Paperback Writers
In the publishing industry there’s a general snootiness about bloggers. Blogs to books, they say, are over. But what if the blogger in question is a charismatic and interesting writer? Should they just go the traditional route, sit at a word-processor and send their labours into the publishing void and spend the next year gnashing their teeth unheard and verbally abusing the postman when he fails to deliver good news? Should they take down their blogs for fear of being labeled just another blogger hoping for a publishing deal?
Goddamn it, they should not.
I have recently bought two books written by bloggers I love. One is for charity and is written by friend of the Misssives, Ms Kate Lord Brown. Novelist Kate has just launched the book of her writing blog, What Kate Did Next. The book is full of prompts and tips for new writers, if Kate’s book is half as good as the blog it sprang from, it’s sure to be a success. You can buy it by clicking here. She’s also got some mindblowing endorsements on the cover. One quoted person, a certain person called Gillian Martin, who may or may not be me, is quite complimentary. I feel I’m now up there in product endorsement with the likes of Barry Scott of the Cillit Bang campaign. Bang and the Writer’s Block is Gone! Dammit, that’s what I should have said.
Also plopping through my letterbox today is my copy of Bete de Jour’s book called, incidentally, Bete de Jour. You can get that on Amazon. I hope it sells in gazillions. The book also features another friend of the Misssives, Not Keith, whose artwork you can see on the sidebar and who is a character in Bete’s book.
So books, who cares if they came from blogs? If they’re good they’re good. If Charles Dickens were around today, he’d have a blog, you just know he would. Let’s prove the doubters wrong and support the first time published writers who also happen to be bloggers too.
….And simultaneously cheer up unpublished first time writers with a manuscript circling the M25 of publishing with a flat tyre, a faulty Sat Nav and two screaming kids in the back fighting (that would be me…*sigh*).
Don’t ever miss a Misssive, subscribe!
