Would I still choose traditional publishing?? #askanauthor

I'll be using #askanauthor on a daily(ish) basis to answer YOUR questions about writing, publishing, and books! Drop a comment in any of these Shorts and I'll add your question to my list! This one comes from @avionne parris

"Let's say, hypothetically, that you never published your novels... (no I Heart Band series, no Olive and the Backstage Ghost, No Spell and Spindle, etc.) Given the current traditional publishing climate (post-Covid, book printing crisis, dying midlists, DOJ / B&N drama, etc.), if you were to debut right now, would you still recommend the traditional publishing route? Or would you have tried self publishing first? Thanks in advance, Michelle and thank you for all the great content! Hi Rosa :-)"

[kanashiiookami]

Loving this shorts idea.☺ Bite sized content so we can still hear your voice, opinion, and general content while still letting you work your new job without the hassle or worry of filming/editing larger videos. (Though I still look forward to those)
I hope your job is going well, btw, and that you continue to love it!❤

[AdaraWrites]

Great advice. I've started down the traditional path, but I'm looking more and more at indie due to it's genre blending. Thanks for the bite size snippet! Very helpful.

[bodine]

I LOVE this answer. It's indie for me, but I'm tired of seeing indie authors who insist trad is dead, or traditional authors who view indie as lesser. They're very different paths, but both valid and with their own pros and cons.

[Avionne_Parris]

Great advice, Michelle! Given the state of the traditional publishing AND now indie / self publishing with this whole Audible vs. Brandon Sanderson debacle, it's much more difficult to enter the publishing domain regardless of route taken. BUT not impossible. I think writers have to decide what success means because it's clearly not going to be a money making venture, that's for sure. I am not deterred though. Furthermore, now I have my own YouTube Short :P Hi Rosa!

[m.j.mcintear]

Can you answer why some many talk solely about self-publishing? So much so even the search engine just automatically guess you are looking up info about how to self publish when looking up how to start a traditional publishing company to publish authors. Any recommendations for learning how to start a publishing company

[reginaduke]

I have been out of power while you have been upping your posting game! I will catch up.