E-Publishing
Forging a New Frontier For Writers
By Sharzi Avins (c) 2001
No longer are we subject to the whims of traditional publishers who accept only 4-6 titles per year. We now have a vast oasis of options, one being... e-Publishing. This new and exciting format is fast becoming a respected way for writers to finally make their mark.
Most publishing houses have a great many expenditures, and third parties they are beholden to. They are subject to restrictions, thus insisting agents bring them only the best for their consideration. But, as many writers soon find, agents are not always what they seem. There have been many so-called agents who have romanced their clients with promises of diligently working in their client's best interests. Not so say far too many authors! Finding a good agent who will indeed talk the talk and walk the walk, is rare in the pool of sharks making wild claims.
So, with the advent of online publishing, our horizons are looking much brighter. We no longer need to search for legitimate and hard working agents, nor do we need to spend a ridiculous amount of time in the submission process since most e-Publishers allow submissions via email and many do not require queries, synopsis, etc.
With all the benefits of e-Publishing, I must warn you, there is one very distinct and important difference between this format and traditional publishing.... promotions. The author may be responsible for some promotions of their book, but traditional publishers handle the bulk of it. When the author delves into the world of e-Books, they are most likely going to have to do much of the promoting themselves. This can be a frustrating venture for those who have no idea where to start. Do your research and you'll find ways, but the point is to believe in your book enough to go the distance.
For examples of e-Publishers and e-Books, let's take a look at the following publishers....
Starlight Writer Publications (www.starpublications.com), publishes books that are 50,000 to 100,000+ words in length. This is in keeping with their counterparts in traditional publishing. Starlight pay royalties of 35% per downloads (the publisher sets the price of each download). They offer books for promotion and either party (the publisher or author) may terminate the union within a 90 day period.
Adventure Book Publishers (www.puzzlesbyshar.com) are similar to Starlight in that they offer writers the same opportunities for publishing. There is a contract and payment for the books accepted.
Booklocker.com (www.booklocker.com), pays 70% royalties on each $6.95 download. Authors can sell their books anywhere else and are not exclusive to just Booklocker. Writers are welcome to list their books for free, but they must be ready to sell... edited, formatted and converted to their specifications.
E-Publishing is in it's infancy, but I say, it can't hurt to get in early. If you are a writer with little time or patience for traditional publishing, or would like to test the waters before jumping in with both feet, than e-Publishing could be the answer!
All Rights Reserved
Copyright 2001
The contents of this article may not be reproduced in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, or with intent to republish, without written permission from the author,
Sharzi Avins.
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