| Self-publishing is not a topic that requires a | | | | free self-publishing providers? Not really. |
| definition. If you are already an experienced | | | | The ones who should care about the quality of |
| author and you used such tools for your writing, | | | | their work are the authors. They should |
| you know what you are dealing with. You | | | | understand that "free" is not always the best |
| probably have a blog or a website where you | | | | choice. |
| showcase your skills. | | | | For example, many foreign authors choose to |
| If you monetize your blog, you are even one of | | | | write in English, because, let's face it, the English |
| the self-published authors who makes money | | | | speaking public segment is broader - hence the |
| from his/her work. Many bloggers refuse to | | | | chances to make an author known are higher. |
| display AdSense ads or other such distracting | | | | Some of these authors are confident in their skills |
| features. They fear that displaying moneymaking | | | | (and generally they have no reasons to doubt |
| widgets lowers the credibility of the blog and their | | | | themselves), but they still choose to hire a |
| own credibility. If we analyze the Web and the | | | | proofreader prior to publishing their work. |
| online self-publishing channels we find even more | | | | Others are too confident and they forget that |
| controversial opinions. But no matter how we look | | | | any language has subtleties mastered solely by |
| at it, self-publishing is more than a trend: it is a | | | | natives. These "too confident" authors go on |
| way of publicizing content quickly and freely. | | | | publishing their works without proofreading. |
| The debate begins when the readers start | | | | Sometimes the results are not bad, but in most |
| doubting the quality of self-publicized content | | | | of the cases the readers will find enough reasons |
| (particularly when we speak about self-publicized | | | | to complain. |
| books). Ebooks don't trigger so many | | | | The readers don't really care where the books |
| controversies as printed books. The problems | | | | are coming from. They don't really want to know |
| appear because of free self-publishing services | | | | who published the book (unless we talk about |
| where no proofreading is ensured and the books | | | | famous publishing houses or collectible books). But |
| come from print without a proper quality check, | | | | they do have the tendency to blame the printing |
| hence many spelling and grammar errors. | | | | house if they find spelling and grammar errors. |
| Any professional writer knows that it is human to | | | | The readers don't know that the modern authors |
| err, no matter how great the skills. Even | | | | tend to skip the proofreading process just to |
| academics use proofreaders prior to publishing | | | | save a few bucks. However, even if your "name" |
| their essays and treatises. But some young | | | | as an author will not have too much to suffer, do |
| authors are not so careful. Many dream and pray | | | | you really want to deliver a poor quality book on |
| for overnight success. They forget that sudden | | | | the shelves of your readers? Do you really want |
| fame has the same value as a shooting star: it's | | | | the libraries to store something that later, when |
| pretty as it glows, but soon forgotten. Real | | | | you are a famous writer, will come back to you |
| success is a marathon, not a sprint. | | | | like a boomerang? Think about it! |
| Considering these facts, should we vote against | | | | |