Online Readers’ and Writers’ Community Proves Popular
New changes to an already popular website for readers and writers are proving to be a big hit.
New changes to an already popular website for readers and writers are proving to be a big hit.
Worthy of Publishing was created by Kiwi entrepreneur Aaron Cook, to give writers the chance to gain free feedback on their manuscripts from the general public. Book lovers can preview and vote for what they would like to see published and available for sale on bookshelves, and leave comments to help authors improve their writing.
One of the most recent upgrades to the website was the message centre, which allows members to communicate with each other directly to share tips and ideas. This compliments the already popular comments section, where members post comments about a writers work for the public to view.
The website has also been made more transparent, so when a reader rates a book their rating is displayed beside the comment they have left for that book.
Cook says the new upgrades have proved to be very popular amongst members, and has definitely brought a more community feel to the website.
The overall concept originated from China around a decade ago. Since the establishment, it has helped numerous authors become recognized by the public and achieve dramatic success. It was mentioned at the most recent Frankfurt Bookfair that the world’s eyes are on the growth of China’s publishing industry, which has been driven by the internet.
Last year twenty percent of China’s bestsellers originating from the internet, many of them have been previously unheard of authors discovered on similar types of websites to worthyofpublishing.com in China.
Just one of the many examples of a Chinese author becoming a huge success through the internet is Tian Xia Ba Chang, who wrote a book called “Candles Blown by a Ghost” which is a thriller/adventure novel. Over time this book reached over 3.6 million hits online and once finally published sold 500,000 copies in one year.
The highest rated manuscript currently on worthyofpublishing.com is Daniel Williamson's popular fantasy trilogy Magician, Man and Beast.
‘This humble New Zealander has received an overwhelmingly positive response from international readers on the site,’ says Cook, who is in the process of locating the right publisher for the book.
‘The website is the next logical evolutionary jump in today’s democratic creative process, says Williamson. We are dealing with a highly competitive western book market, with greater barriers set in place in the modern publishing journey.’
With most publishers cutting back on new titles due to the recession, authors must seek more ingenious ways to sell their manuscripts. New Zealand is famous for cultivating a ‘can do’ attitude towards opposition, often creating industry leaders. I feel the website serves to fill an important niche in the publishing process. Williamson says he often felt frustrated with the shortage of options available for emerging authors. It was surprising to me that although New Zealand has an international reputation for creating hit fantasy film franchises like ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ and ‘The Chronicles of Narnia,’ we don’t publish any working fantasy titles of our own.
One of the most recent upgrades to the website was the message centre, which allows members to communicate with each other directly to share tips and ideas. This compliments the already popular comments section, where members post comments about a writers work for the public to view.
The website has also been made more transparent, so when a reader rates a book their rating is displayed beside the comment they have left for that book.
Cook says the new upgrades have proved to be very popular amongst members, and has definitely brought a more community feel to the website.
The overall concept originated from China around a decade ago. Since the establishment, it has helped numerous authors become recognized by the public and achieve dramatic success. It was mentioned at the most recent Frankfurt Bookfair that the world’s eyes are on the growth of China’s publishing industry, which has been driven by the internet.
Last year twenty percent of China’s bestsellers originating from the internet, many of them have been previously unheard of authors discovered on similar types of websites to worthyofpublishing.com in China.
Just one of the many examples of a Chinese author becoming a huge success through the internet is Tian Xia Ba Chang, who wrote a book called “Candles Blown by a Ghost” which is a thriller/adventure novel. Over time this book reached over 3.6 million hits online and once finally published sold 500,000 copies in one year.
The highest rated manuscript currently on worthyofpublishing.com is Daniel Williamson's popular fantasy trilogy Magician, Man and Beast.
‘This humble New Zealander has received an overwhelmingly positive response from international readers on the site,’ says Cook, who is in the process of locating the right publisher for the book.
‘The website is the next logical evolutionary jump in today’s democratic creative process, says Williamson. We are dealing with a highly competitive western book market, with greater barriers set in place in the modern publishing journey.’
With most publishers cutting back on new titles due to the recession, authors must seek more ingenious ways to sell their manuscripts. New Zealand is famous for cultivating a ‘can do’ attitude towards opposition, often creating industry leaders. I feel the website serves to fill an important niche in the publishing process. Williamson says he often felt frustrated with the shortage of options available for emerging authors. It was surprising to me that although New Zealand has an international reputation for creating hit fantasy film franchises like ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ and ‘The Chronicles of Narnia,’ we don’t publish any working fantasy titles of our own.
3 comments:
I am not quite sure what Williamson means by "working fantasy titles of our own' but my immediate reaction is "Oh, rubbish." Hugh Cook's wonderful series anybody? Gaelyn Gordon's, ditto? And Helen Lowe? The there's a certin Maurice Gee...
I think what Williamson really means is that NZ publishers are not publishing any new fantasy titles by new authors at the moment.
Fair enough comment then - except VUP and Huia both are (or have done very recently.)
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