Self-publishing provides more freedom and control, but it also provides more risk. Publishing provides more credibility and promotion, but your vision can also get lost in the bureaucratic machinery of the business. It's a tough decision to make.
Interpretation
Self-publishing offers autonomy but comes with its own challenges, while traditional publishing lends credibility at the cost of creative control.
This quote by Mark Manson highlights the dichotomy between self-publishing and traditional publishing. On one hand, self-publishing grants authors the freedom to express their vision without interference, yet it comes with the burden of navigating the risks and responsibilities that come with managing their own work. On the other hand, traditional publishing offers the advantage of established credibility and marketing support, but often at the expense of the author's original intent, as the demands of the publishing house can dilute their creative vision. Ultimately, the decision between these paths represents a complex balance of freedom, risk, credibility, and control.
In practice
During a seminar on publishing options, I quoted Mark Manson to emphasize the importance of understanding the trade-offs of self and traditional publishing.
Whereas a lot of Buddhism concerns itself with stages of enlightenment, various precepts and moral codes, and even power structures and hierarchies, Zen is just like, 'Shut up, sit down, and observe your thoughts - oh, and by the way, what you perceive as you' doesn't actually exist.' I loved the minimalist approach of it.
I think people who become compulsive about fitness or eating right, a lot of the time it's out of fear that they're going to lose control or that they're not good enough, so I think anything done out of fear or motivated by fear is often unhealthy.
Many people come to self-help material because they feel like something is wrong with them or the way they are. The problem is that anything that tells you how to improve your life is also implying that there is something inherently wrong with you the way you are.
The first and perhaps most important thing to realize about being happier in life is to stop trying to be so happy in life.
Writing/reading is like visiting another person's brain. And a short book or article is like a short stay. You come in, have a coffee, talk about the weather or sports, and then move on.
I think humility - which I think is a very good value to adopt - is basically an extension of understanding your own ignorance.
You might be poor, your shoes might be broken, but your mind is a palace.
Your most precious, valued possessions and your greatest powers are invisible and intangible. No one can take them. You, and you alone, can give them. You will receive abundance for your giving.
'Show up at the desk' is one of the first rules of writing, but for 'Wolf Hall' I was about 30 years late.
There's nothing you can do to see — it is a gift.
Though sages may pour out their wisdom's treasure, there is no sterner moralist than pleasure.
I'm so glad I never feel important, it does complicate life!
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