TURN THE PAGE
As a literary novelist who is self-publishing a book this year, I couldn't agree more with Eugenia Williamson's defense of the publishing industry (see "The Dead End of DIY Publishing," Arts and Entertainment, July 6). It's certainly better for authors to get paid than to shell out, and the traditional model is preferable in almost every way. But Williamson overlooks one compelling reason to self-publish. Yes, ideally the industry functions, at least in part, as a farm system that allows "the nurturing of young writers . . . as well as critically worthy mid-list authors." But the number of farm slots is so small, and the pressures on agents and publishers so great, that it's very hard even for an excellent writer to break through without cronyism and connections. It does happen, but — despite years of work and plenty of praise — it hasn't happened for me. Therefore, if I want to see my work in physical form before I'm 50, I have to do it myself. As for "fame, adulation, awards, and buckets of cash," I'm under no illusion that they will come with self-publishing.
CATHY JACOBOWITZ
BOSTON
A lot of indie publishers won't make a lot of money? Yeah, neither will a lot of traditionally published ones. The big deal with the explosion of indie publishing now is that it has opened the floodgates and removed control from the gatekeepers. Sure, a lot of trash will come through, but so will a lot of quality stuff that has been ignored.
Further, who says that traditionally published books are that much better? Quality might be implied, but have you picked up a book from a traditional publisher recently? Lots of garbage on that side as well. Given that Harry Potter was rejected 12 times, that Twilight got told no 14 times, and that The Help saw more than 60 rejections, it seems that breaking in is less about quality than it is about whether you struck the right cord with the right person in power on the right day. In other words: luck.
RUSS D. MEYER
EWA BEACH, HI
Related:
Flynn-terrogation, Dump at City Hall?, Review: Common Nonsense: Glenn Beck and the Triumph of Ignorance, More 
- Flynn-terrogation
In his powerful new memoir, The Ticking Is the Bomb (W.W. Norton), Scituate native Nick Flynn recounts a conversation he had with a man in Turkey.
- Dump at City Hall?
Thank you for your recent article about the price increase on city trash bags. When I first noticed this at Hannaford this summer, I was disgusted!
- Review: Common Nonsense: Glenn Beck and the Triumph of Ignorance
Common Nonsense effectively and in detail confirms what thinking folks already knew but may have had difficulty explaining: Beck, equal parts Mormon and moron, is a towering ignoramus and a shameless bigot.
- ''Holy war'' holes
I’m as liberal as the next guy, and I’ve been bothered for years by the distorted values and activities of the religious right in their pursuit of enforced conformity.
- Infinite Jester
Everything about your article, "Does this book make me look smart?" (April 15), is awful.
- More muzzles
I question whether "soft censorship" is actually a form of literal censorship.
- Mail dump
Thanks for your article on the price increase on blue bags. The article should also mention another consequence of the price hike: some neighbors have chosen to simply ignore the blue-bag rule and use their own bags.
- Community improvements
First off, thank you so much for writing an article (" The Music World Is Flat ," Arts, June 17, 2011) highlighting the work of some of my favorite bloggers and FMLY.
- Getting heavy
Your "Heavy Burden" (August 19) was a great article, and the accompanying graphic was neat.
- A jolly good biomass mess
This is corporate pork on steroids, for energy we don't even need.
- Filling in the blanks
I believe that Stevens is missing some people on his list: Elliott Spitzer (Douchebag), John Edwards (Asshole), Anthony Weiner (Douchebag), Bill Clinton (Coward), Nancy Pelosi (Simpleton), and Barney Frank (Coward).
- Less
Topics:
Letters
, Books, News, letters, More
, Books, News, letters, self-publishing, Less
