Spring Break
Will you read this?
Conventional publishing is better for emerging authors
Jason Wallace
Issue date: 2/5/09 Section: Opinion
There's a bit of a writer in us all. For those who have more of a passion than others, making your work known to the world while making a profit is a trying feat. Technology and better access to publishing resources may be easier, but sticking with an established publisher may prove to be the safer route.
An author can become wealthy overnight with a book that can capture the imaginations of readers across the country.
J. K. Rowling, Stephanie Meyer and Nicholas Sparks were able to make enormous wealth off their stories. They all went through literary scouts and publishing companies in order to turn their personal work into income and international fame.
Unfortunately, not all aspiring authors will be published. Or will they?
iUniverse is a publishing on-demand company that can turn your work into a published book with your own money. Why should an author wait for someone else to say whether his or her writing is good?
If you feel like you can sell your own book, this is probably the way for you. Amy Fisher and Lisa Genova published through iUniverse, taking their first steps into larger literary societies.
Self-publishing may seem like the best way to get heard outside of the blogosphere, but it works similarly to emerging, unsigned musicians on tour. They are diamonds in the rough. Genova went through many publishing companies before turning to iUniverse to have her book "Still Alice" sold in stores.
Once you have paid a fee to have copies of your book published, you go out and make deals with local book stores, libraries, coffee houses and any other local reading centers to market your book. A personal Web site with your own advertisements would help also. If you live in a committed literary community, then the work may be done for you through word of mouth and recommendations.
This is why going through an established publishing company may be the quickest way to start making a profit.
If your book goes through, there will be proper advertising and deals with bigger book stores like Barnes and Noble to sell your writing. The process is similar to a literary version of "American Idol," but if your goal is to make money out of ink on the page, then the approval from a publisher can let you know if your stuff is worth reading or not. If a publisher turns you down, then it may be a wake up call for improvement or it could mean to try a different publisher.
This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.
An author can become wealthy overnight with a book that can capture the imaginations of readers across the country.
J. K. Rowling, Stephanie Meyer and Nicholas Sparks were able to make enormous wealth off their stories. They all went through literary scouts and publishing companies in order to turn their personal work into income and international fame.
Unfortunately, not all aspiring authors will be published. Or will they?
iUniverse is a publishing on-demand company that can turn your work into a published book with your own money. Why should an author wait for someone else to say whether his or her writing is good?
If you feel like you can sell your own book, this is probably the way for you. Amy Fisher and Lisa Genova published through iUniverse, taking their first steps into larger literary societies.
Self-publishing may seem like the best way to get heard outside of the blogosphere, but it works similarly to emerging, unsigned musicians on tour. They are diamonds in the rough. Genova went through many publishing companies before turning to iUniverse to have her book "Still Alice" sold in stores.
Once you have paid a fee to have copies of your book published, you go out and make deals with local book stores, libraries, coffee houses and any other local reading centers to market your book. A personal Web site with your own advertisements would help also. If you live in a committed literary community, then the work may be done for you through word of mouth and recommendations.
This is why going through an established publishing company may be the quickest way to start making a profit.
If your book goes through, there will be proper advertising and deals with bigger book stores like Barnes and Noble to sell your writing. The process is similar to a literary version of "American Idol," but if your goal is to make money out of ink on the page, then the approval from a publisher can let you know if your stuff is worth reading or not. If a publisher turns you down, then it may be a wake up call for improvement or it could mean to try a different publisher.
This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.
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