Taking Vanity out of Publishing

pub·lish v. pub·lished, pub·lish·ing, pub·lish·es
v. tr.
1. To prepare and issue (printed material) for public distribution or sale.
2. To bring to the public attention; announce. (Source: American Heritage Dictionary)

The word publishing means to make something public. Though generally it refers to printed materials such as books, articles, and magazines, the definition also includes information online.

A book can be published (i.e., made public) either through the author’s initiative and funding, or through the initiative and funding of a publishing house or other outside investor.

It’s important to note that the term publishing does not imply how a work is made public. Thus, a book made public by its author is just as published as a book made public by a traditional book publisher, small press, or any other means.

The difference between the two is simply who initiated and invested capital in the publication of the work: the author or someone else. The end result should be the same: a published book.

Vanity Publishing

“Vanity publishing” is a term frequently used to describe authors who invest their own money to publish their books.

True, some authors hire a publishing service out of “vanity.” Who wouldn’t want to see their work in print?

However, many writers also choose to publish their own work because

1. they believe in it
2. they prefer to be in charge of their book’s brand

But let’s look at another aspect of vanity in publishing.

Why do most writers seek out a traditional publisher first? For many it is a quest for validation. They believe that a publishing contract “validates” their work as being worthy of the marketplace.

For this sense of validation (dare we say, vanity?) some are even willing to forego the rights to their book.

Whether an author invests in the publishing of his or her book or a major corporation pays for it, the book can still be a publishing success. Vanity does not have to be a part of publishing, no matter who foots the bill.

But does it follow that self-published books are of less value than commercially published ones?

Perhaps it’s useful to consider an analogy. For the sake of argument, let’s use higher education: when people go to college, some receive scholarships or other forms of financial aid, and others don’t.

So—if you paid your way through school and didn’t receive a scholarship, does that mean that you’re not educated … you’re actually “vanity-educated?”

We’ll leave you to consider that question on your own!