Of Fiction, Facebook and Potential Consumers of Our Writing…

Authors and publishers must be willing to provide an entertaining, well crafted, and substantive product if both are to thrive and achieve financial success in the 21st century marketplace.

This takes time.

Authors must also fine and devise ways to remain in contact with our readers.

The Internet becomes our godsend in this respect.

Somewhere along the way, publishers got it into their heads that the way for authors to remain connected to readers was to produce more books in a shorter amount of time.

Not a good idea.

Recent developments in computer and Internet technology have streamlined the process by which we print and bind books. Espresso book machines in London, England, and San Francisco, California and other locations can now print a book from a pdf in 30 minutes.

The Internet has no lack of readers.

Words and consumption of words provides the mainstay of communication across the Internet.

In this it has generated a whole new generation of consumers who are quite good at the fine art of reading.

This is good.

Likewise, authors would do well to not underestimate their already high level of intelligence and scrutiny in determining what is entertaining and engaging fiction.

While the Internet has simplified the ability to promote and market our craft, it also requires us to simultaneously hone our skills and artistry in crafting our stories and essays.

The human imagination cannot be rushed.

Nor can or does it operate on the stopwatch of a publisher who is merely concerned with her or his company’s financial bottom line.

The best books, whether fiction or non-fiction, emerge from the soul of a writer.

They find their way on pager of the computer screen by winding their way through the author’s heart.

The path each book takes brings its own map.

While following the map each author must travel her or his terrain of transformation and growth if this book is to move and affect readers such that they not only read, but also enjoy the words penned to such a degree that they encourage others to purchase and read the book.

Books take time to develop a loyal reader following, even the most successful and best ones.

The ones that develop a following take even long write.

Writers must become friends with our blogs, particularly those who are starting out in the 21st century.

Blogs and websites, along with social media outlets such as Facebook, MySpace, goodreads, shelfari, various Ning.com sites that center on readers and writing, etc. allow us to connect with readers, show them what goes into our wares (our books)–what is in our minds and imaginations, who we are as people, mothers, wives, fathers, husbands, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters, how we see life, etc–so that when our novel or self-help book debuts readers and consumers are acquainted with us.

Buying our book then feels more a choice of deepening a relationship with what may perhaps become a good friend rather than encountering a stranger on the street hawking a product we know nothing of and can imagine no way in which its entrance in to our life will improve they quality of our human experience.

Successful entrepreneurs of industries that have weathered all economic clients and endured follow this strategy.

Publishers and authors must set about doing the same.

What are you ideas on establishing, and maintaining an active, viable and informative website?

Do you blog? Why or why not?

How do you connect with readers and potential consumers of your writing?

What do think of the effect the Internet has had on reading, writing and the entire publishing industry?