You hear untold criticisms of "self-published" books. Why? Because the truth is there have been a boatload of inferior products produced in that arena due to poor rendering and even poorer writing. Moreso in years past than now because of the technology available to those who aren't computer-challenged such as myself. Not only because of that reasoning in the formatting and cover art issues now available for skilled individuals and self-publishing outfits such as WinePress, but because some respected authors are now attempting to go the way of self-publishing for works they can't get published in the royalty-publishing arena due to gluts in the genre or because they've elected to write outside their "normal and expected" genre.
So, while the stigma still weighs on those unknowns who elect to go the self-publishing route such as myself, it comes with the territory because in the origination of this leg of publishing, the stigma was deserved and truthful.
The fictional part of the nagging stigma is that a self-published book is inferior in every way. Not hardly. Since I've worked with WinePress, and since they're a respected and frequent player at the best known Christian writing conferences around the states, it's easiest for me to use them as a good example of an outfit who produces a quality book as far as their covers, their formatting, and their final results. On a par with any royalty publisher. From the writing end of it, they use some of the same freelance editors and services that the major houses use, so it's a toss up whether or not a story will bear the fruit of some serious editing choices by those who pay for the packages that must now include professional editing. I've long held that even a good editor can do you wrong if they don't like your voice, your style, or your genre. So that's an issue that weighs heavily on the objectives of self-publishing from both the writer's and the publisher's standpoint.
I'm not - and never have been - a proponent of the platitude professed by so many that insists "only the best" make it into royalty publishing. This is simply not true. Added to the falsehood of that claim are the multiple proofing errors often found in commercially, aka royalty, published books. In the first place most publishers have holes to fill, meaning they want so many of one genre and of course several Amish novels, etc. They have a zillion authors to choose from so this is where it's often said that the best rise to the top and get published. However, if you ask many published authors, they will tell you it's all about perseverance, connections, referrals, and that right place/right time thing we know translates to God's timing.
If you read enough novels in either the ABA or the CBA, you're going to find some good and bad stuff. C'mon. It's a given. Some mediocre writing and some outstanding writing in both categories. Anyone can get frustrated with taking a chance on a novel because the back cover copy entices and the reviews seem good, but then the book fails to meet the anticipatory standards set for it.
So to say all books that make it through the publishing hurdles are "the best" is bona fide fiction.
However, that is not to say each and every author who endures the process and comes out on the royalty published end of it all should not be applauded for their efforts and success. It's a definite accomplishment that deserves recognition for the effort and the appeal that caused their work to be recognized by publishing professionals as worthy of passing through their intimidating gates.
Just some Thursday thoughts . . . on the publishing biz.
Lord, we all are desperate for you. Whether we know it or not. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.