Yes but no. Hahaha. Good story ...
So in my complex there's a book exchange shelf in the community building. I saw a book of poems and picked it up. It was self published by another resident and the quality of the paper and binding were good. I was impressed. The cover art looked good too.
But, what was ABUNDANTLY clear, was that it needed HEAVY editing. A good editor is worth their weight in (Bitcoin?).
So I'd say focus down EXACTLY on WHY you're publishing the book and WHO it's intended audience is. Let this guide your showing of your art.
If it's for YOU only then go wild and do whatever. It's art only for you.
But if you're targeting a wider audience get someone who is 1) good at editing 2) understands the genre well - both great and bad examples. 3) let them edit your thoughts and art. Ruthlessly. You need to be an idea assassin.
Why?
I believe parameters and restrictions push increased creativity and artistic expression. I wont dive in. But I believe this strongly.
And attention spans are SHORT. Two famous, THE most famous musicians of the past 100 years, both said that attentions spans are short and you have to have what is important IMMEDIATELY. (Paul from the Beatles and Dave from the Foos)
There are outliers obv... But I think it's sage advice. Huge anthologies like LOTR or whatever only come along once or twice.
How many shows have you watched where you can TELL the writers are drawing it out and making more of the story than it should be? SO many. It waters down the art.
Back to my recent example.
This author had a book of, maybe 50 or more poems. Some of them were bad. Some corny. Some so very amateurish. They weren't categorized in a way to show progress or anything. Just a book of mostly bad poetry with cringy drawings as well. Ick. 🫤
But. There was one poem, as amateurish as it may seem that MOVED me. Hard swallow and fought back a tear. Yup. That good at telling a human experience.
I ran into this author a week later (her headshot was on the back cover) and clumsily told her that I'd picked up and read her book. She smiled wide and said it WAS the edited/updated version. And that she has too many to sell or even donate to the local thrift store.
Thanks for listening. Hahaha. I needed to edit this. 😆 Irony.