I'm learning. Self-published authors do not receive much respect from the literary community (foundations funding literary grants, publishers, legitimate contests). At least Publishers pay attention ONLY IF you've sold over 20,000 copies of your novel (within a certain period of time). But that's understandable. The bottom line for them is revenue. I'm just saddened about grants and contests that I'd like to enter but cannot because my work isn't published by a "Publisher".