Why the animosity toward POD authors?

[B.R.Stateham]

Recently I thought about sending a novel to a well-known but small publisher. But I forgot to read the entire submissions demands. Much to my surprise I was informed in no uncertain times I could not submit if I had ever been published by a POD publisher.

So the question is this: Why this vehement animosity toward POD authors?

[B.R.Stateham]

Hang in there, Pepper. Apparently we haven't hit the 'big-time' yet. (grinning)

[Pepper Smith]

Sigh. Some very small publishers use POD technology to produce their books, at no cost to the authors, because they are legitimate operations. Unfortunately, all their authors get tarred with the vanity-published brush because there's such a lack of understanding about it. If a company reads submissions, weeds out the ones that are entirely unsuitable, pays for editing, cover art, printing, bar codes, ISBNs, plus whatever charges are involved in getting books into various selling venues, seeking reviews, buying advertising, and paying royalties on books sold, are they to be considered illegitimate just because they use POD technology to make their books available?

[B.R.Stateham]

Let's take a look at PubishAmerica. I admit, I am one of their mill-levy authors. And I admit PA publishes just about anything and everything that comes to them. But there are few points I would like to point out about PA (and don't for a moment think I am unaware of PA's problems--I really am.)

1. It doesn't cost to publish with PA. They absorb the printing cost. They absorb the book cover design costs. They absorb at least a modest level of editing costs.

2. They actually offer better royalty percentages to authors off material sold than most major publishers.

3. Like any major publisher, they offer 'returns' for major book stores on books not sold.

4. For the amount of books they put out, they have a fairly high degree of books that are commerically successful (at least that's my opinion, John. I haven't culled the statistics on that one.)


Now, all that being said, PA has its problems. One being related to the accuracy of their authors as to what was sold and what was not sold. They also, like most POD printers, are woefully lacking in promoting their books. But I can't say many publishers of the traditional norm are outstanding in that field either.

Yep, PA has had its knocks. But I take eception to the idea of lumping PA in with Iuniverse or Authorhouse.

[Clair Dickson]

Should be "niche" nonfiction... ;-)

[Clair Dickson]

It's because many POD-published books are from POD mills like Authorhouse, iUniverse, and the infamouse Publish America. These places take anything and everything submitted to them, regardless of how good it is, or isn't. Because of this, most of the things that are produced by such places are at best, not commercially viable, and at worst... pure dreck.

It's like the internet-- anyone can post/ publish anything. Doesn't mean it's all good.

Now, there are always exceptions. Some good writers fall into the hands of POD-mills or scam literary agents.

I think the animosity comes from the way that some POD-mill and self-published authors act: as if they have accomplished the same thing as a commercially published author. As previously said, they don't seem to either understand or being willing to admit that they are not quite there.

Now, I fully beleive that self-publishing (which may include the Print on Demand technology) is a better option for some people, including nice nonfiction. But it's not quite the same as getting a book published by Random House. Random House edits... at no cost to the author.

(Though, that's another niggly point-- many self-published authors are quite pleased that no one will ever touch or change their Golden Words. I knew few, if any, authors who can't benefit from some editing, myself included.)

My two cents. I'm still shooting all the way for the top-- with a modest advance so I can easily earn out and make profits for my publisher. Someday. =)

[Pepper Smith]

I imagine this will change over time. To some extent, it comes across as circling the wagons to keep the savages out in its current manifestation.

[B.R.Stateham]

Unfortunately there is. Some agents won't talk to you if you've been a POD writer. Some publishers won't talk.

[I. J. Parker]

It is my understanding that POD implies only to the manner in which a book is produced. Apparently a copy isn't printed unless someone pays for it first. This is a good thing for many older books that have gone out of print. But it is also used by small publishers who bear little or none of the expense of printing the book. Contracts there can range anywhere from vanity press type (the author pays all costs) to the author paying some costs, to the publisher paying only royalties on sold books. As you probably know, awards committees specifically declare some of these option ineligible.

Not sure if that accounts for publisher hostility, though.

[John Dishon]

Well, that thread is pretty recent and I remembered who started it so it was easy to find.

[B.R.Stateham]

Jesus, John! You've got to be the most finely attuned article-reader I've ever met!