Be an (Online) Paperback Writer
I discovered a little known Canadian social media platform for writers and wannabe writers called Wattpad. This site allows you to publish and share your work online.
Why I like this site?
Firstly, it’s free. Many interested in the craft may not be able to afford the various fees that are associated with self-publishing. Melissa Leong wrote a two part article in 2012 that outlined her journey. Costs associated with various stages of editing and book design were significant (approximately $2,000 at the time the article was written) and there was endless hours of marketing done on her part too. For Melissa, her hard work paid off and if you read her articles you will surely gain some wisdom on how to accomplish your own success.
On Wattpad, there were similar success stories, like Life’s A Witch by Brittany Geragotelis
and The Dark Heroine: Dinner with a Vampire by Abigail Gibbs.
Wattpad excels at promoting the social element of reading and writing by allowing writers to recruit fans and readers and by making writing social activity too. For example, with Wattpad, you could create a mashup of a book that has gone out of copyright with others in a collaborative process by using the Creative Commons License. Are you on Facebook or Twitter? Then allow Wattpad to automatically update your story’s progress online. Lastly, follow other writers and join online writer’s groups to share knowledge and be part of a community with likeminded people.
But Be Warned…
If you’re not into Genre Fiction than this site may not be for you. Russel Banks recently wrote an article which pointed out that users tended to be younger (ie. inexperienced) and that literary fiction was missing. However, at the time of writing, the “Wattpad Prize,” paneled by experts, was accepting entries from 9 different categories, including "general" fiction.
In the end, this is a site that allows you to explore the craft, meet other writers online and develop your skill.
If you’re looking for books to help you grow then check out these print and e-books at the library:
Kicking in the Wall by Barbara Abercrombie
Several short sentences about writing by Verlyn Klinkenborg
Your writing coach from concept to character, from pitch to publication by Jurgen Wolff
For general interest, check out this self-publishing timeline:
http://www.pw.org/content/notable_moments_in_selfpublishing_history_a_timeline
Interested in signing up? Join us at Maria A. Shchuka Library on Monday April 7, 2014 at 6 PM. Click here to learn more about this program.
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