Writers and readers alike are going online to publish, sell and buy books.
Writers rejected by traditional book publishers are seeking solace by taking their works to the World Wide Web.
And while the Web is proving to be an attractive and viable alternative to help a writer get his or her creative muse heard, industry insiders have mixed feelings about electronic publishing. No one seems to have any idea about who or how many writers are now publishing solely online.
"I've definitely seen a trend, but I'm not sure what it means," Lawrence writer Jennifer Lawler said. "People frustrated over not being published are taking the tact that it's less expensive to self-publish online."
Lawler, editor of the newsletter "Writer's at Work," has published 13 nonfiction books through traditional book publishers and has another nonfiction book and a mystery novel completed.
She's quick to single out the benefits of Web publishing, but she's also wary about the quality of some writers' works.
"One thing people like is the connection to other people. Writers want to share knowledge with other people," she said. "So it can be a very valuable tool when it comes to expense and exposure."
Lawler cited the Web's marketing potential as one reason writers are self-publishing their works electronically.
"It's less expensive than self-publishing through vanity presses. Online you can market in different ways. It's becoming an inexpensive cottage industry and a popular alternative," she said.
News releases abound with reports of online success stories. After being rejected by a dozen New York publishers, San Francisco Chronicle editor Leslie Guttman created her own Web site to market her book, "Message Pending." Site visitors could read the first few chapters for free, and then choose to buy the remaining text on a downloadable file, or e-book, for $6.95.
Writer Melissa Shapiro used the Net to market her novel, "Lip Service."
She spent $20,000 on the Web site and a print run of 2,000 copies off her novel, and used her site to market the books. She also formed a link with online book seller Amazon.com. The book seller agreed to list her book with its current 4.5 million other titles, provided she could keep up with demand.
After eight months of being online, she caught the attention of publisher Simon & Schuster, who acquired her novel for its Pocketbooks division.
A third writer, Jeanette Clinkunbroomer, chose to publish her novel, "Touch the Sky," in an old-fashioned serialization form and post it on her Web site. One chapter is sent each day to subscribers via e-mail.
Despite adding marketing and publishing alternatives to a writer's resources, the Web also has its downside, including a casual tone that can lead to sloppy writing and editing practices.
"If a writer is continually rejected that could mean they are not a good writer," Lawler said, "or they could be a niche writer in an area where there is not enough publisher interest."
Self-published authors usually edit themselves, which means they lose out on the system of checks and balances that traditional publishers provide.
"It is a legitimate concern. Online publishing can take on a casual approach, especially when there are no professional editors to edit for copy and content," Lawler said.
If you're interested in posting your poetry and short fiction online, point your browser to www.lawrence.com and then go to the category "publish yourself!"
Buying online
While writers promote themselves on the Web, book lovers are using online services to research and buy their favorite titles. The percentage of computer shoppers is small compared to those visiting traditional bookstores, however, and merchants are not overly concerned about the competition.
"Will online buying ever replace bookstores? Not a chance," Pat Kehde, owner of The Raven Bookstore, 8 E. Seventh, said. "Although we rely on repeat business, and anytime a customer buys from Amazon that's a lost sale, and any lost of a sale is hard on us because we operate on a small margin."
Industry figures indicate that bookstores are the overwhelming choice of buyers. Most have their own online services, and independents like Kehde's Raven are banding together and using online services like Book Sense to promote their stores.
Amazon.com may have almost 5 million titles, but sources indicate that only 5 percent of visitors to the site actually buy a book. Most are using it as a reference source.
There is a potential for increased costs on Internet purchases if states can get the current sales tax moratorium lifted. Some suppliers like Amazon also are looking at increases in shipping costs. These costs will get passed on to buyers and could make Net purchases even less attractive.
"I think brick-and-mortar stores will stick around," Kehde said.
-- The Mag's phone message number is 832-7146. Send e-mail to jbiles@ljworld.com.
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