Getting a Book Published In the 21st Century
Getting a book published isn't as simple as it used to be. But then what is?
Back in the golden age of book publishing, not so long ago, writers banged out manuscripts on manual typewriters, and publishers were more like patrons or mentors than hard-faced businessmen.
You needed some writing talent, of course, and a willingness to work hard and learn your craft. The prospects of getting a book published for the lazy or ungifted were as poor then as they are today.
But back then a promising writer was given the time and space to develop. Today they are not - at least, not nearly to the same extent.
So what has changed? What hasn't changed? And how is an aspiring novel writer in the twenty-first century meant to carve out their own small space from which to speak to anyone who wants to listen and hopefully earn a living in the process?
What Has Changed?
Pretty much everything about book publishing is different now. The world has become more commercial and competitive, and the World Wide Web has changed the way the world competes.
The key for the aspiring writer is to embrace these changes and not lament the passing of the "good old days."
What Hasn't Changed?
Well, accomplished fiction and non-fiction writers are still very much in demand. Storytelling has been alive and well since we lived in caves, and it probably always will be.
It's just tougher nowadays to be heard.
What Are the prospects Like For Unknown Writers Today?
Pretty good, actually!
The Internet has opened up so many opportunities for writers who want to go it alone that not only is self publishing a book a lot more do-able than it ever was, it might even be preferable to traditional publishing.
As a matter of fact, it is my strong belief that we are entering a new "golden age" of publishing. Stick with me and I will tell you all about it.
Getting a Book Published in the 21st Century: The Articles
Is Traditional Publishing Dead?
The answer, of course, is "no" - but it probably will die if it fails to embrace the Internet world and the new publishing opportunities that this presents to writers.
In this article, I look at the challenges facing traditional publishers, the changing face of bookselling, and the future of paper and of books themselves.
Is Online Book Publishing a Smart Choice?
Basically, then, you have two choices: traditional publishing and online self publishing. In this article, I discuss whether online book publishing is merely a good "Plan B" or if it's something you should consider as your number one method of getting your novel into print.
The Complete Guide to Online Self Publishing
By this stage, you might have decided that publishing your book online is definitely for you. At the very least, you will hopefully be interested in finding out more - and that is what this third article is all about.
I don't get down into the bitty-gritty details here, but instead offer a solid overview of the online self publishing process. For anyone who wants to take things further, the more detailed article on Print On Demand Publishers discusses a couple of recommendations of which online book publishers to use.
Self Publishing Books Is Easy!
Yes - it really is. But here's the stinger: You then have to sell those books, and that's tougher. Read this article for an overview of the whole business of marketing self-published books online.
A Summary of Your Book Publishing Options
I am well aware that a lot of you will still have your hearts set on Publishing a Novel Traditionally. And that is okay - the familiar way of getting a book published has been around for many years and isn't going to disappear any time soon.
Like it or not, though, the times they are a'changin'.
The purpose of this new section on 21st century book publishing is to keep you informed with what is happening and, hopefully, give you more options.
You can use the material in this section in three ways...
- Ignore it totally. The Net might be changing the world of book publishing but, like I said, the traditional way of doing things is still very much alive (it's just a lot tougher for unknown writers than it used to be).
- Use it as a "Plan B". In other words, try to get your novel published conventionally first. If you succeed, you can still use a lot of the online marketing methods I will discuss in this section to help drive sales of your novel. If the literary agents and publishing houses all say "no", you will now have a different road to try.
- Use it as a "Plan A".That is to say, forget about getting a book published traditionally and commit to online book publishing from the outset.
I really can't advise you on which option is best. It's down to you and your novel. All I can say for sure is that, if you do choose online self publishing, don't just dabble in it but embrace it with everything you've got.
Oh, and treat it like you would a business, because that is exactly what getting a book published online would be - hopefully one that will make you plenty of money!
