Anyone can publish a book. Digital publishing has made it
easy for writers to fulfill their dreams of becoming a published author and
reach an audience.
However…anyone can
publish a book. Which means among the gems of self-published e-books out there,
there are really, really poor examples of writing.
I’ll be honest, I’ve read my fair share of quality books and
junk books. I give new authors a try because I know what it’s like to want to
take that first step and publish on your own. I can even overlook a few typos
(if it’s excessive, I may throw my e-reader across the room).
Many successful authors started by selling their books
online. Some published a few chapters at a time; some gave their book away for
free to gain interest. Whatever the method, it can be argued that
self-publishing is a viable method. Their success, however, is directly related
to the reader and how far the writer’s platform can reach.
Along with the newish freedom of publishing, the voice of
the reader has gotten louder. Anyone can review your work. Readers all have
likes and dislikes and the reviews are more accessible than they were in the
past.
It’s great if you receive a stellar review, but many
over-readers are very hard to please. Their reviews are frequently negative. It
takes a lot to impress an avid reader.
When I purchase a new book on my e-reader, I look at as many
reviews as possible. Readers matter. Their opinions are powerful. Their reach
is beyond the old word-of-mouth method of recommendation. Readers make an
author just as much as writing the book does.
So, although anyone
can publish a book, everyone can easily review it. It’s a responsibility to
reach more readers and help new authors.
Read on…
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