Turning Writers into Authors
To say technology has changed the face of publishing is an understatement. From blogs to ebooks and print on demand, the digital media revolution has placed tremendous power in the hands of ordinary people and it’s exciting stuff.
Self publishing is one of the many media trends on the increase. Tired of red-tape, and the difficulty of achieving success through traditional publishing methods, many aspiring authors are making the choice to self publish.
Australians are increasingly embracing self publishing as a viable method to get their work out in the market. Book Pal is one of Australia’s leading self publishing houses and according to General Manager, Teddy Makukutu, enquiries for self publishing through their website has almost doubled in the past year.
Teddy believes one of the main reasons for the increase relates to demographic and lifestyle changes. Many people are moving towards a consultancy role or working from home and have more time to author books. Secondly, traditional publishers have made it hard for authors to get their book published, and it is often a very unpleasant experience. For every one manuscript that is accepted there are 99 rejected. Until more recently the odds of becoming an author were not very good.
As a result of technology, many new tools are now available for authors wanting to promote and sell their books. These options are, in many cases, better than that offered by publishing houses.
With right use, the internet can instantly help authors sell their books globally. What’s more, the self publishing author usually gets a higher percentage profit from the sale of each book. There have been many books that started as self published books and eventually became a huge success. Robert Kiyosaki’s “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” which has been on the New York Times Bestseller list for over 5 years in a row, and the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series which has sold over $1 billion in revenue, are just some examples.
There is a growing need for information and tutorials on self publishing and marketing. Book Pal is one Australian website that offers help for self publishers, providing them with a free e-book on self publishing, as well as video tutorials offering self publishers a step by step guide on how to layout and setup a manuscript.
Book Pal will soon be able to help authors sell worldwide through Amazon.com and their soon to be launched internet book store. Book Pal also sends some of their self published manuscripts to various book distributors which would then, if accepted, be taken up for distribution in various book stores across Australia.
Book Pal is one of Australia’s leading self publishing service providers and their sponsorship for the Brisbane Writer’s Festival over the past 3 years has helped hundreds of authors self publish their material. For free self-publishing video tutorials and ebook download visit their website at www.bookpal.com.au
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