If you can make a zine, you can make a book.

We're at an interesting juncture in publishing history. An individual can produce a book as polished as a corporate outlet can for about the same price. We're at a point where we can reasonably look at what corporate media can offer us, and choose what best suits our needs as the cultural producers. This is quite new -- since the supply of writers has always exceeded big publishing's needs, the people that package and sell the writing have always had more power.

The rise of indie music offers a potential model. Ten years ago, if someone put out their own album people would say, "Oh, I guess they couldn't get a record deal." Nowadays -- after years of undeniably great independent releases, consciousness of media ownership, and a self-sustaining community -- public perception of indie rock has shifted. Now, people would be just as likely to say, "Oh, cool. Major labels suck."