I was under the impression that self-publishing wasn't really that profitable. A few years back, I was interested in a writing carrer (still am, to some extent) and I looked into self-publishing. A lot of the books I looked at didn't look well put together. Yeah, the story may have been good, but if the cover looks like it's been designed using microsoft paint or some other cheap image software, will anyone buy it? There's also a lot of work involved and how would anyone physically have the time to do make the book, market it and still be able to write?
You also have to bear in mind that going through the traditional publishing route, those who can't write or tell a story will get weeded out from from those who can - (at least that's the theory). If a reader likes someone's work, they'll keep reading it.
In some ways, I would like Kindle, because I read a lot of fiction, and it would be a great way to store all those Star Trek novels, etc that I read, saving space. Electronic publishing also has the advantage of being a way to make books which are out of print avilable again. However, electronic formats need to be accessible to most people if it is going to work - there's loads of times I've come across electronic formats only to find that I wouldn't be able to read it anyway because I don't have the right software. I've also found that a lot of books aren't avialbe in electronic format and for that reason I don't have a Kindle. (The same reason why I don't buy games for my Vista PC is the same reason I don't have a Kindle - the books I'd like aren't in that format and it wouldn't be worth getting one until more books are avilable in that format.)
It can be difficult to read off a computer screen for long periods of time, so I don't really see how electronic publishing can be more profitable than traditional publishing, unless you take out the costs of producing, storing and distibuting an actual book.
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You also have to bear in mind that going through the traditional publishing route, those who can't write or tell a story will get weeded out from from those who can - (at least that's the theory). If a reader likes someone's work, they'll keep reading it.
In some ways, I would like Kindle, because I read a lot of fiction, and it would be a great way to store all those Star Trek novels, etc that I read, saving space. Electronic publishing also has the advantage of being a way to make books which are out of print avilable again. However, electronic formats need to be accessible to most people if it is going to work - there's loads of times I've come across electronic formats only to find that I wouldn't be able to read it anyway because I don't have the right software. I've also found that a lot of books aren't avialbe in electronic format and for that reason I don't have a Kindle. (The same reason why I don't buy games for my Vista PC is the same reason I don't have a Kindle - the books I'd like aren't in that format and it wouldn't be worth getting one until more books are avilable in that format.)
It can be difficult to read off a computer screen for long periods of time, so I don't really see how electronic publishing can be more profitable than traditional publishing, unless you take out the costs of producing, storing and distibuting an actual book.