“In many ways, traditional publishing has become the new vanity press. Authors used to spend a lot of money for the ego boost of being an “author” and holding their “book.” Now they simply give up a lot of money in order to think of themselves as “real authors” who can hold their “real book.”

This is an excerpt from writer Hugh Howey, and I found it on his blog at Goodreads. Powerful thoughts, and worth reading. A warning that there’s some salty language — not much, but what’s there is strong.

I’m getting quickly to the point where I write only because I must, because I love it. It’s almost irrelevant what the reading public’s reaction is. Sure, I want folks to love it and shower me with their loot; but ultimately, I can’t do much more than write the best books I can, market them the best I can, and hope they find an audience. I’d like it better if everyone loved my work. But if they don’t, that’s fine; that’s not why I do it. I’m not in competition with other writers or other books. I just want to write, and then write some more.

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