Self Publishing ≠ Rejection

The underlying myth of self-publishing seems to be this: the only writers who self-publish are those writers who have been rejected by publishers and must resort to another means (any other means!) to get published. I, for one, would like to dispel this myth. I am a publisher-free self-publisher. There. I've said it. My secret is out.

My four books--available on Amazon--have never been submitted for representation or publication. I don't have a stack of rejection letters (no, not one!) because I've never offered my books and stories up to an agent or publisher for vetting or review. I've never tied my dreams of success to the whims and wishes of someone else. I've never turned over control of my destiny to someone who cares not a whit for my personal success but is responsible for the success or failure of a company (or a career) not connected to me. This is not to say that if an offer to work with a publisher came down the pike that I would run away in terror, but I would have to think long and hard about what signing on the dotted line would mean to me, to my books, and to my ability to continue to live my own dream.

Every day I am confronted with the prejudice of people who believe that having the support of a publisher is the only path to validation as a writer. In fact, more often than not, "Who's the publisher?" is the first question people ask me when I offer them a copy of my book. When I say, "Me!" a look of disdain comes into their eyes and I know what they're thinking. I'm not a mind reader but I've had this conversation so many times in the past that I know the signs by heart. No publisher = no good. Self-published = rejected.

I believe that as a society, we have been brainwashed into thinking that anything that does not come with a recognized stamp of approval must be deemed not worthy of our time or attention. As I check out blogs and comments and essays on the internet, my belief is confirmed. But as I read bad novel after bad novel sanctioned by publishers dedicated to churning out fodder to satisfy their own fabricated ideas of the wants and needs of readers, I am disgusted and amused. And then I go back to writing what I want to write, what comes naturally to me, and what feels right for me. And then I self-publish.

My dreams may never come true. I may spend the rest of my life self-publishing book after book and never attain the readership to which I aspire. I may break down and decide to offer up my soul for inspection and approval. Who knows what may come in the days and years ahead. For now, I am content to write and work toward dispelling the myth that only rejection leads to self-publishing. And I will remember the words of Abileen Clark from The Help despite my lack of letters be they acceptance or rejection: You is kind. You is smart. You is important. And I am a writer, a good one, with or without a publisher.