The Word Cloud

        

                               A LITTLE WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT

I wanted to share a secret and perhaps help some of you who've had a hard time trying to get your works of art noticed.

After I'd managed to hash my first novel together, I spent at least a year trying to entice agents and publishers to take me on as a good bet.
I got minimal response, despite writing at least 120 query letters, sending out approximately 10 manuscripts, and after phoning every person I could find in the writers handbook.

I knew my material was good. But lets face it, a diamond ring has no value if it can't be gawped at, does it? In theory yes. In reality, no. It just sits in a drawer and gathers dust. It's only when you bring it into the light of day, polish it up and let it sparkle - when admirers ooh and ah at it. That's when it has real value. Its the same with your masterpiece. If no one ever gets to read it, then technically speaking it doesn't exist.

So anyway, getting back to reality, I decided to circumnavigate the traditional methods of publishing and decided to self publish - literally.
I figured that if I could not only write, but also produce my own books, books so good that not even the manager of Waterstones in my local town would be able to notice anything was awry, then I had a chance of getting somewhere. I wouldn't need a publisher, or an agent. I could do it all myself and keep all the profits.

So I got to work to test my theory.

Microsoft word is a marvelous tool, you know. You can do some weird and wonderful things with it if you take the time to figure out what all those little heiroglyphs mean. After several hours of fiddling about, I figured out how to transpose my manuscript onto a booklet style "galley" and then how to set out the chapters so it resembled a real paperback.

Then I set my Canon ip4000 bubblejet printer up to print off the pages as
A5 booklets.

Then I bought a cheap paper slicer from Staples and set it up to cut the pages in two.

Then I put the two piles of paper together and hey presto! I had the innards of a printed book.

Then I got to work with Microsoft Powerpoint and designed my own front and back covers and printed them off on glossy photo-card.

Then I cut these to size, glued them together, and then glued them to the "spine" with PVA glue.

And do you know what? I ended up with a very neat looking "perfect bound" paperback.

And do you lnow what else? The Manager of my local Waterstones couldn't tell they were handmade. I actually had to invent the name of a publishing company just to make sure he didn't get suspicious, and printed it into the credits page at the front. I called it "TL Publishers" (TL, after my wifes initials, Tina Louise)

To cap it all off, The manager said he'd take thirty copies and even put one in the front window, seeing as I was local.

So I had to burn the midnight oil (and glue) and produce thirty copies for him.

They all sold. Every one of 'em! So I produced and gave him thirty more. They went too. I even got an article printed in the local rag. Fame at last!

I didn't have time to make any more 'cos I had a business to run, as well as a wife and kids, who I hadn't seen much off the last month or so.

Then my oldest son said "why don't you get a website and sell them online?" Why not? I thought. Because I don't know the first thing about how to do it. That's why not. But my son is a smart cookie (excuse the pun). He figured out how to make a website and made me one. It even sported a Pay-Pal icon, so people could buy my books.

Now I sell lots of books online to people from all over the world. However, its not all a bed of roses. I'm going down to see the local printer soon. I need a rest, and he needs the business. Well, there is a recession on, you know!

So - if you're feeling down because no one will publish your novel. Screw 'em! Do it yourself

All the best,

Graham Zimmatore