3 Main Reasons to Either Self-publish or Find a Publisher

1) CONTROL
As a self-publish author you have 100% complete control over your book; this includes but not limited to: book cover design, book title, length of book, cost of book, plot and character structuring within your book, marketing/ promoting techniques and strategies, etc. You own the copyrights and ISBN number. When you turn to a publishing house to publish your book, whether it is a small to medium size, vanity, subsidiary or on-demand publisher, some and most of the control is lost. You will be sharing the profits of each book sold to your publisher and even agent. This means you are only paid royalties. Depending on your reputation to sell books or write great books, do not expect much royalty and promotions on your book.

The big publishing houses will usually take on authors who are either celebrities, well-known experts in their field, authors who have a reputation for selling books or have an ingenious piece of work to be published, that leaves the rest of us to the small and medium size publishers. Some publishers may not even promote an author's work, besides a few press releases, email blasts and catalogue insertions. Therefore, research a publisher thoroughly before you decide to contract with them. Always, always read the fine print, and ask your publisher to point out what he/she is talking about and where it is stated within the contract.

2) TIME
The decision to self-published your book means you take on the role as the publisher. You are responsible for being your own agent, editor, type setter, marketer, sales and distribution director, and most importantly you are the book promoter. This means, "time;" it means you have to be dedicated enough to your book to bring all these things into effect on your own. You will be responsible for making the contacts for book reviews and endorsements. You will responsible for setting up book signings and interviews. I suggest you hire a freelance expert for jobs that you can outsource; this can save you a lot of headache. For example, hiring a freelance editor and typesetter can be a good investment; however make sure you check their references, experiences and background before hiring them. If you simply do not have the time, dedication and money to do all this, then find a good publisher who you like and can trust. Be cautious of publishers who require you to pay a fee upfront (It can be a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars) in order for them to publish your book.

3) PROMOTIONS
No one will promote your book as hard as you, the author. With a publisher you will have to share your profits, whether or not the publisher assisted you with the book sales or promotions, they will get paid first before you get paid. It is a myth that a published author sells more books than a self-published author, it’s about how much energy goes into promoting the book. More promotions equal more sales! You must understand how much effort your publisher is willing to put into promoting your book and how much effort you are willing to put. This decision can help you determined whether you want to be self-published or find a publisher.

Movie Black Swan Imitates Edgar Allen Poe’s “William Wilson”

Being a huge admirer of Edgar Allen Poe, I was immediately reminded of his short story, “William Wilson” after watching Black Swan, directed by Darren Aronofsky.  I questioned whether the screenwriter, Mark Heyman was inspired by Poe when he wrote the movie script. I also came to the quick conclusion that Heyman stole the concept of William Wilson and simply changed the elements around. I then became angry because nowhere in the movie credits was Poe accredited. A viewer who has not read, “William Wilson” would agree that Black Swan is a cunning original. The film introduces an idea, which we as viewers are familiar with but have not currently seen through the medium of a movie. This idea being the inner demon, who ultimately triumphs over the host.

In Black Swam, we see Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) subjected by two characters, a gentle ballet dancer (Princess Odette) and her Opposite, an evil and dark rebel (Black Swan). This confusion between her two characters causes her to lose her mind. The reoccurring scars and cuts on Sayers’ back, shows that she has been experiencing with her Opposite for quite some time–the the duration we are unsure about. Sayers’ winning of the lead role in Swan Lake launches the perfect opportunity for her Opposite to completely overpower her and it does. Sayers dies believing she destroyed her enemy, who in turns, was herself and always had been herself.

In “William Wilson,” the main character William, in his boyhood academy meets a boy who shared his name, who had nearly the same appearances, and even the same birthday. This boy slowly but surely begins to imitate and mimic William's behaviors, he dresses and talks to the exact precision of William. They share the same likes and dislikes and have everything in common. The boy begins giving William advices but William refuses. One night William went into the room of the boy and saw that the boy's face had unexpectedly become unerringly like his own. Being horrified, William rapidly left the academy, only to learn that the boy had also left the academy on the same day.

After fleeting, William attends several different academies and gradually becomes debauched and induces in mischief as he grows older. He frequently encounters and is haunted by a man, similar to his own appearances and behaviors. William describes his fright, “ I fled in vain. My evil destiny pursued me as if in exultation, and proved, indeed, that the exercise of its mysterious dominion had yet only begun…Years flew, I experienced no relief. Villain! …Where, in truth, had I not bitter cause to curse him within my heart? From his inscrutable tyranny did I at length flee, panic-stricken, as from a pestilence; and to the very end of the earth I fled in vain. And again, and again, in secret communion with my own spirit, would I demand the questions ‘Who is he? –whence came he? –and what are his objects?’” (1)

At last, William decides to confront this man. During a ball, Williams sees the man, who wearing the same identical clothes and costumes as his. Williams drags him into an antechamber, beats and stabs the man to death. Having done this William looks to see his reflection in a mirror, and sees that he is pale and dabbled in blood. The story ends, “You have conquered, and I have yield. Yet henceforward art thou also dead –dead to the World, to Heaven, and Hope! In me didst thou exist –and, in my death, see by this image, which is thine own, how utterly thou hast murdered thyself.” (1)

As I observe, Black Swan is very similar to “William Wilson,” except that the movie revolves around a ballet performance. In Black Swan, Sayers encounters her Opposite at her dance studio and in sexual activities while William encounters his Opposite at his school academies and in card gambling. Both at the end, stabs their Opposites to death and learns that their antagonists were indeed themselves.

Regardless, whether Mark Heyman was influenced by Edgar Allen Poe’s “William Wilson” when he wrote the screenplay to Black Swan, I think both the movie and the short story told an excellent account of the human’s inner self conquering. If I had to choose between the two I prefer the short story over the film. I also highly recommend you read, “William Wilson,” if you’ve enjoyed watching Black Swan. Poe is a magnificent writer; he is able to tell stories where in my opinion, no movies, no short films, no screenwriters or directors can ever compete against.

I would love to hear from you and your thoughts on Black Swan and "William Wilson;" please leave a comment below.

(1) "William Wilson." (1839). Edgar Allen Poe.