Book publishing is a tricky beast.  More significant changes in the book publishing industry have occurred in the past few years than in the previous several decades.  E-books, e-readers, the digital revolution, the economic crash, the internet connecting a global population at the touch of a button--these new realities are turning everything on its head and making us reevaluate the way we get books and the way we read them. 
    For years, traditional publishing ruled the literary stage, playing both director and star of the show.  The method of traditional publishing yielded great results and the show went on, unchallenged.  Self-publishing, or vanity publishing, as it was labeled, was highly stigmatized, considered synonymous with poor quality and something that authors only did as a last resort if they couldn't make it onto the big stage of traditional publishing. 
    Fast forward to a few years ago and everything began changing.  As e-books started exploding, self-publishing companies increased the quality of their services, giving authors the chance to publish quality books which could  reach millions of readers through powerhouse distribution sources like Amazon.  Self-published authors demonstrated that they could compete in the book sales market.  A power shift was at work.  Now, there has never been a better time to be an author.
    With that in mind, I wanted to take a quick look at some of the pros and cons of traditional publishing versus self-publishing.  Of course, this is not an exhaustive list, but it's worth considering when contemplating publication for your book.

-Traditional Publishing Pros: wide distribution and exposure; possible advance; quality editing, formatting, and cover art; marketing power.

-Traditional Publishing Cons: 1-2 years before publication after contract is signed; high priced e-books; no or little control over cover art and book title; royalties paid twice per year; low royalty rates; less author control in total; hard to make changes to book during process; very difficult to break into traditional publishing.

-Self-Publishing Pros: print-on-demand option; inexpensive; stigma has decreased; quality of self-publishing services has increased; paid once per month or bi-monthly; control of price, release timeframe, cover design, and title; you own the rights to your book; easy to make changes to book during process.

-Self-Publishing Cons: you pay for services out of pocket; you market yourself (this is often considered the most challenging aspect of self-publishing); possibly fewer sales; may be difficult to get book into bookstores; quality can be poorer if the wrong self-publishing company is chosen.

    Hopefully this serves as a brief snapshot of traditional publishing versus self-publishing.  As the author, you have the challenge of figuring out which route will be in your best interest, depending on your goals.  As I said before, it's never been a better time to be an author, so enjoy the ride!

Here's the last bit of Q&A from some recent writing workshops/events about the writing process:

Question #1: What are some misconceptions people might have about writing? 
    One misconception people might have is that writing is incredibly easy.  Anyone can write words, but not everyone chooses to write a story.  Writing requires discipline, patience, and perseverance.  The true writer is writing even when he/she is not writing with a pen or keyboard; the writing process is a constant development of story ideas throughout the day—thoughts, impressions, perceptions, and observations.  Writing is not easy, but it is a simple process at its core, so it is the wonderfully challenging task of the writer not to over-complicate or joy-drain the writing process.   

    Another misconception people might have is that writing is incredibly hard.  This perception, probably more than any other, keeps would-be writers from persisting to become active writers.  Writing is not a talent which is innate at birth and reserved for only special, gifted people; on the contrary, writing is a skill which can be learned, honed, and refined over time.  Instead of thinking of the prospect of writing a novel as daunting, the writer can choose to think of novel writing as a process of developing bite-sized individual scenes.  Scenes will eventually connect and form chapters, and chapters will become sections of the whole, and eventually a novel will appear.  So take heart, your writing is working for you as you simply dedicate yourself to do it! 
    If you are overwhelmed by how hard being a writer is, break down the wall of “the novel” by writing it in bits and pieces.  Small chunks (a page, 5 pages, 10 pages—whatever you deem small enough) are easier to swallow and easier to focus on than tying yourself to your desk chair and setting the goal of “I’m going to write a novel now.”  Don’t allow how hard you think writing might be to keep you from simply writing and becoming the writer you want to be.

Question #2: Can you offer any advice for aspiring writers who are having a difficult time completing a book?  Did you sit and write everyday (for the book or otherwise) or only when you felt inspired? 
    My simple advice would be to find what works best for you and feel free to embrace that method.  Every writer has a different schedule, style, and season.  For me, I had to learn that I am a seasonal writer.  For a long time, I struggled with this reality and fought against it.  I would try and force myself to write when I was frustrated and exhausted, and the only result I found was more frustration and exhaustion.  When ideas are flowing, I write like a mad man.  When they are not, I read and continue to cultivate seeds of ideas in the background, but I may not necessarily be sitting at my desk and cranking out pages.  Writing, like life, is about finding a healthy balance, so I would recommend practicing different methods and determining which works best for you.  I continually find inspiration in life experiences, but I’ve realized that certain seasons are for actual page writing and certain seasons are for brainstorming and Post-It note jotting exclusively.  Once you find what works best for you, and not only accept but embrace that method, then you will find a creative freedom that will help you stay refreshed as you develop your craft. 

I Hope these writing tips over the past few weeks have been encouraging/informative/interesting.  Starting next week, we'll take a look at traditional publishing versus self-publishing (cue dramatic music).  And so the plot thickens...