For those of you who have heard this before, I want to elaborate on my analogy of how self-published authors are like restaurants. It really is a comparison that people can relate to. No matter how you may feel about it, there is still a stigma attached to self-publishing that is very much promoted by the mainstream publishing side. The idea of, “Well, if you were really any good, you wouldn’t have to self-publish”, is a hard one to change. So, Part I of the analogy is that let’s say you’re out in town and you decide you want to have dinner. Within view of you, there is a very well-known, highly rated restaurant that always has a long line. There is a fast food place that you aren’t in the mood for. There is a franchise place that you like. As you are strolling up the street, trying to decide between the franchise that you know and waiting in a long line for the really popular place, there is a cross-street and an eye catching sign for a little restaurant you aren’t familiar with. It’s only a few steps down the side street, so you stop in front of the new restaurant. The aromas are enticing, the menu looks good, the interior is nice and the few people that are inside seem to be having a good time. There aren’t very many though, so you naturally wonder why. At this point you have to decide if you’ll stay with something “safe” or try something new. It’s very much the same with a self-published author that you aren’t familiar with who doesn’t have many reviews posted. Do you try it, or pass it by for an author that you already know?

Now, Part II of the analogy is that a lot people who open restaurants that shouldn’t. They either don’t have the ability to run a place well or it just isn’t that good a place. The truth is that almost anyone can self-publish and there are a lot of books out there that are a waste of money. But unless someone recommends a new author who happens to be self-published, your only other choice is to decide to take a chance on the unknown and find out if this is an author that you can add to your list of favorites. Unknown authors trying to gain fans is also why there is a raging debate about e-book prices, but that will be the subject of another post.