If there's one thing I love, it's the way that people can get so excited about struggling to find an answer to a question, when the real answer to their problem is that they haven't really asked the right question in the first place.
Here's an example.
"Please help me. I've just written a book. Which is best - trying to find a publisher the 'traditional' way, or trying to get it published on the internet?"
Good question, you might say.
So why am I being so smug? Why am I saying it's the wrong question?
Because you don't have to 'try' to get published on the internet! Anyone can do it, any time (as long as you pick the right company).
That might not be easy, of course. There are plenty of people advertising out there on the web, and many of their ads will lure you in, get you interested, then tell you that you need to give them hundreds of dollars for them to publish the book for you.
That's not 'internet publishing'.
It's a form of publishing that's been around for hundreds of years. It's called 'Vanity Publishing'. The reason it's called that is because it's assumed that it's 'vain' to want to see your book in print, especially if traditional publishers have already turned you down. The argument goes that 'if your book is good enough', then you will find a traditional publisher, and they will pay you to see the book printed. If they don't want your book, the logic goes, then it can't be any good, and so it's nothing but vanity to think that anyone would want to read it. So, they say, don't publish. Don't think about it. Don't go any further.
You're just being vain.
If you've read any of my other articles, you will know already why traditional publishers fail to publish quite a few good books. You will appreciate that lots of good stuff never gets accepted by traditional publishers, and why many authors are driven to seek out alternatives, after they've been driven wild with frustration. After setbacks and rejections, authors often start looking at the internet. They see it as an answer to their question: "How am I ever going to get this book published, ever?"
It doesn't have to be like that.
Internet publishing could be your first choice, not your last resort.
My argument goes like this. After you've written your book, you want people to see it.
That might not be a large total. It might simply be just a few friends and relatives. Ideally, you think, it would be nice for me to be able to get hold of a dozen copies, maybe twenty, and hand them out, maybe use them as Christmas presents.
As well as that, you might want a dozen to give to local bookshops, just in case they want to put them on their shelves.
Either way, you don't need many, at first.
Hmm, tricky, if you don't know what you're doing.
You could approach a printer and say you want a handful of copies.
They'll laugh at you.
You could start off down the road of finding a traditional publisher. After years of struggle and dozens of rejection slips, you might start asking yourself how you ever got involved in such nonsense.
Is there an alternative?
Yes, of course there is. Try turning to the internet, but not at the end - at the beginning.
Still, one word of warning. Don't go for offers of publishing that involve you paying.
Instead, look for a company like Lulu.com, as they will hold your book online for you - free - so that people can log on and inspect your effort. Then, if those 'customers' are interested, Lulu will allow them, (friends, relatives, well-wishers or customers) to buy a copy - one at a time, if necessary - as they want. If you need half a dozen for your local bookshop, sure, they can print them off for you too. No problem.
They'll print - 'on demand', as needed. There won't be warehouses of your books going mouldy, and there won't be bills for thousands of dollars arriving on your doormat.
It's a win-win situation.
The logic, if you're following this, is that anyone can do that. Any time. In fact, as soon as you've completed your manuscript, you can get on down to Lulu and see your book in print.
Simple as that.
Straight away.
Ah, but - say the young authors.
After all, there's something missing. And that's the millions of dollars. The fame. The adulation.
The TV coverage. The chat shows. The celebrity gossip.
If you still want that, surely you're going to need a 'traditional' publisher, with the media links, the PR people, the experience. If you want to be the 'next Dan Brown', it makes sense that you should approach Dan Brown's current publisher, as they've already got a pretty good idea of how the last one got made, so should know all about how to make you into the next one.
Okay, I agree.
But look, here's my point again.
Why not go for Internet Publishing - first?
What have you got to lose?
If your game plan is to conquer the world and become more famous than Mrs Beeton's Cookbook and the Bible, sure, you need a traditional publisher and all that entails.
But where are you going to start?
Why not start by putting your manuscript up on Lulu and ordering a few copies?
That way, you get to see your book in print, which gives you a good idea about what it will look like. You can decide if you need a better cover, more blurb, or whatever.
Also, a cross-section of people will get to read your book. Okay, most of them may be people you know, but still, they may have ideas about what's good and bad in your book and may give you clues about what to revise, change, take out or put in.
(Best thing is, you can do corrections with Lulu, over and over again, creating new versions as often as you like and, of course, without having to scrap a print-run of thousands. Change the thing as much as you choose. It's easy, and it doesn't cost anything extra.)
Oh-oh, say the sceptics.
If I put my book up on the Internet, then 'tradtional' publishers are going to be offended. You chose the opposition, they will say. We're not even going to look at you, they'll snarl.
Don't you believe it.
After all, publishing is a business. If you've come up with a product that's sellable, then the publishers will beat a path to your door. After all, they poach off each other! Yes, if one publisher offers you a deal and the book looks good, another publisher will quite happily try and buy it off them. That's the kind of sharks they are.
No, internet publishing isn't going to hamper your career with 'traditional' publishers.
Better than that, if your internet publishing is a success and sales go well, then you will come to the attention of 'traditional' publishers and they will approach you, don't have any doubts about that.
On the other hand, maybe you're not destined to be one of the major writers of your generation. You aren't going to be rich and famous. Or rich. Or even famous.
No worries. The internet is even kinder to you.
Internet publishing allows you to see your book in print, (in small numbers, granted), which is a thrill to you, and something that you will be deprived of, if you waste your most productive years chasing 'traditional' publishers who don't give you the time of day.
Yes, Internet publishing is the best option.
For everyone.
Whether you're destined for greatness or not.
If your book is huge, you sell millions of copies, make money and become famous, good luck to you.
But you could get started on the internet.
If you aren't worried about F&F, but want to see your book in print, so that you can read it - and Grandma, and Aunt Fanny, and the man at the garage who's interested - then Internet Publishing is for you too.
It's for everybody.
Everybody.
Mike Scantlebury is an Internet Author. He has written crime fiction, science fiction, fact and romance. You can go to his Business Pages to download his books in portions or hurry on over to www.Lulu.com/mscantlebury to see his books as books. If you want to join in the debate about the future of internet authoring you are welcome to try Mike's Discussion Forum at www.publishingisdead.com
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