A writer dreams of having their book published. Publishers dream of having “their” books sold. In a way, the publishing model as it’s been for the past couple of centuries is very similar to the way artists and architects used to work in the days of feudalism when the patronage of a wealthy magnate was the key to success.

Most of today’s authors have to spend their own time and sacrifice their time and money while writing. And then they have to seek out an agent who will then try and find them a patron (i.e. a publisher). Because both agent and publisher only make money once enough books have been sold to cover the costs involved, neither wants to take any risks on books without a projected mass-market appeal.

So even if a book is accepted by a traditional publisher, the author–the creator of the work–still hasn’t received any money. In fact, they’ll have to be content with seeing their book in print (and maybe a small “advance”) until a better-selling second book.

But what if the author could do it the other way around? What if the publisher eliminated their risk by being paid up front for the services and products provided, and the writer got to pocket all the proceeds of the book sales?

There was no way that model could have been possible in the past. The only economical way to publish was in quantity…and hope for sales to match. But with the revolution in publishing technology–both the advent of print-on-demand (enabled by printing from a digital file instead of a physical press), and the rising demand for audio books and e-books–has freed the industry from being tied to old forms of thinking.

Just as with independent music and independent film, independent publishing is ready for the next big push forward. Into the hands of the writer.

Before the printing press, books weren’t really published in the way we understand the process today. They were disseminated through copying. If someone wanted a book they either copied it by hand or paid to have it copied. It could take years to copy and illustrate a single manuscript.

Then came the printing press and everything changed. Suddenly, books, pamphlets, and newspapers were relatively inexpensive, quick to produce, and accessible to the growing population of the literate.

Still, it took money to own a printing press and skilled labor to run one. Just as the case is today, those publishing a book had to cover their costs by ensuring sales prior to printing–by selling subscriptions in advance, for example.

The twentieth century saw the rise of the big publishing house which dealt with the financial risk of publishing by sticking to popular authors, considering relatively few (if any) unsolicited manuscripts, and tying the author’s remuneration to sales in the form of royalties.

All of that is about to change as drastically and as quickly as it did when the printing press was invented. At this point in history, there are new markets for written communication as literacy rates rise all over the world and new technologies are created to disseminate information in multifold media.

Today, readers aren’t bound to consume literature or opinion in books and newspapers produced by media conglomerates. In addition to these traditional media, there are p.o.d. (printed on demand) books, e-books, websites, blogs, and audio formats. All of which combine the benefits of a low financial risk with an ever-growing worldwide market.

With all of these choices, producers and consumers of literature will be brought closer together than ever before. With the efficiency, low cost, and ease of working with new technologies, authors will finally be able to manage the production of, the distribution of, and the income from their own works.

We at I Publish Press wish to extend our warmest greetings to all of you.

Watch this space for news about publishing, views about books, press releases about what we’re doing at I Publish Press, and information about our competitions and awards.

Read on.