Wednesday, March 19, 2014

What's all this talk about "hybrids"?

Seems like everywhere you look in the author corner of the blogosphere you see another post about hybrids. Hybrid this, hybrid that, yadda-yadda-hybrid-yadda. 

Huh. Well, okay. I can get with the program. 


Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
What? Looks like a hybrid to me. A camel-sheep hybrid.

Okay, okay...so that's not exactly the kind of hybrid all those other writers mean. They're referring to traditionally published authors who choose to self-publish some of their work, and self-published authors who decide to go with traditional houses when the opportunity arises.

I haven't tried to hybridize myself (not yet, anyway--who knows what the future might hold?), but I like the idea of it. Because why does it have to be an either/or thing? 

I've read passionate posts about how traditional publishing is the only "legitimate" way to go, and equally passionate posts about indie publishing being the wave of the future for "intelligent" authors who wish to control their own destiny. 

But must it always devolve into yet another Us vs. Them situation? Don't we have enough of that kind of rivalry? Liberals vs. conservatives, democrats vs. republicans, employed moms vs. stay-at-home-moms, my team vs. your team, dark chocolate vs. milk chocolate, Billy vs. Mark...frankly, all the bickering gets annoying after a while.

Which is why I like the idea of hybrid authors. I guess I'm just a peace-maker at heart.

More and more trad authors are venturing into the indie realm for the sake of control. And there are plenty of indie authors who would leap at the chance to be traditionally published. 

Seems to me keeping your mind open to all the publishing possibilities is a good thing. 

But, of course, you're entitled to your own opinion. Feel free to share it in the comments. Rant, even, if you feel strongly one way or the other. I rather enjoy reading other people's rants. 

If you have no opinion on the indie/trad/hybrid debate, tell me:

What you think of my hybrid camel-sheep*. Cute? Or just wrong? 

Milk chocolate or dark chocolate?

Billy or Mark? 

Or are you in the "why choose if you don't have to" camp? 


*Yes, I know it's only a fuzzy camel, not really a camel-sheep. Work with me here... 

15 comments:

Diane Henders said...

For the publishing debate, I'm in the "whatever-floats-your-boat" category. There are lots of good reasons to choose or avoid either path. Ultimately the "best" choice is different for everybody - it depends on the author's strengths, weaknesses, and preferences.

So; your questions, in order: Cute, both, ummm (whispers) ...both, and oh hell yeah. :-)

Linda G. said...

Diane -- LOL! You sound a lot like me. If it weren't for your green thumb, kick-ass physical abilities, and gorgeous red hair we could be twins. ;)

Diane Henders said...

Aw, thanks! I'd be proud to be your twin. :-)

S.P. Bowers said...

Billy, definitely Billy. Though I think there are unexplored aspects of Mark that might make it a close race.

Wait, what where the other questions?

Linda G. said...

S.P. -- LOL! Never mind. You answered the important one. ;)

mshatch said...

I like your hybrid camel; he/she is cute!
Dark.
Neither.
Going hybrid as an author seems like the best of all words in my opinion.

Linda G. said...

ms -- It is kind of difficult to tell the camel's gender, isn't it?

Carol Kilgore said...

Love that sheep-camel :)
I agree with you about hybrid writers. Now we HAVE a choice. That's huge. And wonderful. Embrace it!

Linda G. said...

Carol -- It's always nice to have options. :)

Patsy said...

I'm a hybrid myself although I hadn't realised that was the term for it.

Teri Anne Stanley said...

It does seem that there are people who will try to peer pressure you into going over to whichever dark side they're supporting at the moment...we won't like you if you're not like us!
So... Dark or Milk Chocolate? Who cares? It's CHOCOLATE!
and...
Billy AND Mark (heh)

LD Masterson said...

I'm a believe in whatever works for you. Peanut butter, chocolate, or a Reeses Cup.

And I love the um...ceep?...shamel? It's got a great smile. I think.

Anne Gallagher said...

I love self-publishing, but have always longed for a traditional contract. However, working under pressure is not one of my strong suits.

Love the sheamel.
Milk chocolate.
Sorry, who are Mark and Billy? Am I supposed to know? I'm so out of the loop.

Judy, Judy, Judy said...

Cute. Dark Chocolate. Billy.
Sometimes I want to choose. Sometimes not.

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

Both kinds of chocolate, with and without nuts, and Billy AND Mark, of course. Life's too short to put unnecessary limitations on ourselves.

It's the same for publication. I'm still very pleased with my decision to self-publish, and honestly don't know if I'll even start out with the traditional query-submit-repeat merry-go-round for my next book. I may skip all that and go straight for DIY. Then again, maybe not... Que sera, and all that jazz.