Does Self-Publishing Limit Your Chance of a Traditional Contract?
Does publishing my own work with POD prevent a future publisher from working with that particular piece in the future?
Does publishing my own work with POD prevent a future publisher from working with that particular piece in the future?
Thirty two years ago, I packed my two babies into the car, drove to a local small town newspaper office and handed over an envelope addressed to the editor. It was a day that changed my life and the lives of my family. It was the day I became a writer.
After posting about my recent diagnosis of diverticulosis and diverticulitis, many of you wrote in and kindly told me you thought I perhaps had something else and that I should consider a second opinion. Well, you were right!
Hi,
I just wanted to let you both know that July must be “attack a writer month” as I experienced my first “hate posts” last week.
It came out of the blue for me, too. I
I belong to a very active writer’s association that oversees and sponsors a number of writing groups and workshops in the area. My involvement in the local group has been limited in recent months, only attending meetings when a guest speaker visits to discuss a topic of specific interest to me. This may sound a bit selfish, but I prefer to avoid a handful of pompous, published blowhards whenever possible. Recently I discovered a little secret about a pair of these folks that could send both of them rushing off to therapy, but no names or associations will be mentioned.
I received a call from (a certain POD company) today asking me to participate in a promotional email plan for my book. The web address they sent me to look up specifics of the plan is (link removed).
What do you think?

Recently I attended a networking event for women entrepreneurs. Now, I’m not an entrepreneur in the traditional sense. I’m not looking for venture capital and I don’t need a manufacturer who can produce purses or kitchen gadgets inexpensively. But something told me that it would be a worthwhile event.
While my hypochondria is usually a stressful annoyance (that’s probably an understatement), sometimes it’s good to be extra cautious but sometimes it can get a bit ridiculous. They should ban people like me from medical websites…

Last week, I received an email from an author who was perturbed that we didn’t offer something similar to what he received via email (spam!) from another POD publisher. What was it? A $199 manuscript evaluation. If you paid and then decided to use that POD publisher later, you could deduct $199 from your setup fees. They could (probably do!) then upsell you on their expensive editing services that their manuscript evaluation very likely will say you need. Now, come on. Do you really think they’re going to tell you your manuscript is perfect? No way…
Letters will return next week.