Like most writers and artists, I write not to become wealthy but to be read. To broadcast a story that I need to share. Like youtube, but for books.
I am shortly opening a website entitled "rejected writers' book store", where people can read for free books that are made in pdf-format. This is a non-profit-scheme and I wonder how many fellow authors that would tag along and contribute.
This would also give the necessary blow to the publishing industry, not financially but to overcome the condescending, biased and self-righteous approach so typical to publishing editors.
Your comments are welcome.
Damien, you couldn't be more correct. I was thinking in the line of "dead poets society" perhaps something in the vincinity of "unread writers book club " would sound more attractive.
I have written and published several books, mainly business but also political and fiction. A novel about my grandfahter's life is work-in-progress, he was a an architect/artist and I learned from him that a to a true artist, monetary compensation is never an option; it is being seen/read/listened to, talked about and admired that is the only remuneration.
I found one of my books downloadable on a free-ebook-page... that was not hurtful but heartwrenching.
So with "unread writers' book club", perhaps in a wikipedia-like manner, one should be able to bring the huge amounts of unread literature to the Internet (only in the past short story competition to which I contributed, there were over 3000 entries) surely a majority of the unpublished material has a higher standard than most books and films produced.
What you say about responsibility for racist and ohter hateful contents is important, this a peril, however looking at ebay and Facebook I see ways of minimizing hatemongery, but I am convinced that some laws in some countries surely will be broken or bent.
If I can't be published, then at least I can be read. Writing is so much fun, so rewarding spiritually, but getting rejections from publisher aftger publisher is killing the creative spirit in most people. Only stubborn idiots like myself are resistant to rejections and cruel critique and keep duracelling forward...
Hi Ragnar,
As much as I like your proposal for your up-and-coming venture I feel you may have a battle on your hands with the title. Rejected writers bookstore is not very appealing. Any wannabe author and possibly anybody that wishes to read a good story may find this very off putting.
Everybody believes they have a novel or two inside them but trust me in reality this is not the case. Handing over your manuscript to a website that is clearly for rejected authors implies that the manuscript is not fit for anything except the slush pile. You would then have to consider vetting all manuscripts or you could leave yourself vulnerable to the elements of racism, bad language and inappropriate material.
The Internet is dominated with stories that you can read for free. I will watch this with interest and wish you well.