Website puts writers in front of major publishers
Open door for authors
New website puts writers
in front of major publishers
A new website is giving aspiring New Zealand authors the chance to have their work seen by major publishers around the world via an easily-accessible website.
www.worthyofpublishing.com went live last month and gives writers a chance to promote their books to an increasingly wide audience free of charge. It also gives publishers the opportunity to review books that have not yet been published. The website was activated on the 27 October 2007 and has already attracted a wide array of writers who have submitted content across a broad range of genres.
The simple tools on the website allows
writers to upload a description of their book and as many
chapters as they feel necessary for visitors to review and
rate. The website also includes a feature that allows
readers to submit comments – an extremely useful tool for
writers, readers and publishers alike to assess what actual
reader reaction is to the books. High ratings for a book and
positive comments can be an indication of its potential
popularity once published.
It is a reality that in the
publishing industry, it is estimated that 70 per cent of
books don’t make the publisher a profit. This website has
been set up to provide a means of gauging not only the
quality of books that might have languished on the
slush-pile for years, but the degree to which people would
be willing to buy and read the published book. It is also
common knowledge that many highly successful writers, such
as JK Rowling of the Harry Potter series, have had their
manuscripts initially rejected by numerous publishers before
finally being accepted and published. The website aims to
provide a convenient, simple and easily-accessible link
between the public and writers and publishers.
Aaron Cook, director of
Worthyofpublishing.com believes it makes sense to offer the
market the opportunity to decide if a book is worthy of
publishing through the simple process of choosing a genre of
interest and then rating the books on offer - since these
readers would be the same people buying the books once they
are published in the physical world. Responses also indicate
to writers and publishers what kind of books people are
looking for.
At this early stage, the website has already attracted the attention of several local and international publishers who are keeping an eye on the response of readers and the ratings they give each book. In time, with more and more writers posting their work, the work offered on Worthyofpublishing.com will offer a fascinating cross-section of contemporary writing.
Cook encourages writers to indicate the target market for the book when writing a blurb about their book on the website, as this can help attract the relevant readers to view and rate the content. The website offers writers and readers free access to what will be an exciting range of unpublished books online.
Jenny Harrison of Authors Direct says “In the future publishers won’t need a slush pile of manuscripts, all they will need is Worthyofpublishing.com”
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