| Ask the majority of so-called 'gurus' to talk | | | | game too. The rules are that authors have to |
| about business or self-improvement, and | | | | send their manuscripts to posh people in |
| here's a funny thing. They start talking | | | | smart offices in the middle of big cities, |
| about sport. That's odd. Sport isn't the same | | | | and these business people then decide which |
| as life. It's completely different. As Brian | | | | offerings get printed and put into bookshops |
| Tracey says, in sport you get three chances | | | | and which don't. Any writer who gets taken on |
| to hit the baseball and then you're out, but | | | | by a publisher is 'a winner', which means |
| in life you can go up to the mound as many | | | | that every author without a publishing deal |
| times as you've got the energy and the | | | | must be - by the rules of the game - a loser. |
| inclination, try hitting the ball, miss and | | | | But what if that writer puts their book up on |
| still keep coming back for more. Or, to be | | | | the internet and signs up with a |
| precise, keep on swinging until you hit the | | | | print-on-demand publisher? That's not in the |
| home run. That's not allowed in the actual | | | | rules! But they've got their book printed, |
| sport. They're very strict. Three strikes and | | | | and, if they pay extra, they can have an ISBN |
| you're out. | | | | issued, which means it gets listed in |
| | | | catalogues. As far as readers are concerned, |
| Yes, if sport is definite about one thing, | | | | there's no difference. These shoppers go into |
| it's this. It has rules. It says that you | | | | a bookshop and ask for a particular author. |
| have to pick up the bat and try to hit the | | | | If that person is an Internet Author, the |
| ball. It defines how many people can play at | | | | bookshop is unlikely to have the book on its |
| one time, where they stand and what they have | | | | shelves, but they can order it from the |
| to aim to do. That's not like life. In life | | | | publisher, (someone like Lulu.com). Even |
| you can choose anything as an aim, you don't | | | | stranger, if a reader goes to an on-line |
| have to aim for 'the goal' that everyone else | | | | bookstore like Amazon, they can flip through |
| is looking for. After all, don't forget, the | | | | the novels on offer - and not be able to tell |
| only reason we have a new game called Rugby | | | | which ones come from Traditional Publishers |
| in England is that a young schoolboy picked | | | | and which don't! If they order a book that's |
| up the ball in the game of soccer and started | | | | listed, they'll pay for it and have it |
| running with it. Wow, he invented a new game. | | | | delivered to their door whether it's 'won' |
| They came up with some rules to allow for | | | | the race to get to an old-style publisher or |
| handling, and now England, Scotland, Wales, | | | | whether it hasn't. |
| Northern Ireland and France battle it out | | | | |
| every year for a metal cup (plus fame and | | | | Let's sum up. Authors who have their work |
| honour). That's fine, but guess what would | | | | published on the internet and their books |
| happen if someone decided they didn't like | | | | available on the web - only - are considered |
| running in the same direction as their team | | | | to be 'losers' by Traditional Publishers and |
| mates now? No, they wouldn't have invented a | | | | their cronies, traditional critics and |
| new game. They'd be ruled out and sent to sit | | | | journalists. These writers are people who |
| on the bench. Those are the rules. | | | | have failed in the race to land a publishing |
| | | | contract. The fruits of that contract - |
| Having one agreed goal gives the game a major | | | | printed work, advertised books, sales - are |
| advantage. You can tell who's doing well and | | | | the same on the web, of course, and some |
| who's doing badly. You can measure success. | | | | 'successful' authors find this out too, when |
| You can tell who's won. That's not like life. | | | | their books first go into bookshops and then |
| The glossy magazines are full of stories of | | | | end up on the publisher's own website as |
| rich and famous people who are having | | | | well! Internet Authors don't get the |
| miserable lives, divorces and diets. Have | | | | 'benefits' flowing from Traditional |
| they 'won'? Your neighbourhood is full of | | | | Publishers, but they do get published. |
| people, some of them in big houses and some | | | | They've scored a goal, they've won a point, |
| in small. Who's winning? The only way you | | | | it's just that they weren't playing the same |
| could tell is if you made it into a game, | | | | game. By the same rules. |
| with the rule that the person in the biggest | | | | |
| house is the winner. Of what? Well, the | | | | Which means they haven't 'lost'. The only way |
| 'biggest house' game, of course. Okay, that's | | | | you could possibly think that is if you truly |
| true. But it makes no sense. Would that | | | | believe that you are playing the only game in |
| 'league table' tell you if they were happy? | | | | town. No, Traditional Publishers are having |
| Or if their kids were doing well and going to | | | | to wake up to the fact that now there other |
| college? Or if they weren't ill? | | | | people in the arena too. Trouble is, they |
| | | | aren't playing by the same rules. |
| In the world of publishing they've invented a | | | | |