How publishing fiction online launched the career of this young writer | Beth Reeks

Indie publishing via online writing communities and ebooks can provide valuable feedback, and even set you on the path to mainstream successNews that a quarter of the top 100 Kindle books on Amazon.com are from indie publishers doesn't surprise me. I started out writing online. Fed up with the choice of reading about werewolves, wizards or vampires, I posted my first book, The Kissing Booth (a regular high school romance without any mythological creatures) to a platform called Wattpad when I was 15. Writing platforms such as these mean that amateur writers can post their work for people to read for free and get responses from readers. I was able to publish my book, under the name Beth Reekles, chapter by chapter. It attracted more than 19 million hits, which eventually led to a three-book with Random House after they discovered me online.These platforms particularly suit young people who want to write, where they can develop their writing skills. Part of the appeal of platforms like this is that you get some instantaneous feedback. Just seeing that people have read your book, even if they do not leave a comment, is a big confidence boost. And then it's not such a big step for writers to go from posting their work for free online to looking into self-publishing books.For most people, the publishing world is pretty intimidating: typically, you need to find a literary agent before you can get to a publishing house. Self-publishing an ebook is free, quick and fairly... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2013-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #twitter account #revolution afoot

Other Publishing stories related to: 'How publishing fiction online launched the career of this young writer | Beth Reeks'


A Portrait of the Billionaire as a Young Tax Cheat

Creation myths about entrepreneurs inevitably include tales of triumph over adversity—a failed early company here, a break with a long-term partner there. Richard Branson, the goateed and grinning mascot of British capitalism, is no different. His Virgin empire grew from a record label that... Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2014-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #record label #sex pistols #boy george #fair number #virgin galactic


CN Times Launches New Imprint

Reservoir Square Books, which will publish titles that cover a range of general interest subjects, will release its first list in fall 2015. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publish titles


Amazon steps up publisher spat

Amazon has said a bitter dispute with publisher Hachette, which has led to a block on pre-orders, will not be resolved soon. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2014-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publisher hachette


Obituary: Publisher Oscar Dystel, 101

Oscar Dystel, an early pioneer of mass market paperbacks and one-time CEO of Bantam Books, passed away at the age of 101. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #oscar dystel #bantam books


Amazon escalates standoff with publisher Hachette Book Group

If you're hoping to pre-order books by J.K. Rowling, Michael Connelly and other Hachette Book Group authors, you'll have to go somewhere besides Amazon.com. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2014-05-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pre-order books #michael connelly


Short Takes: Religion Publishing News Briefs, May 28, 2014

Image celebrates 60 years; Gary Chapman endows chair at Moody; Cambridge Bibles back to Cambridge; awards and honors. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #short takes


Virago Modern Classics to publish Joan Aiken

Virago Modern Classics has acquired three titles by Joan Aiken for its children’s list.... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-05-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #joan aiken


NLT and Bloomsbury Children's launch unpublished authors prize

The National Literacy Trust (NLT) and Bloomsbury Children’s Books are launching a prize to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-05-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bloomsbury children


Amazon halts sales of some Hachette books as publishing battle escalates

Hachette author Jeffery Deaver among those speaking out against Amazon's decision to stop selling certain Hachette titlesStray punches in a corporate slugfest knocked spectacles from authors noses and left readers with black eyes this week, after Amazon, the online retailer, stopped selling... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-05-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #online retailer #titles published #put pressure


Christian Self-Publisher Adds PR Firm

A Christian self-publisher will acquire a PR firm to enhance its services to authors. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pr firm


Hassan Blasim wins Independent Foreign Fiction Prize

Iraqi writer Hassan Blasim has won the 2014 Independent Foreign Fiction Prize for his second... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-05-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


St. Martin’s, Swagbucks Launch Read Channel

St. Martin’s Press is teaming up with Swagbucks, the loyalty and rewards site, to launch Read, a new digital literature channel on the Swagbucks site. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


'Publishing 101,' a PW Original E-Book

So, you've written your book. Now what? Find out with 'Publishing 101,' a new ebook from 'Publishers Weekly' that offers a no-nonsense perspective on how publishing works, and what writers can do to make their own projects take off. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing works #ve written


Women's fiction is a sign of a sexist book industry

Joanne Harris says the book industry is sexist. Why else are there categories for 'women writers' and no equivalents for writers who happen to be men?This is the year of reading women, people, remember? We're all reading female writers and helping address the literary gender imbalance which is... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-05-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book industry #reading women #joanne harris


Publishing Campaigns Grow On Kickstarter

Crowdfunding, and Kickstarter in particular, continue to make inroads in book publishing, providing financing for everything from one-off projects to support for entire lists. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #make inroads #book publishing


NHB to publish Palin on Python

Nick Hern Books will publish a book from Monty Python member Michael Palin, ahead of the comedy... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-05-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Short Takes: Religion Publishing News Briefs, May 14, 2014

IPPY award-winners announced, a new kids' imprint at Barbour, a website for all things Amish, the popes in pictures and much more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #short takes


HCI Books Launches Barb Schmidt’s 'The Practice'

HCI Books announces an extensive launch and promotional tour of Barb Schmidt’s "The Practice." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #promotional tour


French book publishers risk being lost in translation without global reach

France's literary market has great potential, yet big firms remain reluctant to learn the language of international rights tradingSix thousand languages are spoken worldwide, but few have a market for books. French is the fifth-largest language pool, coming after Chinese, English, Spanish and... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-05-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary market #global reach #great potential #gained access


Quebec's publishing scene taking the written word back to France

The Canadian province has been a stealthy focus for French publishers, but its booksellers are also looking towards ParisThe Canadian province of Quebec has about 6 million French-speaking inhabitants. In comparison there are only 4.2 million French-speakers in Belgium. French publishers have... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-05-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #great divide #editorial policy