It was long overdue. I just had to do it. It wasn't because I didn't trust them or anything like that. I just thought it wasn't the right platform for me.
Writers write to be read. Let's face it, if no one read us, what would be the point of verbalizing our ideas, beliefs, and snippets of intelligence? I, as a writer, (yes I boldly claim to be one) believe that my work deserves wider readership. Perhaps it's because I am adamant about getting my message across. I have something to say, and I would like people to listen.
But my goals are not entirely noble. Of course I would like to make some money. Years ago, the publishing house sent me a copy of their contract. My eyes zeroed in on the figures, and as soon as I saw them my jaws dropped. Really? That little?
After you sign the contract, they basically own your work for five years, you get a single-digit royalty, and get zero if it's made into a movie. You might say I have such a high opinion of my work, but wouldn't you do the same if it were your own work involved?
Why are writers treated this way in my country? Where's the appreciation for the art, the craft? Have they forgotten to place value on the writer's time, energy, ideas? All those hours spent, thinking, planning, writing and re-writing. Editing, and re-editing. And then scrapping crappy chapters in one go, just so the readers have something decent to read. Don't they know how much choosing just the right words to use takes a toll on you?
But then I still want to do it. I still want to write and be read. Not so much by critics who will dissect and shred your work into tiny little pieces just to point out your misplaced commas, and your mixed metaphors. Although I appreciate honest reviews because they help me improve my work.
I want people who read for fun to read my work. Those who look forward to an hour or so of alone time, curled up on the sofa, with an open paperback in hand.
So yesterday I decided to upload just the first chapter of my manuscript on wattpad.com just to see if people will read it. I have been studying the art of self-publishing, and Amazon KDP seems like the best option, coupled with wattpad.com (as long as you don't publish your entire work on wattpad.
Anyway, it is a good way to build readership. It is also a good way of overcoming my fear of putting my work out there to be thrown tomatoes at.
If you want to check out the first chapter of my manuscript please click on the link below:
http://www.wattpad.com/story/12361009-living-life-in-the-fat-lane
Or maybe do what Samantha Sotto (author of Before Ever After) did and send your manuscript to the States?
ReplyDeleteHaha, I wish. :-) Will need to improve my writing first before I can do that. But thanks for the vote of confidence.
ReplyDelete