Tayari's Blog: Some Thoughts on Self Publishing

Posted by TayariJones on June 7, 2006 09:46 AM
Filed under The Writing Life

Today’s guest column is written by Tinesha Davis, the author of All Black Girls Ain't Got Rhythm and Other Urban Hymns. I asked her to write to tell us about her decision to self-publish her collection of poetry. If you’ve ever been to a writer’s conference, you know that all you have to do is say those magic words “self-publishing” and spark a heated debate on the topic. Some people sneer at self-published authors way the way kids make fun of other kids who wear homemade clothes instead of the latest off-the rack fashions. There are other people who look at traditionally published books as off-the-rack from Macy’s and think of self-published books more like the funky clothes you can get at a little store that sells Carol’s Daughter skin products, incense, and dresses sewn and designed my the shopkeeper herself. As for me, I am in-between camps.

As an African-American author, I know that the publishing business hasn’t been terribly hospitable to our work. I know that there are often some real obstacles between seeing your work published with the deal of a New York house that may not have to do with the quality of your writing. I also have to say that I love the boot-strappiness of it. The find-a-way, make-a-way, dollar-out-of-fiftenn-cents school of thinking. I’m also not comfortable dismissing a book I haven’t read because of the way that it was published. And there’s one more factor that we’ve been discussing here all week: just because a book has been traditionally published, doesn’t mean it’s any good. (Can I get an Amen?)

But on the other side: what a difference an editor makes. Reading a stack of self-published work can be wading through the slush pile of unsolicited manuscripts at a publishing house. You just never know what you are going to get. There is no seal of approval, letting you know that the manuscript has been vetted by someone (anyone!). I’ve read a lot of self-published books. When I go to book fairs, etc. I’ll usually purchase a couple of self-published titles. They are usually inexpensive and, like I said, I admire the hustle of the authors. Some of them are good, many are just okay, and some are downright atrocious.

So, all this said, I decided to ask Tinesha why she decided to self-publish her book. Her answers. in the essay below, may surprise you.

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