Then you may not like this post. In my defense, this is strictly my own personal opinion, from wasting precious time reading garbage. So…
I have to say, I am really beginning to take issue with the whole entire ability of persons named-or-un-named (Okay, un-named), to self-publish. Everyone is an author now. There are no publishers telling you your book is terrible, or editors saying they wouldn’t use your story on the bottom of their bird cage. It does not matter if you do, or most likely do not, have a fairly adequate grasp of your native language. Punctuation? Who cares. Slang that does not fit or suit the story? Sure, just throw it in. Let’s randomly use text messaging short hand, just because we don’t know how to spell it out.
Having your spell checker show you clean pages does not a good story make. I cannot even begin to count the times that I have seen “buy” used for “by”, and I will not even get started on the whole they’re, there, and their issue that so many “writers” have.
Now, in all fairness, I have absolutely read some great stories that were self-published. The characters were developed, the storyline flowed as it should, and there was a beginning, middle, and end. They made sense. Bravo to you great writers! A publisher should be paying you for your stories, so you can truly make the profits and fame that your stories so richly deserve.
But I am going to throw out some things I encountered in a story that I have tried for 3 days to continue reading, and I absolutely cannot read one more single word of it. This author uses WordPress as their main publicity format, and I truly hope they do not come across this blog, or recognize the things I am going to put here. Yes, as much as I am complaining about this “story”, I have not yet reached that level of frustration at the butchering of what could have been a good story, (in the right hands), to call out this young adult by name and upset them.
I promise if I read about 2 more stories that are as terrible as this one, I will be naming names, and hyperlinking to their pages, just so people can avoid suffering through what I had to.
Am I exaggerating? Absolutely not. Let me demonstrate (and I cannot believe I am even going to go back through this story to show you what I am talking about).
1) Surely, no one’s gona be in there then? (Even without the spelling error; gonna? Really?)
2) I go back into the kitchen and finish my tea, ugh it’s cold.
3) The cul-de-sac looks as peaceful as it did during the day. Not like I was expecting it to become a ghetto during the night or anything. Ha. (Yes, it said Ha).
4) “Oh. Err.”
5) “OH ffff” I sigh to myself while I attempt to turn the key.
6) “Sorry I was er having a shower.”
7) “No you wouldn’t, but every village has it’s dark, ‘rapey’ areas.” Sandra laughs. (Rapey? This is where I literally threw my hands up in the air and said “Enough!” I am not kidding.)
I could not read another single word after I read “rapey”. Now, this is a young adult who wrote this story, as I could tell from the lack of comprehension and experience of the English language that comes from many years of reading it, and writing with it. they wrote this book exactly as they would talk to someone casually. Now, if the whole story had been written in that manner, it would have made sense. But it was not. It was written like it was all professional and serious for a minute, and then it said “Ha!”
So, with that being said, I will now step off my little soap box. To all of you self-publishers, keep up the good work. I am sure it is difficult. But also please have someone who will give you an honest, objective opinion, read your story. The world will thank you for it.
booksandopinions.com 
You make an excellent point and I agree that not everyone should be able to self-publish. Unfortunately, many good writers must resort to the self-publishing platform. Traditional publishing options are quickly going the way of the do-do bird and choices for good writers are getting slimmer by the day. Good post.
I absolutely agree! There are not many options anymore, and I may soon be a self-publisher myself 🙂 I have seen a whole lot of stories that never should have been written, and some were literally unreadable. I have also read amazing books that were self published. I think I am just tired of waiting for that next new author and series that is going to take the world by storm ! Thanks for reading!
Hi Angela, You do make good (if painful) points. Having read this I’m all the more flattered that you “liked” my blog. Have you thought of setting yourself up as an editor/filter for would be authors? Your recommendations could help them to broker a book deal. Good luck with the MBA!
Helen
Thanks for reading Helen! I am actually getting my schedule to a point where I hope to be able to start offering editing and proofreading services very soon. I love everything about the written word!
I’m sure you’ll be great. I try not to be a pedant, but it does hurt me to read sloppy English. Keep up the good work!
I just read this and wanted to thank you for liking my post. It actually means a great deal to me that someone who clearly cares about the way things are written took the time to read, and like my post. I struggle with writing in that I am no scholar and really try to edit and re-read my posts before I put them out there. Thank you for your silent words of encouragement.
You are welcome! Even a proofread by someone can help clean up a manuscript. I have seen work so terrible that I really do not know how they could see what they were typing through all of the red that had to be filling their pages.
I just read this blog and I would like to thank you. It actually means a great deal to me that someone who clearly cares about the way things are written took the time to read, and like my post. Thank you for you silent words of encouragement.
Never mind the re-post, it wasn’t showing up for me before. Sorry
I am glad you addressed the elephant in the room. Self-publishing is a bit like the wild-west. Almost anything goes…unchecked and unashamed. It can be difficult to establish one’s self as a legitimate indie author. Nevertheless, I plod on. I do feel “The Times, They are a-changing’” in terms of what Indie authors can bring to the traditional publishing table.
My best to you,
Michelle
I adore the works of indie authors. Most of it is incredibly good. But it seems when I come across something bad, it is really, unbelievably bad. Thanks for reading!
Reblogged this on Sharron Grodzinsky Author and commented:
A great look at the world of self publishing. There are some great self published books out there, but some really poor ones too.
Thank you for reading my blog. I very much agree with you. There are many times I read a blog and cringe at the grammar and spelling errors. Thank you for this post!
Neatly sums up my issue with self-publishing! I love that authors can get their books out there without having to go through bureaucratic what-not channels, that indie authors have the ability to thrive by taking means into their own hands. Some of my absolute favorite books are by indie authors.
…But there is a reason for a vetting process that the traditional method of publishing sets up. Each method has it’s intrinsic problems that has to be balanced when deciding which route to go. I know of a few authors who even do both routes!
Thank you for writing what I have been thinking whilst suffering not just through the example above but a number of books that come to mind.