For many people, their dream is to simply see their name in print and hold their own book in their hands. It's an exciting feeling and one I have experienced myself. While some parts of the process become "old hat," even after my fourth published novel, I'm still a giddy schoolgirl on the inside when I think about holding my next book.
From that perspective, this new wave of technology is wonderful. Who would have known that someone's grandma could finally have a book published? Or teenagers still learning how to write? Or that shy neighbor down the street whom you didn't even know liked to write? Yes, technology has brought us a long way, enabling many companies to spring up and produce books quicker and cheaper, and in turn, enabling them to offer solutions to just about anybody.
And yet, there is another side to this reality. It is a side that must be approached not with pride, but simply a realistic perspective in order to maintain balance.
While it may seem grand that anyone may now be a published author, it is becoming harder and harder to find the ones that are truly master craftsmen. Now that the possibilities are endless, more and more writers are popping up everywhere. Traditional publishers are now so overwhelmed that they put limits on published titles per year and many have closed their doors to new authors, no matter how good a manuscript is. They want nothing to do with unsolicited submissions, and authors are left needing agents just to get their foot in the door. In the meantime, all of the new publishers that charge and print on demand gain more and more authors. As a result, bookstore shelves overflow with a plethora of new titles, some good and some poor. But how is the consumer to decide which is which? Better yet, how is a traditional publisher to sort through all the manuscripts they receive day after day to find the ones worthy of publication?
As the market becomes saturated with books of lesser quality, chances of great writers shining through diminish. Think of it in terms of a field of corn, overridden with weeds. As you stare across the mass of twisted stems and thistles, where are the few corn stalks that are left? Where are the few ears of corn worthy to be harvested? It's hard to make them out.
So too is the world of published books. As more and more books are distributed into the market, the harder it is to find the good ones. And from a true writer's perspective, it is a daunting task to try and rise above the sea of new authors.
Writing books and becoming a published author, so far, still impresses the public. It's still something special and always something to be proud of. But for how long? Will this change, the more new books and new authors are introduced? Will soon writing a book be no more praiseworthy than writing an essay for school?
The pros and cons to this developing industry may never change. But it's an interesting subject to contemplate.