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Of course, farmers in Britain are having a tough time of it recently. They find themselves in thrall to the giant supermarkets and find that the size, weight and price of their products are usually dictated to them by the retail buyers. In that respect, they are no better off than the traditional authors mentioned above, who are slaves to Traditional Publishers who aren't willing to move with the times, and assume that what was good enough for creative writers in the 1930s is still good today. Internet Authors have moved on. Similarly, progressively minded farmers have realised the trap they are being put in and have looked for other outlets for their products. In their case, it's local shops or Farmers' Markets. The advantage of both venues is that the farmers have a much more direct relationship with their customers. They are closer to them, and can hear from the people across the counter exactly what they are looking for. That's the case for Internet Authors too, who use modern tools like Blogs and Forums to communicate with their customers, the readers. They get feedback and comments almost immediately, and that modifies their plans and proposals in the future. Rather than rely on a whole range of middle-men, like Literary Agents, Editors, Publishers, Promotional Assistants and Illustrators, they can devote their energies to doing what they do best, creating stories and changing the map of the world that we all carry in our heads. Farmers who feel their way of life is being threatened have another source of support, however: the government. In Europe, and increasingly in America, the authorities step in when they see that people who till the land are not making a living. This doesn't apply to authors, (although the Arts Council in England is being called upon to provide financial backing for literary artists as well as graphic artists these days). This kind of statutory help is rarely seen in the career of writers. Historically, respected writers have been supported by aristocratic figures, with pensions and handouts, but those working towards publication with Traditional Publishers have to make their own way and fund their own efforts. The alternative, up to now, has been the risky - and expensive - route of Self Publishing. In a way, the internet has taken that model and given it a good shake-out. Internet Authors are people who upload their books to print-on-demand publishers on-line, and then wait for surfers and web visitors to buy the book. Amazingly, the process costs nothing, which makes it clearly accessible to the majority. In that, Internet Authors are one step up on farmers. They don't need subsidies. They are free from the threat of financial ruin. They can focus on what they do best, writing, then see their books made available at no cost to themselves. It's a win-win situation, and a world away from the 'majority loses' vision of Traditional Publishing. Every day, authors sits down at their desks and try to create new work, but only the Internet Author is in a position to know that the green shoots they are nurturing, watering and hoeing will eventually grow to maturity and bear fruit. For the traditional writer, in hock to the Traditional Publisher, life is still a gamble and their submissions are still a Lottery. Only the Internet Author can bring in the harvest, as farmers have been doing for themselves since the end of the last Ice Age. Finally, the Ice Age of Traditional Publishing has come to a whimpering and undignified end too. Article Source: http://www.articlewheel.com
Mike Scantlebury is an Internet Author, having discovered the benefits of web publishing for himself. He discusses this and other trends on his many websites and on local radio. Catch more impressions at Facebook, YouTube or MySpace, or log on to his download page. www.mikescantlebury.biz
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