Michael D. Scott

There's too many snobs and old farts around who are resistant to change. I don't think any new writers are under any illusions about self-publishing. It's 2008 and every day the world changes. To claim to be an authority of x amount of years is almost irrelevant. We have new toys now like microwaves Ebay and mobile phones! So yes, shit's changed. As POD costs are reduced the literary world will change. More raw un-edited unprocessed work will enter the market. Books will be better for it – the reader will have more choice. Perhaps a chance to experience raw talent not yet shaped for the mass consumer.

As much as the 'experienced' are adamant self-published books will not be taken up by publishers, logic dictates that they will. Perhaps not today, but soon. It's called 'How business really works.' Popular products struggling to reach potential customers through lack of production capacity or distribution facilities are purchased by larger companies, if the figures stack favourably.

If you tell me that publishers will only ever accept 'single sided; double spaced; 12pt; TNR manuscripts' – I'll tell you all quality newspapers are broadsheets.

I've said it before – The cost of producing a single novel via POD is now competitive with printing the manuscript on a domestic printer. When busy editors realise the printed book format is easier to read on the train and in bed, no doubt it will become the new standard. Who in their right mind wants to walk around with 400 loose sheets of A4 and an elastic band anyway?

I might be talking a complete load of bollocks, it doesn't really matter. All of what I've said is possible. While we have possibilities, we have hope. Most of us [hopefully] are at the beginning of our publishing careers. How publishing used to work and still would if I had my way', is of little or no use to us. Self-publish:- 'How publishing will work for you in the future.' - I'll buy a copy.

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