Gatekeeping, Elitism and Expenses in Self-Publishing (a Threads discussion gone rogue 👀 ) 

This is very interesting video. No such research has been done in the field of literature in Finland. Only and only the cinema students do research every summer on the representation of Finnish films. About a year ago one male (I think he was some kind of gatekeeper position) wrote an opinion peace and said that we don't have a working-class writers in Finland who writes about working-class people. Thing is that he haven't read fantasy and YA. He haven't recognized a craftsmen work in fantasy and maybe working class writers want a little escape form the reality and they prefer write fantasy. At least two writers I follow on social media. But it was rare conversation in here, because we rarely recognize classes in Finland although we have many social classes. But it is new thing so people might rather discuss is it real or imagination than about it. I have heard from few writers/ authors that it is possible to do indie publishing in Finland, but if it is almost impossible to even get sold books through traditional publishing, because no one have the money to marketing and newspapers or tv won't do litterature criticism, book tips nor other stories. Even bookstores do not stock all traditionally published books. Because they value only certain type of books, you know, what serious white men and women who have right thoughts are writing about. Although we have vivid genre litterature, bookstores prefer to fill their shelves with serious and respected Finnish adult litterature and translated English genre litterature (or not translated, I'm sure you know that we are a small language group, so there are people who don't read books in Finnish at all, even though it is their mother tongue). So how is it possible to sell indie books here when you don't hear about them. Anyway these are just some random thoughts while watching your video. And your website looked really great.

It's certainly a contentious debate for some people. I posted a video on my own RU-vid channel, discussing my reasons for why I might not be able to hire an editor, and why it might not be the best route for other authors, going through everything from the fact my book would be unlikely to earn that money back to the fact I had multiple books I wanted to publish and would need to pay for. My ultimate sentiment was that, if I could afford it, I'd pay for an editor, because I value the work they do, but that, if I couldn't afford it, I'd rather release an okay book than not release one at all. Many authors in a similar boat to mine felt seen by my commentary, but one author called me dangerous - he accused me of "handing out tide pods" to other vulnerable writers who would take my advice. He'd published one book, and it's my guess that he, having spent the $2000 on an editor, or gone the traditional route, felt threatened in a sense. After all, if my book did well without "paying my dues," it would mean, in a sense, he'd wasted his own money. That's just my guess, but suffice it to say that some people feel very strongly about this. Just for expressing my concerns around the affordability of editing (and even the practicality of spending $2000 on something, even if I did have the money, on something unlikely to earn that money back) I was called dangerous! Like you, I didn't grow up with a lot of money, even with family support, so I have learned to be very cautious with the money I do have. Sorry for the rant, but this is a great discussion and I wish more people would talk about this.

Thank you for a very interesting video! I'd love to take you up on your offer, but I don't know how solid your norwegian is. ;)