Self-publishing: Not Just for Literary Losers Anymore

Self-publishing, formerly seen by the book industry as one of those ugly practices that people with little talent and a lot of delusions undertook  earning it the name "Vanity Publishing," is now gaining new levels of respect.

Thanks to sites like Amazon and Barnes and Noble.com writers not able to sell their works to traditional publishers are now able to become successful authors by publishing their books themselves.

Take young Amanda Hocking who has sold over 450,000 copies of her young adult series (over 99% e-books), J.A. Konrath who has sold over 100,000 self-published e-books, or H.P. Mallory who has sold over 70,000 books since last July. (Check out the full USA Today article.)

The message? Anyone can write and publish. While many may argue that such a practice cheapens the medium, as a teacher of writing, I think it is a wonderful message that can be sent to my students. Write a book -- you, too, may be able to sell hundreds of thousands of copies. A recent article in the Mineral Wells Index lets aspiring authors know just how easy self publishing can be.

For something a little less daunting, teens can visit sites like Figment, Teen Ink, and Cyberteens. The first two give teens an instant outlet for writing, while the third helps teens navigate the world of self-publishing.

It is obvious that the web has changed almost everything in our lives -- now it is making literary success and fame one step easier.