RS, Author, Novelist, Prosaist

#ScribesAndMakers 2026.03.14 —#TTMD featured creator Steve Degroof @degroof

I've enjoyed reading the questions and responses to today's event, and I've been inspired to remap a … key and an em-dash key on the Mac keyboards, both essential to my writing, thanks to you. Surprisingly, it requires software; it's not a feature of the OS. I've been wracking my brain for a good question all day and last night, but the brain is resisting. Darn. Well, here's my best shot:

You wrote that pursuing sales through your web site was satisfying, even if low volume. This probably means no break-even, right? Are you okay with that? Have you thought of pursuing conventional publication (agents & publishing houses)? What made you decide not to?

[Author retains copyright (c)2026 R.S.]

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Mar 15 at 3:20amWeb
Show threadSteve DeGroof 📚🛸Mar 15

@sfwrtr #ScribesAndMakers Mar 14½: You wrote that pursuing sales through your web site was satisfying, even if low volume. This probably means no break-even, right? Are you okay with that? Have you thought of pursuing conventional publication (agents & publishing houses)? What made you decide not to?

Honestly, other than the time spent writing and editing, there's pretty much zero overhead in the way I self-publish. I use free, open-source tools for writing, formatting, and cover design.

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Show threadSteve DeGroof 📚🛸Mar 15

@sfwrtr

So, any income I get from sales is gravy. It's not like I can make a living off that income, but it's nice to see a few bucks trickle in now and then.

I did attempt to pursue traditional publishing with "A Matter of Scale", and got as far as contracting with an agent. And that's when things started to go sour. The agent loved the book, but suggested a few edits. Then a few more. And more.

2/3

Show threadSteve DeGroof 📚🛸Mar 15

@sfwrtr

It eventually dawned on me that he was attempting to rework the book into a YA or middle-school novel. I started to push back on the edits and, in the end, we dissolved the contract. I reverted most of the edits and self-published.

That experience left a bad taste in my mouth regarding traditional publishing. I don't think I'll attempt it again.

3/3