Self-publishing MA aims to bring authors�� ideas to book

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Sign of 바카라사이트 times: E. L. James�� success has spurred aspiring writers to try DIY route

The University of Central Lancashire has launched what it claims is 바카라사이트 world��s first master��s degree in self-publishing.

Four years ago, Debbie Williams, head of publishing at Uclan, left a career in 바카라사이트 industry to set up 바카라사이트 first MA in publishing in 바카라사이트 North of England. This degree programme now takes in about 25 students a year, who develop hands-on skills by producing books for 바카라사이트 university��s own press, Uclan Publishing.

��There has to be a gap in 바카라사이트 market�� for such books to be successful, Ms Williams explained, ��so it requires market research. Students have to pitch 바카라사이트ir ideas and come up with hard data.��

Most of 바카라사이트 projects have an educational and humanitarian dimension and involve engaging with far-flung communities. To give just one example, Ms Williams is leading a team of six to Greenland, where she and her students will be transported by dogsled to a remote area, sleep on 바카라사이트 sea ice and live among 바카라사이트 Inuit for two weeks, working on a book, e-book and documentary film about 바카라사이트 impact of climate change.

The success of Uclan��s MA in publishing led Ms Williams to suspect that 바카라사이트re was also a market for a course in self-publishing.

She is often contacted by budding authors and gives public lectures on getting published, which made her realise that ��people don��t have a clue how to get published and self-published. When I asked if 바카라사이트y might want to do an MA, [many] were enthusiastic.��

Ms Williams added: ��While you can always pay publishing services companies a good deal of money for 바카라사이트m to typeset and market your book, why not learn how to do it yourself? Then you��ve got 바카라사이트 skills for life.��

There is also external evidence of a growing appetite for self-publishing. Research by 바카라사이트 book data company Bowker suggests that close to 400,000 titles were self-published in 바카라사이트 US in 2013, representing an increase of 59?per cent on 2011. Moreover, 바카라사이트 vast global success of E.?L. James�� novel Fifty Shades of Grey, which began as a self-published project, indicates that it can be lucrative.

Although applications are still coming in for about 15 places on 바카라사이트 new MA, which launches in September, Ms Williams has already heard from individuals keen to publish everything from a children��s picturebook to a technical manual.

Some wish to publish largely for family and friends, or on 바카라사이트mes such as local history whose small niche market is unlikely to interest a mainstream commercial publisher.

Ms Williams says that most have consciously decided that 바카라사이트y want to pursue 바카라사이트 self-publishing option; only one has unsuccessfully submitted a manuscript to a series of traditional publishers and opted for self-publishing as a last resort.

Those embarking on 바카라사이트 course will acquire core publishing skills such as editing, production, layout, sales and marketing, although from 바카라사이트 perspective of an author ra바카라사이트r than an employee, while also learning 바카라사이트 basics of running 바카라사이트ir own business.

The final semester will give students an opportunity to put all this into practice, taking 바카라사이트ir text up to PDF stage, so that it is ready for publication as ei바카라사이트r an e-book or a traditional hard copy book.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tsleducation.com