e-volution: an alternative
by Kelly Joi Phelan
Throughout the many editions of this column, I've shown you several ways to get your writing in print, the protocols of the publishing world and magazines that will
pay you to publish your writing. Just for today, forget it all and all the rejection that going down those roads will inevitably bring. For now, let me introduce you to a
do-it-yourself world where grovelling and rejection is pared to a minimum.
Technology and the internet have revolutionized the publishing world. Instead of going through a long process that includes querying and revisions and often takes months (and in some cases, years), new technology puts more power and control into the hands of the writer. Why wait and worry about protocol when you can do
it yourself much quicker and easier?
Of course, there are certain trade-offs you have to live with if you forsake the old ways for the new. Traditional publishing brings with it a built-in respect and trust by both the media and readers, who often dismiss do-it-yourselfers as writers who simply couldn't hack it in the big leagues. The burden of breaking down the
stigma and showing that your work is worthwhile rests solely on the author's shoulders. But when all you really want to do is get your work out there and read by
somebody -- anybody -- the electronic revolution is the way to go.
This edition of "Wordplay" will introduce you to three new ways of publishing -- and show you the advantages and disadvantages of each.
e-books
Electronic books are downloadable books usually in PDF format and readable with Adobe Acrobat. They recently made headlines when Stephen King released his latest creation as an e-book--selling tens of thousands of copies in only a few hours. The e-book file comes complete with "cover" graphics, a dedication, and an ISBN number just like traditional print books do. You can either create, sell, and distribute them yourself from your own website or let a professional e-book publisher like booklocker.com do it for you. Professional e-book publishing houses are usually very friendly and pro-writer and will take care of the creation, credit card processing, and even some of the promotion of your book. Getting published this way is free of charge and you earn a generous royalty on each copy of your book sold. However, many will only handle your book after they've reviewed and accepted the manuscript for publication. On the plus side, it's far more easier to be accepted by an e-publisher than a traditional publishing house. Sites to check out: http://www.booklocker.com • http://www.mightywords.com
print-on-demand
If e-books aren't substantial enough for you and you just really want to see your book offline and in print, consider print-on-demand publishing. Print-on demand (POD) is more of a service than anything, so while you don't have to have your manuscript accepted, you do have to pay a small fee to get your book printed. With the fee, the print-on-demand publisher will design your book's cover and the inside layout, register it with the Library of Congress, assign it an ISBN number, and make it available to buy at places like amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com (as well as on the publisher's own site). The difference is that the creation of the book is compressed to under two months, as compared to the average time of well over a year that it takes traditional publishers to create a book. And unlike in traditional publishing where you get paid for only 5-15% percent for each copy sold, with POD you get closer to 50%. Also, POD's technology ensures that your book will never go out of print -- your manuscript is saved electronically so that whenever another copy is needed, the data is sent to their high-speed printers and instantly printed out. Unfortunately, since the technology is new, the average price of a paperback book is generally around $12-18. But since technology will undoubtedly improve, prices can only drop in the future. Sites to check out: http://www.iuniverse.com • http://www.xlibris.com
serial stories
For the uninitiated, a serial story is basically like a book, but with one chapter distributed for reading at a time. Most people don't profit off this type of do-it-yourself publishing; instead, they do it strictly for the feedback readers provide. However, successful horror and suspense author Douglas Clegg has recently taken e-serials a step further. In an ingenious move, Clegg found a sponsor who would pay to place a small message (read: advertisement) on the list, allowing him to make a profit on his book while letting his subscribers read the story for free. The move was easy to make for Clegg, who has done successful e-serials before and already had a built-in audience. For the average Joe, things are a bit more complicated since sponsors will only consider story lists with an established subscriber base. Don't despair yet; try setting up a website to promote your story or do one serial for free and then look for a sponsor for your second. Advertisers are much more likely to consider you after you've built a solid reader base. Sites to check out: http://www.ehaunting.com • http://www.douglasclegg.com
