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Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Challenges for Authors- Professor M.S.Rao

“Writing is an adventure. To begin with, it is a toy and an amusement. Then it becomes a mistress, then it becomes a master, then it becomes a tyrant. The last phase is that just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude, you kill the monster and fling him to the public.” - Winston Churchill


Challenges for Authors

Authors face several challenges from beginning of book conception to its reality. During the process there are number of bottlenecks they overcome. Especially the budding authors have to struggle a lot to establish themselves. Often publishers will not come forward as the authors do not have any credibility. Authors take lot of pain and sacrifice to bring an idea into a reality by way of book. After creation of the book the authors have to search for credible publishers. Creation of a book takes a lot of time and again finding a suitable publisher for the book takes little longer time. Although it is widely said that the book should have strength to get acceptance publishers don’t come forward easily for budding authors. Most of the times publishers look at the background of the authors to ensure quick sales for the books as it is easy for them because they can realize their capital and generate quick profits.

Authors write books with lot of passion. If the authors are not financially sound it is tougher to ensure their sustenance. Besides, the income from authoring books is meager. These are the challenges for authors from publishers’ perspective. Let us also look at the challenges for authors from readers’ perspective.

Authors find it tough to predict the pulse of the readers. Due to the rising complexity and uncertainty it is not easy to gauge what readers really like. Their tastes are changing rapidly.


Challenges for Readers

Readers find it tough to spot good books due to information overload. Internet has become both boon and bane. Readers get lot of information freely to choose from search engines. Most of the time readers find it tough to distinguish the wheat from the chaff. Even readers also go by the credentials of the authors. If readers liked the books of the authors, they prefer to read the books written by them. Readers also buy the books of celebrities although they are not professional authors because of their celebrity status.


Final Word

There are challenges for authors, publishers and readers. Authors must learn to go by the road less traveled. Readers want unique and different material. If the authors are able to spot new triggers and explore through sound research and author books, they find publishers approaching them for publication easily. Ultimately readers will be able to get the best material thus saving their precious time.



Professor M.S.Rao
Founder and Chief Consultant,
MSR Leadership Consultants India
Blog: http://profmsr.blogspot.com
Where Knowledge is Wealth
Email: profmsr7@gmail.com



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