I feel a bit of a cheat really. Am I a great writer? NO. Can I tell a story…Well I’d like to think I can. Having started both the Linkedin group ‘Aspiring Writers’ followed by the e-book site Lebrary.com, I got caught up in the frenzied world of the aspiring writer, experiencing both directly and indirectly the frustrations being felt by many thousands of extremely talented and passionate writers, who make me feel very humble.
My belief, that after writing my first book all I had to do was make tea for the line of agents and publishers outside my door, was as you will all know, both highly optimistic and very, very naïve.
I consider myself a sensible individual (sort of). Had my ups and downs like everyone and always tried to conduct myself in professional and considerate manner when dealing with people, especially in business. So it came as a great shock to find out that the process a new author had to go through JUST to have their work read, was to say the least outrageous. Agents asked me to send work to them and ‘suggested’ that I shouldn’t send it to anyone else until I heard from them!!! Three month’s later…If I was lucky, the standard thank you but no thank you letter was received…HELLOOOO! Most of us have been there so I won’t depress you any further.
Still having a streak of entrepreneurialism in me I set out to wave the flag for the 1,000s of aspiring writers, world-wide who although may not be the next J.K Rowling, should at least have an opportunity to try.
There’s been a lot of talk about e-books, some good and some bad, but there are facts that we can’t ignore. Firstly, the existing business model for distributing books isn’t working FACT. Both publishers AND authors are now embracing e-books FACT. Sales of e-books are booming FACT and e-book readers are selling like mad FACT.
Does this all mean the death knell of paper books? NO and let’s hope this never happens, but the reality, whether we like it or not is that the e-book business model works. It works for authors, publishers, retailers and of course the reader. The hardest thing at the moment is people getting their head around holding an e-book reader or looking at a pc, as against a paper book, but like letters verses emails, it’s only a matter of time.
Naturally, all authors dream about seeing their book in a shop window and sitting in the book store signing their latest best seller, but the world moves on and certainly in these hard economic times, everyone will be looking for ‘Success Guaranteed’ leaving the aspiring writer more out in the cold than ever before. Although sites like Lebrary.com gives the writer the opportunity to get published, it doesn’t guarantee success, but with the same enthusiasm to market your books as you've put into writing it, you should be on your way to achieving your ambitions. Of course you would get support in promotion, but many writers who publish an e-book feel that the work is finished once it’s up on the site. WRONG... you have to ‘sell it’ Dirty words to many I know, but with social networks a plenty, blogs, forums and a host of other opportunities, you can promote your book, without putting your hand in your pocket, you really don’t have any excuses. We even give our authors a simple tool to get a message out to ALL their contacts with one click.
Let’s be honest, e-books won’t be for everyone, but at least we now have an avenue where we can be the masters of our own destiny.