Electronic Publishing: Writing into the Future

There’s nothing like curling up with a good book.

These days, “book” is a bit of a loaded word. You could be curling up with a traditional book, true. But you could also be sacked out on your couch reading your latest download on your e-reader, which run the gamut from very basic e-ink devices to full-color tablets. Some of us even read on our computer screens (been there, done that, ran out and bought a Kindle).

In short, e-readers and the booming online marketplace have opened doors for many, many writers to get their work out there. Here at StyleQuirk, we’re fascinated by the internet and all the possibilities it offers, so we’re namely interested in e-publishing (via a small press) and self-publishing (where the author does the work).

The end result – a story you can read on your Kindle, Nook, etc. – may be the same, but the roads these authors take to get there are very different. A publishing house will provide cover art, editing, and usually some form of promotion; writers must submit their work to the firm, which then decides if it’s something they can work with.

A self-published writer will often hire an editor and proofreader to achieve the same polished, professional-looking result, but those expenses come out of his pocket. Some self-published writers, such as Amanda Hocking and John Locke, have seen tremendous success, whereas others have fallen flat on their faces. There’s plenty of in between stories, too, where a writer might not make millions, but might earn enough to help pay the bills.

Our ongoing investigation into the e-publishing craze will hopefully examine it from all angles – that of the traditionally published writer, the self-published writer, the readers, and everyone in the middle. What will happen to the big publishing houses in New York? Is a small press comparable to a large one? Will self-publishers be the death of all writing? Does reading a book on a device, rather than on paper, destroy the point of reading?

(You won’t believe how many people out there malign e-readers. “But the books!” they cry. “It’s not the same if it’s not a  real book!” Was there this much of an uproar when scrolls became books? Honestly, people.)

We admit it – we dig it. We’re also fascinated by what this means for the arts in society in the long run. We’ll do our best to bring you interviews and information that we hope you’ll find interesting and entertaining.

Keep on reading!