…Trinidadian self-publishing pro guides new writers
(Trinidad Express) Self-publishing can be a viable vehicle for more local authors to propel their unread manuscripts onto the shelves of the islands’ bookstores, says author/publisher Daniel Francis.
Francis, author of the writer’s guide How To Write And Self-Publish Your Book, says the next Trinbagonian classic novel could very well be collecting cyber cobwebs on a hidden hard drive or physical dust on a forgotten bookshelf.
“We can change this by sharing information on publishing and make it commonplace,” an optimistic Francis chimed during an online exchange with the Express.
“Right now, the biggest issue is access to information on what to do after your book is written. Right now, we have many talented unpublished authors with amazing books collecting dust because they don’t know what the next steps are in publishing their books. This conference is going to open the door for more aspiring authors to publish their books and be a platform for authors to form a thriving community to help each other grow,” he explained.
Sparking a literature renaissance
The emergence of more modern stories can reignite national interest in local literature, Francis said. That movement starts with empowering budding writers so they can complete more projects, he reiterated.
“I plan to help catalyse the production of more authors by meeting them on all the different levels: providing information on writing, editing, and publishing so they can figure it out on their own. I eventually (want to) create courses to help them publish with a step by step guides. More easily accessible information and the production of more authors will create an environment where more and more books are published. This will inevitably create a few classics to add to the greats,” the Fatima College old boy reasoned. Francis, a Loyola University, New Orleans, USA, graduate, said leveraging internationally recognised dates on the calendar, such as World Book Day, is a great way to get the attention of readers, he continued.
World Book Day, also known as World Book and Copyright Day or International Day of the Book, is celebrated annually on April 23 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to promote reading, publishing, and copyright.
“This was exactly why I made it a point to host the event on WBD even though it was on a Tuesday. The most frequently asked questions I get from authors typically surrounds copyright and the day is World Book and Copyright Day. So, it’s all about putting your intellectual property out there, the steps and how to protect it.
“Which is why I am happy that the Intellectual Property Office will be partnering with us and sharing an educational video to help authors understand all they need to know about protecting their intellectual property. We want to shine a spotlight on the day and normalise publishing books. Most kids know the paths of being a doctor, engineer, lawyer etc. What if they could see from an early age that they could put out a book,” he said.
Normalise reading in the household
With potentially more local literature content on the way, Francis says this is a great time for parents to start getting their children into reading.
While admittedly it may be a challenge to motivate the reluctant reader to pick up a book, normalising reading in the household by practising what you preach can yield positive results, he said.
“You must lead by example by reading yourself and it can be very impactful when they know an author personally. Let’s say aunty or uncle are authors. Reading can also be made a fun activity with the kids’ books that are out there now and when you get your kids accustomed to being in libraries they will be more encouraged and comfortable with reading. You can also find books that fit their interests and let them choose,” he advised.
Anyone toying with the idea of writing a book should just dive in and put pen to paper, he said. Having the right information on how to go about getting the work published can also be a great motivator to complete the project, Francis added.
“I believe there is a book in everyone. Going the traditional publishing route or self-publishing really depends on what are your goals for the book. My publishing self-publishing company, One Momentum Publishing, was created out of a need I saw for aspiring authors wanting information on self-publishing and wanting the service done for them.
“Authors always ask me questions about the process, so much so that I did free webinars for two years to educate aspiring authors on the process. We operate a bit differently in that we don’t just publish the books, we also properly prepare them for what’s to come after they publish as well,” Francis concluded.
