Are you interested in publishing online? We asked someone who's been there before a few questions about writing online and publishing traditionally.
Q: You've been writing online for over ten years yet only now are you doing it professionally. What changed? A: When I started not many people were online and certainly not the frequency people are connected today. Back then it was easy to make friends and find readers. Now there's so much more noise, people really interact less with each other through forums and such. Going professional gave me something to leverage to help connect with readers again online.
Q: Why do you think writers groups are a bad idea for aspiring novelists? A: Because the opinions you get are ultimately not from readers. There's value in seeing how other writers would do it, but writers are really resistant to new ideas and experimentation. One only need to flip through a few bestsellers to understand that readers are much more forgiving. Ultimately its the readers you are writing for.
Q: What should an ambitious writer do to improve their work? A: Get it in front of readers. Get it in front of as many real readers and as often as you can. There is no substitute for the opinion of the people who actually buy the books. Plenty of authors found profitable audiences with work other writers don't think is any good.
Q: What tools are available right now for writers and how can they find them? A: There are a number of startups building quality projects and a number of blogs following the intersection between tech and publishing. There are even meetup groups dedicated to digital tools. Follow the blogs, follow the entrepreneurs on Twitter, keep your eyes and ears open.
Q: Should writers self-publish? A: It depends. If you're looking for an income to support yourself definitely not, but then if you're looking for that you probably shouldn't be publishing period. But self-publishing can give you control you wouldn't otherwise have. Sometimes the restrictions of a former publisher are good, sometimes you don't want that.
Q: You've been writing online for over ten years yet only now are you doing it professionally. What changed? A: When I started not many people were online and certainly not the frequency people are connected today. Back then it was easy to make friends and find readers. Now there's so much more noise, people really interact less with each other through forums and such. Going professional gave me something to leverage to help connect with readers again online.
Q: Why do you think writers groups are a bad idea for aspiring novelists? A: Because the opinions you get are ultimately not from readers. There's value in seeing how other writers would do it, but writers are really resistant to new ideas and experimentation. One only need to flip through a few bestsellers to understand that readers are much more forgiving. Ultimately its the readers you are writing for.
Q: What should an ambitious writer do to improve their work? A: Get it in front of readers. Get it in front of as many real readers and as often as you can. There is no substitute for the opinion of the people who actually buy the books. Plenty of authors found profitable audiences with work other writers don't think is any good.
Q: What tools are available right now for writers and how can they find them? A: There are a number of startups building quality projects and a number of blogs following the intersection between tech and publishing. There are even meetup groups dedicated to digital tools. Follow the blogs, follow the entrepreneurs on Twitter, keep your eyes and ears open.
Q: Should writers self-publish? A: It depends. If you're looking for an income to support yourself definitely not, but then if you're looking for that you probably shouldn't be publishing period. But self-publishing can give you control you wouldn't otherwise have. Sometimes the restrictions of a former publisher are good, sometimes you don't want that.
About the Author:
IsaKFT is a firm believer that writers groups don't work and helps builds tools for better writing
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