Many authors self-publish for varying reasons and with mixed results. A decade ago it was not uncommon to hear of enthusiastic creators lamenting the boxes of books stored away under beds or in garages while they bemoaned the vagaries of artistic independence versus economic viability. The internet and e-books have changed all that and when combined with exploiting the benefits of social media today’s savvy creators can write, market and e-distribute whatever and whenever they wish.
Margaret Lynette Sharp chose creative and content control over the traditional route and joins me today to talk about her journey to self-publishing.
“In my early twenties, I was drawn to writing by my admiration of the literature of Jane Austen, Louisa May Alcott, Gavin Maxwell and other masters. Ultimately, I studied the craft formally by correspondence for five years, with special emphasis on short stories and journalism.
Like most writers, I have a keen interest in words as a tool of creation.
Attention to nuances and sound patterns helped craft the type of engaging literature that I wanted to write. I sought to develop an elegant, recognizable style.
I am by nature an observer, and life experiences embedded themselves into my consciousness. Not just my own: I watched television and films ranging from classics such as ‘My Fair Lady’ and ‘The Sound of Music’ to the more earthy ‘Georgie Girl’.
And so, after the wedding of my niece ( an event I saw as a definite step in the map of life) I realized that the time had come for me to move ahead. The time to write had arrived.
Short Stories were my forte, and so in late 2010, with my husband Ron’s encouragement, I set about writing an anthology. My freshness and enthusiasm enabled me to finish this work, entitled ’25 Stories of Life and Love in Australia’, in just a few months.
The manuscript was complete, but what to do with it?
My husband’s son Alex spoke with contagious enthusiasm about the benefits of self-publishing with Amazon and CreateSpace. To us, the most appealing part was the power over all aspects of the project, from cover to editing to price. Predominantly it was in our hands.
Of course, there were guidelines to follow, about formatting and cover-creation. But the scope for individuality in presentation weighed heavily in our decision.
I say ‘our’ since, without the input and support of my husband Ron and his daughter Sandra, the seven titles now available would not have been in precisely their current form.
If you are after a high degree of control over your literature, artistically and otherwise, then perhaps you should think about the pros and cons of self-publishing. These days, it’s easier than ever”.
Margaret is the author of ‘A Taste of Life and Love in Australia’, ‘Long and Short Australian Stories’, ’60 Questions, Insights and Reminiscences’, ‘Encore’ and more. You can visit Amazon to check out Margaret’s titles here or follow her on twitter @MargaretLynett1
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