The obstacles facing new writers today are many, with most publishers rejecting unknowns in favour of established names every time - regardless of talent. But it seems that Print-on-Demand (POD) has provided a way out for the new Novelist.
Marc Raphael is one of a growing number of debut authors who have taken fate into their own hands by self-publishing. "The publishing landscape has changed now." Says Marc excitedly, "Today I don't have to pound the streets getting rejected by Publishers and Agents. I only have to upload my book to a Print-on-Demand website and I'm in business."
With the number of online POD services increasing every month, it seems that getting that dream novel published has never been easier. Sites like Lulu.com and Lightning Source are all vying for the wannabe writers business and for a small fee can make a book available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other major online book retailers within a week.
So what about the books quality? POD has long had a reputation of shoddy workmanship by unscrupulous printers in the service of desperate writers, but Marc Raphael begs to differ. " Print-on-Demand did have a 'poor cousin' image but not now. Take my book for example; It's a 5 x 8 perfect bound paper back with glossy cover. It's absolutely everything I expected and more. For some reason I was expecting the quality to be sub-standard. But, I think you'll agree, it's like anything you'd buy at Borders." He continues. And it is. Using computer software Marc designed the cover and interior himself, and uploaded them as PDF files. And yes the finish is indistinguishable from anything you'd buy on the high street.
So it would seem that POD has done for publishing what editing software and camcorders did for the film business - making elitist and expensive industries accessible to everyone. But will it last? Marc Raphael seems to think so, "I've just published my first book and have quite a lot of pre-orders. I'm now doing the groundwork for my second book, which I hope to publish in 18 months time. So I recon, if the throngs of wannabe writers are as enthusiastic as me, the POD companies will be busy for a very long time."
Marc Raphael is a freelance Television Presenter and Novelist. His book Rent Free in the City.com can be seen at
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About the Author
M. Francis is a freelance writer based in London, England.
