Orson Scott Card@orsonscottcard
“How do successful authors handle the transition from self-publishing to having a publisher, and vice-versa?”
Jerry Maguire's mantra is the best answer: Follow the Money.
When you've tried all the publishers and got no encouragement, then decide whether to self-publish. If you do, remember that if you don't work hard promoting your book, NOTHING WILL HAPPEN. Your book just sits there online. I know whereof I speak. One of my best novels has sat there, unpromoted and therefore unnoticed, for years, under a pseudonym. And no, I will never promote it. It's too off-brand.
So let's say your self-published book has a following and is making money, and a publisher notices it and either wants to publish that book, or wants you to write them another. But the advance is low. That means they aren't going to promote it beyond slapping a cover on it and putting it in their catalog … way down the list. They insist that you remove your book from online sales. Or they ask for revisions that you don't believe in. Your answer is, “No thanks. I like the book as it is, and I’m already making more money than you’re offering.”
Then they come back with a respectable advance offer, and agree to print it in the form you require. Now, with that advance, they'll probably promote it. Toss a coin.
Or a different publisher comes to you, apologizes for having passed on it when you offered it before. “The editor who rejected your book doesn't work here anymore. Now that you've proven how wrong we were, we'd like to bring out a new edition of the novel, set up some bookstore and convention signings, and pay an advance of $45,000.” That's more than you've earned from the book so far.
Follow the money. Publishers show their sincerity and commitment with money.
It's like deciding when to quit your day job. When you are losing money every hour you work at your job instead of writing, and your proven royalties are enough to cover your expenses for six months if you don't buy stupid stuff, why are you still going to work? If they beg you to keep working half-time for more money, why not? As long as you don't hate the job, why not have a steady income stream AND the royalties?
Having once proven yourself online with one self-published book, you can always go back if a publisher disappoints you. But remember how hard you had to work at self-promotion. Do you really want to do all that again?
