3 ms·

Yes, provided that the author is sufficiently good at editing, organizing thoughts, typesetting, copyediting, and marketing.

• tptacek 17y ago
  It seems to me that you're giving up far more money to a publisher than a good copywriter and a good designer will cost. It's true though that you have to pay these expenses up front (although not until you've finished with the book itself, and even with the technical review --- at which point you know pretty well whether the copyeditor is worth the expense).
  • chromatic 17y ago
    I agree, but I've also been a professional editor and know the extent to which editing can improve a manuscript. I personally won't work with a so-called traditional publisher again; I find their contract terms -- especially remuneration -- one-sided and unacceptable. I neglected to mention the value of distribution. The only way I can imagine working with a traditional publisher again is to increase the potential audience of a book through a dedicated sales and distribution channel -- but I'm not giving up 85% of gross revenue to do so.
    • tptacek 17y ago
      Don't get me wrong: I'm sold on copyediting. I just don't think it's worth $100,000.