“Giving importance to money over art may cause problems. Artists may start feeling insecure and disheartened to see their work not being appreciated after putting so much effort into it. Losing patience makes them act differently. For fame and money they may sell their souls. But those artists who know the power of patience will keep exploring and experimenting till they leave a mark of their own.”
Imagine writing a poem, posting it up on the web, then seeing it shared… not so bad, unless you want to sell or control how that poem is distributed. That involves copyright law. Copyright laws protect the work of writers and poets, and that of musicians, painters, and photographers, among others…
What is an International Standard Book Number? How does it work? Do authors need one? We have all seen the small barcode that sits on the back cover of every book. It is a unique 13-digit number assigned to every format of each book.
A writer is very close to their work. What may appear to be an error to the editor, may go unnoticed in the eyes of the author. That is the difference between a writer and an editor. A little tough love here and there from the editor is only to bring out the best in the writer.
If the author is the mother giving birth, I am the midwife making sure that the baby comes into this world safe and sound. Each work of creation is different, and comes into this world through a different passage. Having worked with lots of writers and writing styles, I know that it’s a different experience each time. No two births are ever the same.
I first came across the concept of co-authoring in a post on Co-Authors. It inspired me to research further, brainstorm and come up with a few techniques through which writers can collaborate to create their best work yet.
Take a moment. Breathe. Think of the magical moment at the end of the publication journey when you hold your debut novel in your hands. What does it look like?
I have worked with many authors who are amazing writers but get stuck when it comes to dealing with the commercial side of publishing. It’s a sentiment I understand all too well. I was once in those very same shoes – wondering how in the world I was ever going to achieve my lifelong dream of publication. I’ve learnt it all the hard way so others won’t have to.
In the beginning, there was only nature. We lived alongside her laws and her ways. With the annals of time, humans created civilisation. Without the written word, civilisation wouldn’t exist. And it all began with the scribes – the very first wordsmiths who etched their words so they would never be forgotten or lost.
We writers are searching for that elusive soul who will see us. Truly see us. And no one can understand an author quite like another author. I have a chat with Sanchari Das about how her journey as a book reviewer has shaped her as an author.