Let me let you into a secret. You are unlikely to become a rich writer. And before you start waving Harry Potter and Game of Thrones under my nose, please scroll back to the word ‘unlikely’. Sure, there are some financially successful stories out there, and of course, you may be one of them-lets face it, JK Rowling started writing in a bedsit in Scotland, and look at her now! But realistically, only roughly 5% of writers even make a living at all from solely writing. As for getting your book out there in the first place, it is estimated that the odds of your book being accepted by a publisher are 1:100,000. I’m afraid on both counts, the lightning strikes very, very rarely.
So what about self-publishing? Increasing the odds to 1:1 seems a much more attractive proposition. To be honest, it would be rude not to! Add to that the creative control that you retain over your own material (rather than a bevy of gatekeepers giving opinions on your book cover, content, and even title of your precious ‘offspring’), along with an estimated 70% profit from your book sales, and the pound signs are positively glowing in your eyes.
Whilst there are obvious and definite positives in going down the self-publishing route, unfortunately, there is also a downside. If you are the kind of writer who needs total immersion in your art; if you need to lock yourself away and live in the world you are creating, self-publishing may not be for you. Selling books in the modern era is all about visibility and popularity. This means Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, and whatever other platform becomes the next favourite of social media. Be prepared to spend upwards of 90% of your time marketing, and even to rope in friends and family in your quest for success. The struggle to be noticed amongst the purported 3.4 million books on Amazon is a very real one. Add to that the expense of all this, and you are just as likely to lose money as to gain it.
So what is the answer? Should we hang up our boots, forget the whole thing, and spend the rest of our lives wandering around with fantastical stories in our heads? Most definitely not! For a start, writing is a calling. Just like nursing. Or teaching. You just have to do it. And just like nursing or teaching, you are unlikely to get rich on it. But it can fulfil you in a way that little else can!
Furthermore, imagine if Erin Morgenstern had hung up her boots-there would be no ‘Night Circus’. If Dr. Seuss hadn’t trailed round to 28 publishers with his first book, we would never have experienced the delights of reading ‘Fox in Socks’ to our children. Write for the love of it-then everything else is a bonus.
We work with both traditionally published and “indie” authors who have self or independently published books and our mission is simple. It’s to discover new and talented authors and help them give their work the attention and awareness it deserves. We do this by providing professional and credible reviews which are respected by our readers. Our primary focus is on fiction across all genres, non – fiction with broad appeal and selected poetry.
As these five lives converge in a sweeping arc that takes readers on a tightly woven and gripping journey–from the destruction and cruelty of war to the relentless pressures of corporate greed–EO-N reminds us that individual actions matter, and that courage comes in many forms.
An engaging, thought-provoking and potentially life-changing read ‘Wisdom from the Inner Oracle: Why Humanity Must Evolve’ provides an inspirational and philosophical look at the purpose of life and the role of humanity.
Fables can widen our appreciation of other cultures, help us understand traditions, and teach us new ways of appreciating the world and the diversity of life, reducing discrimination, and promoting acceptance.
A bracing Science Fiction Adventure Aian D. Grey introduces us to a near future where the chaotic effects of climate change have taken their toll on the planet with dire ecological consequences.
A wonderfully disarming read about love and loss Daisy Roberts is Dead refreshingly avoids many of the genre’s syrupy dangers leaving the reader with the truth of the matter. Which is the way it should be.
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