by Mike O’Mary
I started a new publishing company about two months ago, and today I agreed to publish a book by a new author. Her story is one of the most powerful memoirs I have ever read, and I can’t believe I have the privilege of publishing it.
I feel good about publishing this book, and I feel good about the community of writers I’ve encountered over the past two months. There are lots of people out there, online and off, who are interested in helping new writers (and new publishers!) succeed. And, of course, there are lots of people interested in writing.
Based on what I’ve seen, I’m sure there are online writing groups and multiple blogs for every writing genre. I bet you could even make up a genre, and by the time you search for it, there will be a group talking about it.
There are also people online talking about every aspect of writing (including freelancing!) and getting published. You get a wide range of views, too, because the people talking (or, rather, writing) about writing are writers, of course, and editors, agents, producers, teachers, reviewers, students…even publishers. It’s great to be part of such a community.
It seems to me there are more people writing than ever before, and that’s a good thing. Some worry that print-on-demand is diminishing the quality of published worked. But print-on-demand might also be the most dramatic development since the printing press because it gives more people incentive to write. You can now print a book for one person. Which means you can now write a book for one person. Which means if you are a reader, you are more valuable and appreciated than ever because even if you’re an audience of one, you are motivating somebody to keep writing. (They say that’s one of the best ways to write, too—to pretend you’re writing for an audience of one.)
Speaking of writing for one person, if there’s anything that might top print-on-demand as a revolutionary development, it’s the blog. Again, it is motivating people to write. Most of the blogs I see don’t have any responses to the posts. (So btw, next time you pass a blog, throw the person a bone and say, “Nice post!”) But that doesn’t dissuade the writer. He or she will go on writing week after week, month after month.
Which reminds us that writing has always been about writing for one person.
And you’re the one.
Mike O’Mary is founding dreamer of Dream of Things, a book publisher and online community for writers and other artists.
Great post, Mike. A quick thought… print-on-demand empowers people to explore and share ideas without needing the permission or approval of “experts”… and this opens the door to discovery. Consider garage bands back in the 60’s… you pulled some friends together who were interested in making music, purchased some cheap instruments and started playing to the best of your ability… making things up and expressing yourself. Who can argue with the results? This self-empowerment expanded and improved music beyond anyone’s wildest imagination… perhaps the same will happen with writing?
Mike: I think the garage band analogy is a good one! Maybe we’ll have an outbreak of “garage-band” publishers!
good article Mike and thank you for mentioning the comments bar. I’m always happy when I get any kind of feedback on posted work. It helps to reassure me it wasn’t just paged through by accident. Knowing that some one liked (or disliked) my work at least makes it feel like I’m having an impact. I also like the concept of being able to create genre and have it exist a topic by the time you search for it.