportunity in the new markets. But some, inevitably, will miss a crucial window of time, fail to build momentum and slowly screech to a halt.

With all these unknowns in the air, I wouldn’t want to hinge all my hopes of publication on traditional publishing. And more than that, I wouldn’t want to put all my chips on one specific publisher–despite the super great ones I have the pleasure of working with.

(I have to say that last part, right? ;)

No one knows where the industry is going. So I wouldn’t want to be the one person who holes myself away in the closet writing a novel only to one day emerge with a finished product and find there are no publishers left anymore. So read everything you can as the industry evolves. Click on links about e-books, the market, customer trends and how individuals and businesses are successfully selling their written products.

The same goes for e-books vs. paper. I’d hedge my bets and put a little energy on each. If you’re going to do the work of laying out a well-designed book–either digital or paper–the cost for on-demand printing or digitizing won’t add much to your expense report. Go both ways, study the market, and invest where you see momentum.

When Apple rolled out the iPad, they didn’t stop making MacBooks. And when they launched MacBooks, they didn’t stop selling desktops. They watched what consumers preferred, month to month. They tracked what was being bought. And then they manufactured and invested accordingly.

It’s not an OR it’s a calculated, data-driven AND.

What are your thoughts on the state of the publishing industry and how it affects you as a writer? Leave me a comment. Have you been trying to start writing a book? Here’s something free to help you get on your way!

[Looking to read more on writing for publication? Check out the Writing & Speaking category or follow my Writing for Publication RSS feed.]