Parallel paths.

Once upon a time, there were two writers. Each was trying to break into the exclusive club of published authors.

The first writer landed a contract with a boutique publisher, which brought her book to market. The second writer chose to go it alone and self-publish.

The books hit the market at roughly the same time, and the two authors set about the unsavory business of promoting their work. Each conducted book signings, issued press releases and scrambled for recognition.

At the ten-month mark, the commercially-published author had:

• Sold 600 copies of her book
• Conducted half a dozen book signings
• Been reviewed in two small-to-medium market newspapers

At the ten-month mark, the self-published author had:

• Sold 200 copies of her book
• Conducted two book signings
• Conducted two speaking engagements
• Been reviewed in one small-market newspaper

Make of it what you will. Personally, I don't see a huge advantage in commercial publishing. I'm pretty sure the trade-off for the increase in activity is something I would not have deemed worth it.

Perhaps it will take me 10 years to catch fire the way I hope to catch fire. If that means I can keep writing what I want to write, the way I want to write it...I consider that a fair exchange.