Books are Big Business

Publishing is a business, just like any other, including the film and music industries.

Anyone who thinks any different is clearly kidding themselves.

But everyone wins with sites such as Authonomy and YouWriteOn.com

Publishers and agents get thier pick of manuscripts and and prospective authors get to showcase their work and offer constructive criticism to others.

Surely a far better option than letting your MS gather dust in a desk drawer at home?

We tend to elevate writing to great lofty heights, championing it as some high-brow art form.

At the end of the day it's all about being able to spin a good yarn.

And if you can sell a few books and captivate a couple of readers in the process, then that's no bad thing either.

For an in-depth look at electronic slushpiles see the Bookseller's feature on the subject.