Could you publish a best-seller? The ebook revolution that allows new authors to find fame - and how you can join it

They say everyone has at least one good book in them – and thanks to the internet there is no longer an excuse not to get it published. 

The ebook revolution means writers no longer face the hassle of having to find publishers or agents who are willing to take them on.

Although sales of print books have enjoyed a resurgence in recent years, ebooks – that can be downloaded and read on handheld electronic devices – are predicted to outsell traditional books by 2018.

Sexcess story: Fifty Shades Of Grey was initially sold only online as an ebook before becoming a Hollywood movie – earning author E L James £40 million

Sexcess story: Fifty Shades Of Grey was initially sold only online as an ebook before becoming a Hollywood movie – earning author E L James £40 million

Prospective authors can be inspired by the author of erotic thriller Fifty Shades Of Grey that was initially sold only online as an ebook. 

Once sales took off four years ago it went into print before becoming a Hollywood movie – earning author E L James £40 million.

Damien Fahy, who runs money saving website MoneytotheMasses and is author of an ebook entitled 30 Day Money Plan, says: ‘Thanks to the internet any aspiring writer can now get their book published.’

He adds: ‘Of course, just getting published is not enough – you must also think how you are going to get people to buy your book.

‘It might be worth setting aside a budget of at least £1,000 to have an artist design a cover, to get a professional copywriter to go through the copy and edit out mistakes, to set up a website and to launch the book with publicity.’

He says the era of cheese and wine book launch parties is outdated and it is internet-based publicity that now creates the buzz about a book.

This includes sending free copies of the ebook to family and friends in the hope of positive reviews, tweeting details and having a website where you can market the book. It might also be worth offering discounts on the sale price to attract readers.

Amazon enables authors to publish ebooks through an ‘independently publish with us’ link at the bottom of its home page. 

Writers set their own book price – and usually get 70 per cent in royalties with the rest pocketed by Amazon. In addition there is a ‘delivery fee’ of 10p per download taken by Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing arm.

Teamwork: Gaynor Pengelly, seated, with her co-author Julia Thum

Teamwork: Gaynor Pengelly, seated, with her co-author Julia Thum

To put the book on the internet writers simply download their words along with a cover design and this is converted into a format that can be read on smartphones, e-readers and tablets.

Although Amazon is the biggest online publisher, others include Kobo. Like Amazon, Kobo provides a ‘self publish’ link at the bottom of its home page. 

Again, writers send over the words and cover, which are then converted into a format that allows the book to be purchased and read on a smartphone, e-reader or tablet. 

Writers set their own price and usually get 70 per cent of all royalties generated. Fahy says: ‘Self-publishing – where you make your book available on the internet – is not to be confused with so-called vanity publishing where you pay a company to print and market your book.

‘It is much better to try your hand at self-publishing rather than to line the pockets of someone whose main interest is to get your money – not sell books.’

How to pitch a book 

Lizzie Kremer, a director at literary agent David Higham Associates and co-author of Writing A Novel And Getting Published For Dummies, says self-publishing is growing in popularity.

But budding authors should first try knocking on the doors of professional publishers before resorting to putting a book online. 

She explains: ‘The publishing industry is always on the lookout for debut authors. A book deal is hard to get, but rather than doing nothing for fear of rejection get out there and pitch.’

Kremer says a genuine love of writing is essential if you are to stand a chance of being a success as an author – and this personal passion needs to be conveyed to readers. She also says it is worth finishing a novel before pitching it as most publishers are not interested in looking at early drafts.

Another vital consideration is working carefully on the theme and tone of the book – and taking the time to look at others on the market that sell well.

Kremer adds: ‘Small things that can have a big impact on a publisher include the covering letter. Do not let it get in the way of the book. Also do not tell a publisher how much others loved reading your book. That is for them to decide.’

A good starting point for budding authors is the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook which costs £15.99 and lists details of agents and publishers – plus provides advice on how best to pitch books. Kremer says: ‘Do not simply send a manuscript, but read the exact criteria that is asked of you – and stick to it.’

She says budding authors need to be very thick-skinned because out of perhaps 400 pitches a month her publisher may show interest in only one book.

CROWDFUNDING COULD GET YOUR NOVEL OFF THE GROUND

Author Gaynor Pengelly has just co-written – with Julia Thum – a mystery novel called Riverside Lane. A labour of love, she is now hoping to raise £9,000 through crowdfunding to get it into bookshops in June.

Gaynor, from Bray in Berkshire, is using crowdfunding website Kickstarter to help raise the money with support from London-based publisher Momentum Books.

Crowdfunding provides a way for start-up businesses to attract funds via pledges. Investors are rewarded with a stake in the business – or a signed ‘free’ book or an invitation to the launch party. Other crowdfunders that can help include Unbound and Inkshares.

Gaynor, 48, says: ‘You quickly learn that getting published is not just about being a talented writer. You need to be a shrewd businessperson too.

‘We started off by investing £2,000 in our own website – called gingerblack.ink – to market the project and then got to grips with social media by tweeting and writing blogs to raise awareness.’ She adds: ‘From doing this we found 700 people to pledge support for the novel. This proved a powerful calling card to would-be publishers.’

Momentum Books offers aspiring writers a chance to get a book published. It pledges to print and distribute a book as long as enough money has been raised. Founder Tim Moore says: ‘We want to help creative people with exciting projects.

‘People pledging cash through the crowdfunding company can be rewarded in a variety of ways – from a book launch invitation to the original manuscript.’

The publisher provides editing and design know-how, as well as printing, distribution and help with promotion.

Readers wanting to make a pledge in exchange for a copy of Riverside Lane can visit website kickstarter.com and put the book’s title in the search box or follow this link to Riverside Lane on Kickstarter

 

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Could you publish a best-seller? The ebook revolution and how to join it
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