Lack of quality control

I read this on a comment on the SFWA website:

1. "To suggest that there’s something noble about publishing crap with your own isbn, but it’s a scam if you let someone else assign one makes me think you haven’t thought this through."
   

http://www.sfwa.org/2009/12/blurred-distinctions-vanity-publishing-vs-self-publishing/

The article tries to draw a distinction between the different ways of self-publishing. If the writer of the work becomes the publisher, owning or not owning the ISBN will not improve the quality of the work. Lack of quality control is used as an argument against self-publishing. But the lines are blurring. Good and bad books can be found in all forms of publishing. With the advancements in technology, there is more choice across the board in publishing. Is this a good thing or does the lack of quality control hinder readers and the book buying public?

Shelagh,

A very good question. I wish I knew.

PA has put out some embarassing books--others are good.

99% of self published books never reach bookstore shelves so the lack (or not) of quality control is irrelevant since I'll never see them anyway.

For self published books I see online that I might like, I look for sample chapters. Without being able read a sample chapter I won't even consider the book. And don't be like this one lady who posted chapters 4,6, and 13 because "It gives a better sense of my voice". If I can't read the first chapter, you are doing it wrong.

Zizban,

What percent of commercially published books are stocked in a bookstore?

There are two answers to that. For all commercial books, it's about 15%.

For all commercial books intended for retail sale (This excludes things like library purchases, school district purchases, book club, grocery stores and book spinners) the number is about 90%.

(Source, James MacDonald).

zizban wrote:

There are two answers to that. For all commercial books, it's about 15%.

For all commercial books intended for retail sale (This excludes things like library purchases, school district purchases, book club, grocery stores and book spinners) the number is about 90%.

(Source, James MacDonald).

The bookstores must be huge.

The key is books intended for retail sale. That number is actually pretty small. Book stores are only a large minority of sales for publishing houses.

And of course some bookstores are huge. Many specialize.

Thank you Zizban, but I will pass on accepting Macdonald's word on anything about book sales. He is out of focus.

Besides I'd rather have my book on Amazon than in a bookstore.

alice wrote:

Thank you Zizban, but I will pass on accepting Macdonald's word on anything about book sales. He is out of focus.

"He's out of focus." That's a funny thing to say.

My book will be available at both Amazon and brick and mortar stores. It is possible to have the best of both worlds.

I am happy for you. Of course you are right. I didn't realize that post had gone through.

Both places would be the best.

Victoria Strauss is a self-appointed "minder" of the book industry. She makes up her own definitions and from on high, instructs which are correct ("COMMERCIAL, not traditional!" lol).
She's the perfect example of the B list (maybe C list) commercially published author who has had a modicum of success and now thinks she can define everything for everyone else. James MacDonald is another. What a gasbag he is.

And don't even get me started on Dave Kuzminski, who doesn't even have any worthwhile publishing credits to his name (someone please correct me if I'm wrong -he seems to be just epublished with marginal presses), but runs an authoritative site telling everyone else his gospel.

I disagree about James MacDonald. I don't know about the rest. The CEO of Pan Macmillan told me once that "James MacDonald has forgotten more about publishing than I'll ever know".

I didn't realise that CEO's could be so out of touch. Oh, well.

I look for books by subject not publisher.

I look for books by my favorite authors. And maybe I'll look at any close by.

alice wrote:

I look for books by subject not publisher.

It is authors who take note of publishers, not readers. I wonder why that is?

Pecking order, I guess.

I have never looked for the name of the publisher when seeking a good book. The name of the author may be a drawing card, but for me, it is mostly the title and synopsis that makes the sale.

Makes you wonder why all the fuss about the publisher's name on the back of the book, doesn't it?

Yep.
I wonder about a lot of things. My wife says that if I wander too far, I could get lost.