Yesterday, soul sister @DimpleAtra had called for a solution we can come up with to battle the elitist gatekeeping in the publishing industry (Original thread by @sanjeevsanyal ). Here are my two paise +
A. What can the writers do?
1. Write that damn book.
Believe me, in the last six months or so, I encountered at least ten writers with promise who are not motivated to write because of the uncertainty w.r.t publishing.
Any thing can be done only if you have a workable draft.
1. Write that damn book.
Believe me, in the last six months or so, I encountered at least ten writers with promise who are not motivated to write because of the uncertainty w.r.t publishing.
Any thing can be done only if you have a workable draft.
Worst case (not necessarily, but that is a different topic), you can publish on platforms like Amazon KDP. In my case, the turning around started with KDP.
But WRITE. And WRITE MORE
2. Embrace Technology - Study how social media works and work on building your platform+
But WRITE. And WRITE MORE
2. Embrace Technology - Study how social media works and work on building your platform+
Even if you are traditionally published, it is you who is going to sell your books. Writing is a craft. Marketing is also one and is not as punishing as it is made out to be. It is all about listening to your readers, where they are, what they do, how they buy. It is a journey+
3. Other authors are not your competition. They know how you feel and you know how they feel. Together, you know that you can bring the 'fortress down'.
Form groups, discuss your blocks, help each other. Most importantly, combine your platforms to lend exposure to each other+
Form groups, discuss your blocks, help each other. Most importantly, combine your platforms to lend exposure to each other+
Eg, In London, members of @IndieAuthorALLI meet up in a bookstore, brainstorm over their issues. Each member gets 5 min slot to talk what s/'he faces and how s/he handled it. Others get to give advice on what to do.
Once we put our brains together to create a book launch plan+
Once we put our brains together to create a book launch plan+
In India, @IndicBookClub is indeed an oasis for upcoming writers on Indic specific topics. Find such a peer group that suits your genre and plan on what to ask. Plan on what to give back. It works on mutual contribution
In Short,
WRITE
PUBLISH
NETWORK
LEARN
REPEAT
++
In Short,
WRITE
PUBLISH
NETWORK
LEARN
REPEAT
++
B. What can the readers, sympathetic ecosystem do?
Beyond outraging on social media, you, the reader, the one who thirsts to see the literature you love, the one for who the writers are toiling. You (includes me) have the power to change the scene.
How?
Beyond outraging on social media, you, the reader, the one who thirsts to see the literature you love, the one for who the writers are toiling. You (includes me) have the power to change the scene.
How?
I am only going to cite how my readers helped me. If they can do it you can too.
1. Don't remain stuck up with bookstores and develop e-reading.
I know it is unpopular. But online is where you find writers struggling to change the narrative. They need you as you need them+
1. Don't remain stuck up with bookstores and develop e-reading.
I know it is unpopular. But online is where you find writers struggling to change the narrative. They need you as you need them+
Kill your attachment for a paperback and you would effectively add to a writer's morale and courage. Corollary - don't hate Amazon. That is the first (and mostly last) place a new writer can put up his or her books. Your money will mostly go to authors, and logistics employees+
+instead of some high street rentals. If you buy a KDP published author's book, 70% of the royalty goes to the author. In traditional publishing, the author gets mostly 8-10%.
2. Review. Review. Review.
On Amazon, on goodreads, on indicbookclub.com+
2. Review. Review. Review.
On Amazon, on goodreads, on indicbookclub.com+
Yours need not be an erudite 3 paragraph review. Just a line or two on what you liked. Even on what can be improved. Just enough to make the writer feel you have read their book and it matters.
Heck, even two words would do. It takes 2-3 mins. Put in reviews.
Heck, even two words would do. It takes 2-3 mins. Put in reviews.
2. Leverage your connections. Say your alumni group or any like minded community, arrange for an online session (which costs nothing but an hour of your group's time now a days). It boosts the writer's morale like anything.
Share on your social media, what you are reading+
Share on your social media, what you are reading+
3. Make reading a cool, brag-able habit again. Show off your current read and suggest your reading list to your friends and other genre readers you may know.
We never know where the next break would come from and if you are instrumental, a writer will remember you till death+
We never know where the next break would come from and if you are instrumental, a writer will remember you till death+
4. Follow the author on Social Media and probably you get more ideas on how to help them.
Again in short
Read.
Review.
Repeat.
Be the recipient of the writer's eternal gratitude. You are a part of their journey as they are of yours. The change is possible when we are together
Again in short
Read.
Review.
Repeat.
Be the recipient of the writer's eternal gratitude. You are a part of their journey as they are of yours. The change is possible when we are together
Ending the thread with a humble thank you to my readers.
I got a commissioned contract from a traditional publisher because they read my first self published book.
It reached them because *you* guys made it visible.
I got a commissioned contract from a traditional publisher because they read my first self published book.
It reached them because *you* guys made it visible.
