So I’ve got something on
my mind I want to ask all of you out there. I am almost finished with a short
story that I have been working on for what seems like ages. I’m thinking it’s
going to end up being somewhere around 10,000 words and it is a Science Fiction
piece that is very close to my heart. Since I am almost done, I’ve been going
back and forth on how I want to publish it; traditionally or self-publish. If I
go with traditional publishing, I won’t have to worry about paying for a cover
or the editing (I don’t think so anyways. Please correct me if I’m wrong). BUT
I also don’t have anything else published yet which means that it could be a
little bit more difficult to place than I’m anticipating. Since it is such a long
piece for a short story, I’m also worried about where I would publish it,
because it would be way too long for a magazine. Maybe an anthology, but I don’t
know.
My second option which I’m
leaning towards the most right now is self-publishing. If I self-publish, I
will definitely need to spend the money to pay for a professional cover as well
as an editor. I’m liking this option more because I will have more control of
my work on this particular avenue, but here is the crux of the matter. I don’t
have anything else out there yet so I am currently an unknown and I don’t have
a decent work sample I can offer for free yet. Should I let this be my free
piece or should I put a price on it? I’ve worked so hard on it and right now I
could really use the money, but with paying for a cover and editing, I don’t
know how much to expect or if I should expect any returns all. I don’t know.
What do you think? How
did you publish your first piece and if, like me, you haven’t been published
yet, what avenue are you planning to use?
