This provocative article in the Guardian thrashes out the reasons not to self-publish while admitting that making a living as a traditionally published author is all but impossible.

For me, traditional publishing means poverty. But self-publish? No way

Ros Barber makes some valid points, especially when she highlights how much time a writer needs to devote to marketing if they self-publish. It’s what put me off uploading ebooks, when I realised that I’d need to spend more time on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and writing entries for my blog than I did in creating my new novel. Hence, I tried querying literary agents in the hope that if I got a publishing deal the book company would promote me.

It’s worth clicking on the link to Ros Barber’s blog, where she lays out how much she’s earned from her novels.

Authors and the Truth About Money – Ros Barber

As William Saroyan observed:

Writing is the hardest way of making a living with the possible exception of wrestling alligators.