| Ask the majority of so-called 'gurus' to talk about | | | | too. The rules are that authors have to send their |
| business or self-improvement, and here's a funny | | | | manuscripts to posh people in smart offices in the |
| thing. They start talking about sport. That's odd. | | | | middle of big cities, and these business people then |
| Sport isn't the same as life. It's completely different. | | | | decide which offerings get printed and put into |
| As Brian Tracey says, in sport you get three chances | | | | bookshops and which don't. Any writer who gets |
| to hit the baseball and then you're out, but in life you | | | | taken on by a publisher is 'a winner', which means |
| can go up to the mound as many times as you've | | | | that every author without a publishing deal must be - |
| got the energy and the inclination, try hitting the ball, | | | | by the rules of the game - a loser. But what if that |
| miss and still keep coming back for more. Or, to be | | | | writer puts their book up on the internet and signs |
| precise, keep on swinging until you hit the home run. | | | | up with a print-on-demand publisher? That's not in the |
| That's not allowed in the actual sport. They're very | | | | rules! But they've got their book printed, and, if they |
| strict. Three strikes and you're out. | | | | pay extra, they can have an ISBN issued, which |
| Yes, if sport is definite about one thing, it's this. It | | | | means it gets listed in catalogues. As far as readers |
| has rules. It says that you have to pick up the bat | | | | are concerned, there's no difference. These shoppers |
| and try to hit the ball. It defines how many people | | | | go into a bookshop and ask for a particular author. If |
| can play at one time, where they stand and what | | | | that person is an Internet Author, the bookshop is |
| they have to aim to do. That's not like life. In life you | | | | unlikely to have the book on its shelves, but they |
| can choose anything as an aim, you don't have to | | | | can order it from the publisher, (someone like |
| aim for 'the goal' that everyone else is looking for. | | | | Lulu.com). Even stranger, if a reader goes to an |
| After all, don't forget, the only reason we have a | | | | on-line bookstore like Amazon, they can flip through |
| new game called Rugby in England is that a young | | | | the novels on offer - and not be able to tell which |
| schoolboy picked up the ball in the game of soccer | | | | ones come from Traditional Publishers and which |
| and started running with it. Wow, he invented a new | | | | don't! If they order a book that's listed, they'll pay for |
| game. They came up with some rules to allow for | | | | it and have it delivered to their door whether it's |
| handling, and now England, Scotland, Wales, Northern | | | | 'won' the race to get to an old-style publisher or |
| Ireland and France battle it out every year for a | | | | whether it hasn't. |
| metal cup (plus fame and honour). That's fine, but | | | | Let's sum up. Authors who have their work published |
| guess what would happen if someone decided they | | | | on the internet and their books available on the web |
| didn't like running in the same direction as their team | | | | - only - are considered to be 'losers' by Traditional |
| mates now? No, they wouldn't have invented a new | | | | Publishers and their cronies, traditional critics and |
| game. They'd be ruled out and sent to sit on the | | | | journalists. These writers are people who have failed |
| bench. Those are the rules. | | | | in the race to land a publishing contract. The fruits of |
| Having one agreed goal gives the game a major | | | | that contract - printed work, advertised books, sales |
| advantage. You can tell who's doing well and who's | | | | - are the same on the web, of course, and some |
| doing badly. You can measure success. You can tell | | | | 'successful' authors find this out too, when their |
| who's won. That's not like life. The glossy magazines | | | | books first go into bookshops and then end up on |
| are full of stories of rich and famous people who are | | | | the publisher's own website as well! Internet Authors |
| having miserable lives, divorces and diets. Have they | | | | don't get the 'benefits' flowing from Traditional |
| 'won'? Your neighbourhood is full of people, some of | | | | Publishers, but they do get published. They've scored |
| them in big houses and some in small. Who's winning? | | | | a goal, they've won a point, it's just that they |
| The only way you could tell is if you made it into a | | | | weren't playing the same game. By the same rules. |
| game, with the rule that the person in the biggest | | | | Which means they haven't 'lost'. The only way you |
| house is the winner. Of what? Well, the 'biggest | | | | could possibly think that is if you truly believe that |
| house' game, of course. Okay, that's true. But it | | | | you are playing the only game in town. No, Traditional |
| makes no sense. Would that 'league table' tell you if | | | | Publishers are having to wake up to the fact that |
| they were happy? Or if their kids were doing well | | | | now there other people in the arena too. Trouble is, |
| and going to college? Or if they weren't ill? | | | | they aren't playing by the same rules. |
| In the world of publishing they've invented a game | | | | |