The Wonderful World of Publishing: Rhetorical Composition II

My next activity/ assignment – just made the deadline!

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DISCUSS, GUIDE etc.

Activity 7:1

Step One – Revised Statement

“I’m interested in” Statement:

As a writer, I’m interested in creating a blog post, intended to persuade an audience of writers to consider the self-publishing route in light of e-publishing and technical advances. Self-publishing used to be looked down on by ‘real writers’, nowadays there is still a stigma attached to self-publishing but depending on your writing goals it could be a successful route and be quicker and more financially rewarding than the traditional publishing route. This article will also inform the readers of details about the world of publishing.

It is intended to help writers who have reached the pitching stage and are considering  which route to take. My article will help them in this process by informing them with the how’s and why’s and what’s of publishing and summarising the choices they have.

Step Two –  Creating a Research Plan

Writers and Publishers are part of the larger conversation into which the marketing of Self-Publishing fits. The larger conversation is about the content of the writing and ensuring that is of a publishable standard. Ultimately it is connected to the choice of the writer which route into publishing is pursued. I contribute to the conversation by summarising courses of actions and providing the ‘How to’ model for both publishing routes. Informing the writer of their choices.

Some of the individuals and organisations include;

Articles;

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/self-publishing

Self Publishing Books – The Guardian (Article)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/jun/11/self-published-ebooks-20-per-cent-genre

Self-Publishing ebook sales up by 20 %

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/jun/09/margaret-atwood-positron-online-publishing

Digitally savvy authors

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/feb/24/self-publishing-apple-ibookstore?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487

Self Publishing revolution

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/aug/29/self-published-laziness-charge-sue-grafton?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2012/nov/15/self-published-novels-where-to-start?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487

http://www.penguin.co.uk/static/cs/uk/0/aboutus/gettingpublished.html

Table of Self – Published books later picked up by publishers. Cite: Wikipedia

Conference notes from Self Publishing conference

Blogs;

http://angstanxietypanic.wordpress.com/2013/05/20/how-to-become-a-self-published-author-in-101-easy-hard-steps/#comment-694

Angst Victoria Sawyer

http://gailkavanagh.wordpress.com/2013/05/17/what-to-avoid-in-self-publishing/

Gail Kavanagh (Thank you Suzanne)

Message:

I want to inform my audience about the benefits of considering self-publishing as a route to marketing their writing. Ultimately my goal would be to inform and support a writers decision to pursue this market and then find that they had successfully produced and marketed a book. That this article was the tipping point that motivated and persuaded them to pursue this track. Buying into the idea that there is another solution to getting published and it is one that counts in the 21^st Century!

Medium:

I’ve decided to create an informative blog post on my personal writing blog, A Writers Fountain. This medium allows me distribution beyond my primary audience (as I have readers that are not writers but who may know some writers.) this which might leverage commentary by or support from the larger community. I see the site as an opportunity to employ more visual arguments as well as links to additional source materials. I can summarize the findings and experiences of other writers and link to it for readers who might want to know more.

Manner:

I will use a range of rhetorical appeals there will be some Logos included in statistical data which acts like proof to reinforce arguments and opinions.

I will use Ethos in relation to citing sources from authors who have actually self-published, people who talk from first hand experience.

Kairos connects to the persuasive text in a way I will explore in the next section ‘Recency’ in this ever changing society, the role of publishing and books in our lives. How we access information in 2013.

Recency:

I think recency in my sources and their the data is important. I will be citing from articles and authors who have self published or written about it within the last year 2012- 2013. The world of publishing and writers markets changes as swiftly as the fashions on the High Street (well that’s a slight exaggeration, it can feel this way sometimes.) My argument is intended to appeal to authors who have work ready to submit however, it may persuade some writers who are still working on a project. This is another reason I feel my research has to be up to date and as recent as possible. It could be another year before these writers take on their publishing challenges. The information needs to be relevant and useful.

Relevance:

I suspect I will mostly be using evidence as to back up the positive impact of self publishing. Data and opinions will be cited to support my argument.

Readership:

I think the statistics and primary accounts from authors who have successfully self published will be of relevance and interest to my audience, as will the changes in publishing. I have to be sure to acknowledge (and not dismiss) the concerns the audience may have with regards to what was known as (in the olden days) as ‘Vanity Press’.

Alignment:

I’m really aligned with finding out more about the new world of publishing and the global acceptance of self publishing, as a niche writer it is a market that may suit my work well. I am not arguing against traditional publishing (the route I have personally taken) instead I am arguing for an informed decision. Every author has the right to make their own publishing decisions. I am merely informing them in a pro-active manner about the benefits of choosing the self-publishing route, where at the same time I will attempt to dispel the myth and snobbery surrounding it.

Adaptation:　

I am keeping my research as local as possible by researching UK markets, although by its very nature e-publishing has a global audience. I will have to adapt and even adjust to some degree the evidence I’m using. To maintain both the integrity of the evidence (my source) and my claim and argument I will only use successful examples of self-publishing.

The writers in my audience are already aware that the world of publishing and writing successful (or best) sellers is a hard nut to crack whether they choose to go it alone or attempt to be picked up by a publishing house and that neither of these markets guarantees success. The success comes from their hard work, passion and marketing!