You’re an author. You’ve spent years developing your craft, honing your abilities, and perfecting your style. Now that you’re finally ready to share your work with the world, how long will it take?
Let’s examine the process from the point of view of a debut author, shall we?
The Evolution Of E-Books
For most authors, the transition from print to digital will be seamless. They’ll continue writing in the same format they always have, maybe tweaking some formatting here and there to make it fit better on a screen.
For others — like me — it’s not quite that simple. I began my career in journalism, so my initial inclination was to write for print. Then I hit upon the eBook and have never looked back. Nowadays, I write almost entirely in e-books. My only nod to print is the occasional audio-book when I travel.
As you’d expect, the format has evolved a lot over the years. Originally, electronic books were stripped down versions of their printed counterparts. They used simple layout, few words, and a basic color palette. Naturally, the content wasn’t as rich as a standard printed format.
The Many Benefits Of E-Books
One of the things that makes me unique as a writer is that I see e-books as a very personal form of expression. For those who’ve read my work, you’ll know that I believe in giving the characters I create a sense of individuality. When I’m writing, I see each one of them as a unique individual with their own quirks, idiosyncrasies, and personalities. So it makes sense that I’d translate that mentality to the eBook world.
Even when I’m writing for children, I want them to feel like they’re reading a story about a real, living, breathing person. That’s why I go to such great lengths to ensure that my characters are well-developed and have a voice all their own. In most cases, it takes a while to find that voice. But once I do, it’s wonderful. When that happens, the whole process becomes a joy.
I also believe that e-books are a great tool for new authors. It’s much easier to find an audience when you have literally thousands of books to choose from. When you’re starting out, you don’t have the luxury of going into your local bookstore and picking up a copy of your favorite novel. On the occasions when I do visit a bookshop, I always find myself gravitating toward the e-books as being more convenient. If you’re brand new to the world of writing, you can also use e-books as a way to find a publisher. They don’t have to shop for your bestseller in advance like a traditional publisher. So it’s an excellent option for anyone wanting to get their work out into the world.
The Many Drawbacks Of E-Books
While e-books have many advantages, they also come with their share of disadvantages. The first and most obvious being that they’re digital. While this may not be a problem for some people, it’s very easy for others to become disoriented or distracted by screens nearby. Especially when you’re writing in a digital format, you lose all sense of place. You can’t feel or touch what you’re typing on the screen, so it can be difficult to keep your place. This is why I always have my trusty, old-fashioned paper and pen close at hand when I write. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve written an entire scene and had to stop because the battery on my laptop died. Or worse, I’d completely forgotten that I was writing and needed to go back and reconstruct my thought process. It’s one of the major downsides to digital writing. Things can quickly go wrong without a trace. It’s all too easy to lose your work if you have a hard drive crash or your device gets damaged in some way.
Another disadvantage is that it takes a lot of space. If you’ve ever tried to write a long book on your phone, you’ll know that going through countless documents just to load your story onto the screen is cumbersome. And trying to find the right spot to edit your work can be tricky. With e-books, there’s no physical bounds to the text. You can always scroll to the end and start again. It’s the reason why these days I tend to write on my iPad. I can use their Split Screen function to view my story on one device and the web on another. This ensures that I stay connected to my story while also being able to access other necessary information easily.
The Cost Of E-Books
While I don’t want to dampen the enthusiasm of eBook newbies, the cost of e-books can be quite high. Especially when you’re starting out. You have to buy not only the device, but also the requisite data plan. Once you do, you’ll discover that the cost is negligible compared to the cost of a new book printed on paper. So if you’re a heavy reader, you may want to consider alternative modes of publication. Especially if you’re worried about running out of funds. You can use the credit card on your account to pay for Kindle books wherever you see the Amazon dollar sign. You don’t need a special offer to make that happen. Just log into your Amazon account and click on the gift card that appears under the ‘Your Account’ section.
The Final Word
Whether you decide to go the self-publishing route or find a traditional publisher, there are many options available to the modern author. The only constant in this ever-changing world is change itself. So never be afraid to experiment and try new things. Your journey to publication will be long and winding, but in the end, you’ll be a proud owner of a book that you helped bring to life.