Okay, here's where we get into the real meat and potatoes of what this site is about.
Most people think that they have to write a book, then mail it to some publisher and wait 6 months for a rejection letter, and then mail it out again. As you can see, unless your manuscript gets accepted on the first try, it can take YEARS to get your first novel published. J. K. Rowlings got SEVERAL rejections before getting published. I know that writers are tired of this. Why should writers wait a year or more before selling a finished product. What if car companies did this? What if they built a whole bunch of 2007 cars, and then kept them in a warehouse for a year before selling them? It's stupid and it's got to stop. In todays world of instant worldwide communication there is no reason why any novel should not be available for purchase. Forget bookstores and libraries. Forget publishers. We, the writers, are going to bypass the editors and publishers. We, the writers are going to sell our books direct to the consumer. How are we doing this?
WWW.LULU.COM
Advantages:
1) It's FREE. Writers have very little money, so the price is just right.
2) It's easy. Just format a few things in your .doc or .rtf file to make the book look right once it is bound. Then upload it, follow the easy directions, and in less than a few hours you can order a copy of your book that will be shipped to you.
3) NO REJECTIONS. Your book stands on its own merit. Either people buy it, or they don't. All you have to do to succeed is write a book that will sell, and then sell it.
4) You keep all the rights to your work.
Disadvantages:
1) No organization. Your book will often be listed next to crap that should never be published.
2) No promotion. You have to promote yourself. No one will help you but you.
3) No editing. You have to edit and format the book yourself.
How are we going to overcome these disadvantages? With The Self-Publisher's Marketplace. In addition to helping writers write, edit, and publish, we will also help readers read, review, and purchase self-published novels.
So, to all you writers out there, I say, start writing and editing now. If you already have a novel published on www.lulu.com then you are ready for the next step: profit.
And remember, I'm selling out so I can help you sell out too.
to S.P.A.M. or buy my book.
J. Allen Wentworth
