Self-publication provides Kerala's aspiring writers with plethora of opportunities

on Jul 15, 2022

On Thursday night, Jyothy Sreedhar emerged from the Delhi Civil Services Officers Institute Hall smiling with pride and her eyes glistening with happiness. Jyothy is an assistant professor at Changanassery NSS Hindu College and the author of the poetry book "Yes, You Are Audible," which won the prestigious Asian Literary Society Award.

Jyothy began writing in 2010 and has since amassed a sizable Facebook fan base, which inspired her to release her writings. 2020 saw the release of her first two Malayalam books, and 2021 saw the release of her debut English book, "Yes, You Are Audible."

"For me, it is a dream come true. Two years ago, I contacted a number of reputable publishers to try and get my novels published, but the answer was unimpressive. After that, I made the decision to self-publish my writing, and Praveen Vaisakhan of Ivory Books supported me.

We have the ability to own our works and choose the substance and title when we publish ourselves, the author remarked. The time when aspiring writers had to rely on the goodwill of publishing houses to have their creative works published is long gone. The self-publishing sector's expansion has created a sea of possibilities. The fad has been a blessing for budding authors who spend sleepless nights penning down their love, fear, sorrow, and emotions in the hopes that they will be published and valued.

Around 2,000 literary works are self-published in Kerala each year, which has revolutionised the state's publishing sector and aided a plethora of up-and-coming authors in building their careers. The trend has, however, led to a discussion concerning the deteriorating caliber of literary works among literary circles.

Self-publishing is very acceptable. Let the readers choose the literary work's level of quality. The book will stand the test of time if it is good. Young authors no longer have to rely on publishers; instead, they can choose to self-publish. Additionally, social media provides a useful venue for aspiring writers. There is no reason to discourage someone from publishing a literary work, according to author K Satchidanandan.

Despite concerns about deteriorating literary quality, print-on-demand and self-publication aid in the career development of budding authors. Through social media, many talented authors can gain recognition from the literary community and market their novels. The argument regarding lack of clarity and standard is fair to some extent because the bulk of these writers are poets, according to publisher Praveen Vaisakhan.

According to the publisher and proprietor of CICC Book House, Jayachandran, a writer can print 100 to 250 copies for between Rs 30,000 and Rs 50,000, and it is then their job to market the book. "A lot of people use to print on demand to establish themselves as authors. In Kerala, there are about 140 publishing houses, and several printing presses have also expanded into publishing to take advantage of the market. The authors give the books to their friends and family, and they don't care much about royalties.

Every year, the State Library Council organises book festivals in each area, and some publishers provide the chance to exhibit these works there," he stated. Self-publishing can be profitable if the author has a large readership, according to the majority of those in the publishing industry. Without a doubt, it's a fantastic approach for aspiring authors to engage readers.