One, you may write because you have nothing better to do.
Two, you may write because you want to prove a point.
Three, you may write because everybody else seems to be writing.
And four, you may write because you have a story to tell, a message to convey, a thought to share.
Most of us find it convenient to join the race and run for the top spot, but the top spot, ideally to be reserved for the best(seller) is now a matter of extensive marketing and a ruthless atmosphere of tagging every other book as ‘The National Bestseller‘. It is amusing how every story with a romantic hero and a beautiful heroine, written by a young college lad or lady, tops the charts. And it is even more hilarious that most of these writers do not exist for a long time in the writing world as authors, blame it on the nature of the race. This is how it is meant to be.
Can this be changed? Enveloped in an era where language goes parallel with business, and good communication with success, how does one differentiate oneself in respect to both from others. I am a believer of stories myself, a story-teller and non-fictional figure lucratively living in a fictional world of fantasies and dreams (like all dreamers- under the hood of high hopes), and all of the above collectively comes to tell a tale. Now, I shall work out my ‘story‘ to produce what is called a ‘draft‘, which shall be compiled and put into a ‘manuscript‘, which further shall be submitted for evaluation to ‘publishers‘, and post publishing be called a ‘novel‘ or a ‘novella’. Technically, readers should make the novel sell, but publishers and marketers just sell the novel and it is already called a Bestseller. This should be a little different. This is how the literature industry in India, which as per the boom should be growing, is actually bringing down the standards. Undoubtedly, there is an urge among people to write and produce content, there are forums and organizations to nurture youngsters with this talent, but at the same time, quality is somewhere missing. It has become pure business, if I may say so. (PepperScript, a publishing unit is owned and operated by the author of this post, for the very purpose of business.)
Can this be changed? The right stories move ahead of the less right stories; The better writers gain the higher spot and not just those of the well marketed books. When deserving author is rewarded, all the four reasons above stand justified.
As a part of this industry, I find myself confused with who and what to pick, who and what to sell. Let’s hope I can get rid of at least a little part of this confusion with The Rodinhoods.
Please find my immature writing in a well appreciated novel ‘The November Note‘, now published under PepperScript. We (along with a friend- Prateek Verma) began writing when we were 18, and managed to get it published within 2 years. It is not among the best of stories, but definitely a favourite of many young hearts. A friendship ridden tale, a true love experience and not just about November. Please note, the book is not a Bestseller.
asha chaudhry
hi sanchit,
intriguing post! – so what you’re saying is you started a publishing house to re-publish your own novel? wow!!
sanchit – since you’re based in delhi – you must connect with chetan soni of half baked beans (use the search engine to locate)
we have other rodinhooders in the writing biz – litizen, Page 99
check – https://www.therodinhoods.com/forum/topics/how-do-i-get-cheese-from-my-chalk
all the best!!
ps: i think it’s a great idea to do trailers for books! social media rocks when it comes to promoting and nothing like a good vid story to convey it!
asha chaudhry
pps: sanchit – do share the website of PepperScript – i’m sure we have other rodinhooder writers who would love to seek you out!
Sanchit Goel
Hi Asha,
Thanks a lot. Well, the publishing house was started with a clear intent to provide a more convenient platform to young writers, who believe in themselves and are motivated. PepperScript is easy to approach and does not make aspirants wait for long. We value the scripts as much the author does. The November Note is just the beginning. Find out more about the publishing house here. Please feel absolutely confident to drop any of your submissions.
I am aware of Chetan and will definitely connect with him sometime soon, and I am also well aware of Litizen and Page 99. It is good to have such calibrated organizations around.
Trailers are indeed a great option, but putting the right content in them matters the most.
Thanks.
Alok Rodinhood Kejriwal
Nice contrarian view.
But, like apps, books are also getting discovered ‘democratically’.
Don’t you think the app stores will do /are doing what you are trying ?
Nothing succeeds like Virality. And that comes from a great product!
Sanchit Goel
Hello Alok.
Firstly, I am delighted to be a part of trhs. Thanks!
Now, undoubtedly ‘virality’ comes from a great product, and nothing like it. But the two terms are now subjected to ‘mass/niche marketing’. You put in extra efforts to make a product viral, and the product is almost as good as ‘great’. The growing methods of some serious & solid marketing show results, but at the same time in many cases subdue ‘great products’ with not so solid marketing. My only concern is to recognize those products(here, books) and let them stay in the light.
And no, books are now being written in volumes. Surveys say that the number books published in India now has grown by almost 400% in last 6 years. You invest a certain amount on social media and your book is discovered. A few copies sold and the returns are seen. That is the commercial side of it. It is definitely not democratic in nature. Though, it is possible that a particular book is identified democratically and thus sells democratically, but over all, I beg to differ. Infact, if the books were being discovered democratically, I believe it would have been better for the Indian publishing industry. There would be constant growth and well distributed scope of success/good stories.
In what context do you refer to the ‘app stores’ doing what we are trying?